I guess because the shows were activist in their own way - the marriage of my public activism and my career activism, you know - people understand me very well. They also understand there's a very strong bipartisan part in…

Quote by Norman Lear

Topics: Norman Lear Quotes

Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't...

Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't...

So we gravitated to shows and issues and causes that made people care.

So we gravitated to shows and issues and causes that made people care.

Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes....

Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes....

Life is about having a good time, and it was a good time. We did...

Life is about having a good time, and it was a good time. We did...

I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins.

I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins.

That's the heart of it: My shows were not that controversial with the American people....

That's the heart of it: My shows were not that controversial with the American people....

But it also became the experience, or was the experience, of the writers who were...

But it also became the experience, or was the experience, of the writers who were...

But you know, my dad called me the laziest white kid he ever met. When...

But you know, my dad called me the laziest white kid he ever met. When...

I wanted to just do a one-act play for 26 minutes, with commercials at the...

I wanted to just do a one-act play for 26 minutes, with commercials at the...

When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one...

When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one...

The trafficking of sex and violence is comes after the demand for ratings.

The trafficking of sex and violence is comes after the demand for ratings.

We did an episode on Good Times which came out of a newspaper article about...

We did an episode on Good Times which came out of a newspaper article about...

Originally, with all the shows, we went looking for belly laughs.

Originally, with all the shows, we went looking for belly laughs.

I stop and look at traffic accidents. I won't hang around, but when I hear...

I stop and look at traffic accidents. I won't hang around, but when I hear...

We got ratings. It isn't that they won't quarrel with you, or say you're always...

We got ratings. It isn't that they won't quarrel with you, or say you're always...

The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.

The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.

You're in the business - when you're a writer, producer, director - to get ratings.

You're in the business - when you're a writer, producer, director - to get ratings.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared - we were...

It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared - we were...

Even when they don't know who Nixon was, these shows will continue to play.

Even when they don't know who Nixon was, these shows will continue to play.