Jenji Kohan Quotes

Powerful Jenji Kohan for Daily Growth

About Jenji Kohan

Jenji Kohan, an eminent American television writer, producer, and creator, was born on September 5, 1969, in Rockville Centre, New York. Growing up, she developed a passion for storytelling, which was significantly influenced by her parents – both academics who encouraged her creative pursuits. Kohan's career took flight when she joined Liar's Club, an all-female comedy troupe in New York City. This experience honed her writing skills and prepared her for a successful stint as a writer on popular shows such as 'The Second City Television Network' and 'Sex and the City.' In 2005, Kohan created 'Weeds,' a critically acclaimed and groundbreaking dark comedy-drama series starring Mary-Louise Parker. The show received numerous awards, including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. Her unique storytelling and ability to tackle sensitive topics with humor and wit set 'Weeds' apart. Following the success of 'Weeds,' Kohan created another widely acclaimed series, 'Orange Is the New Black.' This show premiered on Netflix in 2013 and was praised for its portrayal of diverse characters, tackling issues such as race, gender, sexuality, and prison reform. The series won multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and established Kohan as a powerhouse in the television industry. In addition to her work on 'Weeds' and 'Orange Is the New Black,' Kohan has worked on several other successful projects, including 'GLOW' and 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.' Her work continues to push boundaries and provoke thoughtful discussions around relevant social issues. Jenji Kohan's unique voice in television storytelling has made her a significant figure in the industry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've never met a rule I didn't want to break."

Jenji Kohan's quote, "I've never met a rule I didn't want to break," suggests a spirit of rebellion or nonconformity. It implies that she is not content with the status quo, always questioning authority and societal norms, often leading her to challenge established rules and conventions in pursuit of something new, different, or truer to her personal beliefs. This mindset can foster creativity, innovation, and independence of thought.


"The thing about life is that it's full of beautiful messes."

This quote suggests that life, in its essence, is a complex blend of beauty and chaos. The "beautiful messes" refer to the intricate tapestry of experiences, emotions, and relationships we encounter daily. It underscores the idea that life's true richness often lies in its disorderliness rather than being predictable or perfectly organized. Embracing these messes means accepting life on its own terms, recognizing its inherent complexity, and finding meaning amidst the chaos.


"Fear doesn't shut you down, it fuels you."

Jenji Kohan's quote, "Fear doesn't shut you down, it fuels you," suggests that fear can serve as a powerful motivator rather than a debilitating emotion. Rather than causing paralysis or halting progress, fear can stimulate action, drive, and resilience. Embracing fear as a source of motivation allows individuals to face challenges head-on and push beyond their perceived limits. This perspective encourages personal growth and the pursuit of ambitious goals despite the presence of fear.


"We don't get to choose the family we're born into but we do get to choose our friends."

The quote emphasizes the inherent lack of control individuals have over their families at birth, yet it highlights the power they possess in choosing their friendships. It suggests that while family bonds are unavoidable and largely predetermined, friendship is a conscious decision that can be nurtured and cultivated to form supportive, meaningful relationships separate from biological ties. This quote underscores the importance of both family and friends in life but emphasizes the significance of self-selected friendships as a source of emotional support and connection beyond one's immediate family.


"Everything in its own time, or maybe not, but definitely everything twice."

This quote by Jenji Kohan suggests that things will happen when they are meant to, yet there might be exceptions where some events may not occur as planned or expected. However, the underlying idea is that certain experiences, situations, or opportunities in life often repeat themselves, albeit possibly in different forms or at various points in time. This can serve as a reminder to learn from past experiences and seize opportunities when they reoccur.


What offends me more than something sexist is something poorly written or unfunny or cliched.

- Jenji Kohan

More, Sexist, Poorly, Cliched

When I got out of college in 1991, I had four jobs in four different parts of L.A. There was I Love Juicy, a smoothie bar in Venice, and the Videotheque on Sunset Boulevard, across from the old Tower Records. I was also an intern at the 'Los Angeles Reader' in the Miracle Mile and at 'High Performance' magazine downtown.

- Jenji Kohan

Love, College, Boulevard, Magazine

Home is where your family is. Wherever you are, it's about the people you're surrounded by, not necessarily where you lay your head.

- Jenji Kohan

Surrounded, About, Lay, Wherever

My ex-boyfriend said, 'You have a better chance of getting elected to Congress than getting on the staff of a television show.' Which was the perfect thing for him to say, because my entire career is, 'Well, screw you.' And we broke up.

- Jenji Kohan

Career, Perfect, Congress, Screw

I think shows that are completely dramatic are a lie. People use humor to cope. That is how we deal with things. In the darkest situations, there's humor. And if you don't show that, you're not being true to real life.

- Jenji Kohan

Deal, I Think, Use, Cope

A TV touchstone for me is 'The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.' That series was whimsical and smart and had the mix of comedy and drama that I now trade in - but with a dash of magical realism. I wanted to be Molly Dodd, but more than that, I wanted to be Jay Tarses, who created the show.

- Jenji Kohan

Show, TV, Had, Mix

I was broke when I lived in New York City during college, so I'd spend weekends walking around town, grabbing something to eat, and interacting with strangers. That ritual has stuck with me.

- Jenji Kohan

College, City, Weekends, Grabbing

I believe in the power of media. I really do. It's my soapbox. And I do have an agenda, because I'm enraged by the limitations forced on people - by poverty, oppression, hatred, fear - and I'm saddened by the kind of loss we all experienced due to the contributions that people cannot make because of their circumstances.

- Jenji Kohan

Believe, Soapbox, Forced, Agenda

I'm from the creative side of Hollywood. I'm up for anyone that wants to support my work. If you have eyeballs and give me a budget and are nice to me, I'm in.

- Jenji Kohan

Give, Hollywood, Side, Budget

For a lot of people, film is still the dream - the captive audience in the darkened theater - but I love TV. I think it's fantastic.

- Jenji Kohan

Love, Think, Still, Captive

In my head I'm a rapper, but I'm not!

- Jenji Kohan

Head, Rapper

I can shoot off my big mouth and write my shows and run my shows, and I can recognize how lucky I am because my position is rare and my position is privileged.

- Jenji Kohan

Lucky, Big, Big Mouth, Shoot

My first job is to entertain, but if, while you're enjoying, you start to question something you never thought about before or empathize with, relate to, love someone you only thought of as 'other' once upon a time - how awesome is that.

- Jenji Kohan

Love, Other, Entertain, First Job

It can go two ways with girls: They either bond or eat each other alive.

- Jenji Kohan

Other, Either, Ways, Bond

I'm a huge Ira Glass fan; I'm a huge fan of radio in general.

- Jenji Kohan

Glass, Fan, General, Huge Fan

'Be nice' is my family's basic rule but one that often goes unfollowed in Hollywood. There's always a moment when you can choose between being snarky and being kind. I opt for the latter - it's much less exhausting!

- Jenji Kohan

Choose, Hollywood, Rule, Latter

We still have this prudish, puritanical culture, but we also have so little exposure to a diversity of bodies. Bodies are beautiful and great and compelling.

- Jenji Kohan

Still, Bodies, Compelling, Puritanical

I think great writers should write great shows, and I have trouble with, like, what you are in life shouldn't automatically make you what you do in your art. It doesn't necessarily translate.

- Jenji Kohan

Art, Think, I Think, Translate

I'm never going to look like a Nordic model, so I play with what I've got. Instead of going gray, I dye my hair bright colors; I have bad vision, so I wear sparkly glasses. I embrace that I look like a crazy lady.

- Jenji Kohan

Play, Bright, Bad, Dye

I remember one of my writers on 'Weeds' got a new apartment and didn't get cable or a dish. He just hooked his computer up to the TV. I was like, 'This is it. This is how it's happening.'

- Jenji Kohan

I Remember, TV, Hooked, Weeds

I don't set out to write female lead shows, necessarily. I like deeply flawed characters. When they come to me, or when I'm introduced to them, I follow the stories and the people, rather than setting out to do a female lead thing.

- Jenji Kohan

Out, Rather, Necessarily, Introduced

Personally, I like to yearn a little and long for the next episode. On the other hand, I'm also a glutton. My kids love to dive in and eat whole series at once.

- Jenji Kohan

Love, Next, Other, Dive

Mainly, I'm doing my thing, and I hope people like it. I don't say, 'I'm going to write something radical and hope it reverberates throughout society.' The goal is to write a solid, entertaining, engaging show.

- Jenji Kohan

Goal, Doing, Solid, Throughout

I love flawed characters, male or female, and I only want to talk about flawed characters, really, in what I do.

- Jenji Kohan

Love, Characters, I Love, Male

I'm not a public figure; I shouldn't have to be held to a certain standard of beauty.

- Jenji Kohan

Standard, Public, Figure, Held

By nature, I sit alone in a room and type... My goal was never celebrity.

- Jenji Kohan

Alone, Goal, Never, Celebrity

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