Kitty Kelley Quotes

Powerful Kitty Kelley for Daily Growth

About Kitty Kelley

Kitty Kelley, born Kathleen Roumell in Washington D.C., is an acclaimed American investigative biographer known for her unflinching portrayals of public figures. Born on February 7, 1942, she attended the University of Maryland but dropped out to marry at a young age. However, this early marriage did not deter her ambitions and, following a divorce, she moved to New York City where she worked in advertising and journalism. Kelley's career took off with the publication of "His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra" in 1986. This book, which became a bestseller, established her as a tenacious and insightful biographer, unafraid to delve into the personal lives of public figures. Her subsequent works include biographies of Jackie Kennedy Onassis (1997), Oprah Winfrey (2006), and the British Royal Family (2018). Kelley's writing style is characterized by thorough research, interviews with those close to her subjects, and a keen eye for revealing details. She often confronts sensitive issues and uncovers previously hidden aspects of her subjects' lives. This approach has not always been met with favor; some of her subjects have criticized her work, while others have praised it for its honesty and insight. Despite the controversy her books generate, Kitty Kelley continues to be a respected figure in literary circles. Her work serves as a reminder that biography can be both revealing and transformative, offering readers a deeper understanding of the complex lives of public figures.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The cover-up is usually worse than the crime."

The quote by Kitty Kelley, "The cover-up is usually worse than the crime," highlights a common truth in many situations – trying to hide or conceal wrongdoings can lead to more harm than the initial misdeed itself. This principle applies broadly across various contexts such as politics, business, and personal relationships, where individuals or groups may engage in deception or secrecy to protect their reputation or interests. However, over time, these attempts at cover-up can unravel, leading to increased scrutiny, damage to one's standing, loss of trust, and potentially legal consequences. Therefore, it is often more beneficial to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and take corrective action than to engage in a futile effort to cover them up.


"Truth is like a dog. It's messy. It's annoying. But it always comes back to bite you if you don't take care of it."

This quote implies that truth, much like a pet dog, can be inconvenient or troublesome due to its unpredictable and sometimes disruptive nature. However, just as a dog must be cared for lest it causes harm, so too must one face the truth and deal with it responsibly. If ignored or neglected, the truth has a tendency to return, often in ways that are more damaging than if addressed promptly and honestly.


"Fame is a vapor; popularity an accident; the only earthly certainty is oblivion."

This quote by Kitty Kelley underscores the transient nature of fame and popularity, emphasizing that they are fleeting phenomena in contrast to the enduring reality of oblivion or death. It serves as a reminder that regardless of one's success or notoriety, eventual obscurity is inevitable for all humans.


"A life lived without passion is a life unworthy of our human dignity."

This quote emphasizes that human life should be filled with passion, as it's an essential aspect of our dignity as humans. It suggests that living a passive or apathetic life is not merely unextraordinary; it's beneath the inherent worth and potential we possess as human beings. Passion fuels our growth, drives us to strive for more, and adds meaning and richness to our experiences. Lacking passion in life suggests that one may be settling for mediocrity instead of embracing their full capacity for greatness and fulfillment.


"The best revenge is not to be like those who wronged you."

Kitty Kelley's quote suggests that instead of seeking retribution or acting in a way similar to those who have harmed us, the most effective response is to demonstrate personal growth, empathy, and integrity. By not succumbing to negative behaviors, we can rise above adversity and prove our character as stronger and wiser than those who wronged us. This approach fosters personal development and promotes a positive impact in life.


Studies have been done showing that there really are gender differences, that women do bring more congeniality and compromise to the table.

- Kitty Kelley

Gender, More, Been, Compromise

Presidents often disappoint, but first ladies rarely do.

- Kitty Kelley

Disappoint, Presidents, Ladies

I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed that Katharine Carr Esters claims that she was 'tricked' into divulging her true feelings about Oprah and that she now denies that she revealed to me the identity of Oprah's biological father.

- Kitty Kelley

Father, About, Oprah, Claims

I have believed in the biographies I have written. I truly can tell you that they have influenced our society politically, culturally, socially.

- Kitty Kelley

Tell, Influenced, Socially, Believed

Kennedy was haunted by the Bay of Pigs invasion but carried the country through the Cuban Missile Crisis. He later increased the number of U.S. military advisers to South Vietnam to more than 16,000.

- Kitty Kelley

Country, Through, Increased, Haunted

My biography of Frank Sinatra is not paean to his music but rather an illumination of the man behind the music, who once described himself as 'an 18-karat manic-depressive who lived a life of violent emotional contradictions with an over-acute capacity for sadness as well as happiness.'

- Kitty Kelley

Behind, Frank, Violent, None

I can't say I wasn't warned. Alarms started clanging the day I signed to write 'His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra' (Bantam Books, 1986).

- Kitty Kelley

Say, Frank, Signed, None

I don't give you editorial control. I want to meet you. I want to interview everybody who's ever known you. I want to see your correspondence. I want to see your bank statements. But you will have no control over what I write. That's why I really believe in the unauthorized biography.

- Kitty Kelley

Why, Everybody, I Write, Interview

Gay marriage has jumped out of the closet on to the front page. Everyone from the president of the U.S. to retired four-star general Colin Powell is embracing the issue, now supported by most Americans. Still, a few people, like former First Lady Laura Bush appear to be conflicted.

- Kitty Kelley

Colin, Bush, Front Page, Laura

John F. Kennedy brought style and charisma to the White House and a first family that captivated the country: a handsome, witty president, an elegant first lady, and two adorable young children.

- Kitty Kelley

Handsome, Country, Brought, Captivated

The authorized biographers - the ones hand-picked to write the sanitized version of a subject's life - sit up front with the swells while the unauthorized biographer who writes without access or approval gets elbowed to the back of the bus.

- Kitty Kelley

Bus, Access, Subject, Writes

I am what is known as a benched Catholic and disillusioned by the church doctrine. I believe in things the Catholic Church does not believe in: divorce being one, and a women's right to choose being another.

- Kitty Kelley

Church, Choose, Another, Disillusioned

I admired Eugene McCarthy's courage and although I left his Senate staff after four years to accept a job as the researcher on the editorial page of the 'Washington Post,' I remained an admirer.

- Kitty Kelley

Admired, Editorial, McCarthy, Admirer

Shortly after Senator Eugene J. McCarthy died in 2005 the age of 89, I became an honorary member of the committee starting a fellowship in McCarthy's name at his alma mater, Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

- Kitty Kelley

University, Died, Became, Honorary

The rumors of Frank Sinatra's violence and his ties to organized crime were such that journalists joked in print about me ending up in concrete boots and sleeping with the fishes if I proceeded to write his biography.

- Kitty Kelley

Concrete, Frank, About, Boots

The difference between authorized and unauthorized biographies is the difference between riding in carriage or squatting in steerage.

- Kitty Kelley

Difference, Carriage, Authorized

People forget that unauthorized does not mean untrue and authorized does not mean authentic.

- Kitty Kelley

Forget, Mean, Does, Authorized

Both Kennedy and Obama exuded a dash of glamour in their roles as commander-in-chief and became the darlings of Hollywood. As president, each brought to the White House a fashionable and accomplished First Lady, two adorable young children and scene-stealing pets.

- Kitty Kelley

Hollywood, Pets, Became, Fashionable

JFK used to say the bishops and the cardinals were all Republicans, but the nuns were Democrats! I sort of believe that too.

- Kitty Kelley

Say, Republicans, Bishops, JFK

A hero is someone we can admire without apology.

- Kitty Kelley

Hero, Admire, Someone, Apology

While many applauded Oprah for opening her heart to young girls in South Africa, some criticized her for not investing in the youth of America.

- Kitty Kelley

South Africa, Applauded, Investing

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama don't go to Georgetown... The Clintons did, indeed. And the Clintons go out and about in Washington now. They go to neighborhood restaurants.

- Kitty Kelley

Go, Michelle, Obama, Neighborhood

Most historians agree that Abraham Lincoln was the most important man to ever occupy the White House because he abolished slavery and kept the states united through a bloody civil war.

- Kitty Kelley

Through, United, Occupy, None

When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring mystique of John F. Kennedy, who, according to polls, continues to be America's most beloved president.

- Kitty Kelley

Father, Mystique, Rightful, Beloved

Once I decide to do something, I can't have people telling me I can't. If there's a roadblock, you jump over it, walk around it, crawl under it.

- Kitty Kelley

Over, Over It, Telling, Crawl

Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure fair pay for women in the workplace. In addition, he succeeded in getting a measure passed to end discrimination against gays in the military.

- Kitty Kelley

Against, Ensure, Gays, Discrimination

I was raised Irish Catholic and went to Holy Names Academy, an all-girl's private Catholic school. I loved the nuns there and I love them to this day.

- Kitty Kelley

Love, Catholic School, Holy, Catholic

There's still time for redemption if I live long enough, don't you think?

- Kitty Kelley

Time, Think, Still, Redemption

He ordered killings as easily as he ordered linguine.

- Kitty Kelley

He, Easily, Ordered

I would love to do an unauthorized biography about Congress... It's like a secret society up there.

- Kitty Kelley

Love, Society, Would, Biography

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