In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying what will get them ratings.

Quote by Norman Lear

Topics: Norman Lear Quotes

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.

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.

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...

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...

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

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

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....

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.

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...

I guess because the shows were activist in their own way - the marriage of...

I guess because the shows were activist in their own way - the marriage of...

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...

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.

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 are a country of excess. So it's not the violence, per se, but the...

We are a country of excess. So it's not the violence, per se, but the...

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

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.

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.

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...

Nobody doubts my partisanship, but a lot of the activity is nonpartisan.

Nobody doubts my partisanship, but a lot of the activity is nonpartisan.

Granted, the writers, directors, producers, and that community make a great deal of money. But...

Granted, the writers, directors, producers, and that community make a great deal of money. But...

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...