The first rule of my speaking is: listen!
I worked on the United Parcel Service truck, I sold home delivery of milk. But always, in the back of my mind, I wanted to get into radio.
I’m the worst person to be stuck with in a traffic jam.
Sandy Koufax went to the same school as me. I graduated two years ahead of Sandy.
The names are bigger, the show is worldwide, but I get a royal pass into life in the broadcasting business.
It’s joyful to give. But for people who want to take advantage of you, you’re kind of an easy mark.
Communications is the number one major in America today. CNN had 25,000 applicants for five intern jobs this summer.
I have lifelong friends. My oldest friend, Herbie, has been a friend since I was 9. I’ve had bonds for over 50 years with people.
When I was 5 years old I would lie in bed, look at the radio, and I wanted to be on the radio. I don’t know why.
I like to put a stake in people, because I know people helped me.
Nobody beats a bunch of journalists for inflating their rather mundane straightforward chores with a lot more melodrama and self-importance than the job should be asked to contain.
Gleason became like a mentor of mine. I had Gleason helping me on television, Godfrey on radio.
I was always telling everyone, I want to be a broadcaster. They’d say, What, are you crazy? What, you’re going to be Arthur Godfrey?
I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve bonded with some people who use you, and some people that take advantage of you.
Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.
Good writers are in the business of leaving signposts saying, Tour my world, see and feel it through my eyes; I am your guide.
Texas is my mind’s country, that place I most want to understand and record and preserve. Four generations of my people sleep in its soil; I have children there, and a grandson; the dead past and the living future tie me to it.
My first rule of conversation is this: I never learn a thing while I’m talking. I realize every morning that nothing I say today will teach me anything, so if I’m going to learn a lot today, I’ll have to do it by listening. As.
Successful people who cannot express themselves well? I can’t think of one.
Don’t utilize utilize. Use use.
The best conversationalists are curious about everything. That’s why they are good at listening and why they have broad horizons – they’re always learning something new.