False history gets made all day, any day; the truth of the new is never on the news.
—Adrienne Rich (1929–2012) American Poet, Essayist
It is always the unreadable that occurs.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Ill news is winged with fate, and flies apace.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Evil report carries further than any applause
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Once a newspaper touches a story the facts are lost forever, even to the protagonists.
—Norman Mailer (1923–2007) American Novelist Essayist
It is not true that virtually all news in a totalitarian state is false.
—Konrad Zuse (1910–95) German Engineer, Inventor
A map does not exhibit a more distinct view of the situation and boundaries of every country, than its news does a picture of the genius and morals of its inhabitants.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Evil news rides post, while good news bates.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Newspapers have degenerated. They may now be absolutely relied upon.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
No one knows who is listening, say nothing you would not wish put in the newspapers.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
In the case of news, we should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
I’ll give anything for a good copy now, be it true or false, so it be news.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Headlines twice the size of the events.
—John Galsworthy (1867–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely happier for it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Flash’d from his bed the electric tidings came, he is no better, he is much the same.
—Unknown
He comes, the herald of a noisy world, news from all nations lumbering at his back; a messenger of grief perhaps to thousands, and a joy to some.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
The advertisements are the most truthful part of a newspaper.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
The first bringer of unwelcome news hath but a losing office.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I well believe it, to unwilling ears;None love the messenger who brings bad news.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what’s moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves.
—George W. Bush (b.1946) American Head of State, Businessperson
If you don’t read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers.
—Allen Ginsberg (1926–97) American Poet, Activist
It’s hard to believe that in the greatest democracy in the world, we need legislation to prevent the government from writing and paying for the news.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Attorney, Politician, Diplomat
Newsmen believe that news is a tacitly acknowledged fourth branch of the federal system. This is why most news about government sounds as if it were federally mandated—serious, bulky and blandly worthwhile, like a high-fiber diet set in type.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
I always turn to the sports pages first, which records people’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.
—Earl Warren (1891–1974) American Judge, Politician, Governor
They are so filthy and bestial that no honest man would admit one into his house for a water-closet doormat.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
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