Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Peter Jennings

Quote by Peter Jennings

Author

Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings was a distinguished American journalist, widely recognized for his role as a television news anchor. His career with ABC News, where he anchored "World News Tonight" from 1983 until his death in 2005, solidified his place as one of the most respected journalists of his time. Jennings was known for his composed and professional demeanor, and he was celebrated for his in-depth reporting and ability to engage with viewers. more

You May Also Like

“Books are frozen voices, in the same way that musical scores are frozen music. The score is a way of transmitting the music to someone who can play it, releasing it into the air where it can once more be heard. And the black alphabet marks on the page represent words that were once spoken, if only in the writer's head. They lie there inert until a reader comes along and transforms the letters into living sounds. The reader is the musician of the book: each reader may read the same text, just as each violinist plays the same piece, but each interpretation is different.”

“To any writer: Teach yourself to work in uncertainty. Many writers are anxious when they begin, or try something new. Even Matisse painted some of his Fauvist pictures in anxiety. Maybe that helped him to simplify. Character, discipline, negative capability count. Write, complete, revise. If it doesn't work, begin something else.”

“A novel can educate to some extent, but first a novel has to entertain. That's the contract with the reader: you give me ten hours and I'll give you a reason to turn every page. I have a commitment to accessibility. I believe in plot. I want an English professor to understand the symbolism while at the same time I want the people I grew up with - who may not often read anything but the Sears catalog - to read my books.”