Few people transformed television quite like Norman Lear. The legendary writer and producer revolutionized the sitcom by tackling issues that had rarely been discussed on network TV, creating groundbreaking series including All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Maude, One Day at a Time, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Sanford and Son. His fearless storytelling changed the television landscape forever and inspired generations of creators. As Tyler Perry once said about his legacy, "I exist because of Norman Lear."
Born on July 27, 1922 in Hartford, Connecticut, Lear would have been 106 today. Before he became one of television's greatest pioneers, during World War II he served in the US Army Air Forces as radio operator and gunner aboard B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. He flew more than 50 combat missions over Europe. When this writer interviewed him for Parade about the Tuskegee Airmen, he vividly recalled the relief of seeing the famous Red Tail escorts protecting his bomber. "Those guys stayed very close to us in our B-17s. When they were in the air, we felt a little safer… Their planes danced in the sky," he shared. It was a memory he never forgot and one that reflected his lifelong admiration for courage and service.
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Over a career that spanned more than seven decades, Lear won six Primetime Emmy Awards, received the National Medal of Arts, was honored by the Kennedy Center and, at age 97, became the oldest Emmy winner in history.
Yet awards were never his driving force. Lear remained curious and creative throughout his life, refusing to slow down. He continued developing television projects, mentoring young storytellers and advocating for civic engagement well into his 90s. In fact, he was actively working until the final weeks of his life, developing new television projects—including a reboot of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman—before his death at age 101. His inspiring work ethic demonstrated that creativity has no retirement age.
Although Lear was celebrated for changing television forever, he often credited his success not to talent alone but to a willingness to keep learning. Curious by nature and endlessly interested in people, he believed every encounter offered an opportunity to grow. That philosophy shaped not only the unforgettable characters he created but also the extraordinary life he lived.
Quote of the Day by Norman Lear
"I fell in love, as a young man, with a statement: 'Each man is my superior in that I may learn from him.'"
Norman Lear shared today's quote during a 2021 interview with CBSSunday Morning while reflecting on the philosophy that guided his extraordinary life and career. Speaking with correspondent, and his son-in-law, Dr. Jon LaPook, Lear explained that one simple statement he discovered as a young man became a lifelong compass. The phrase shaped the way he approached every conversation, relationship and creative endeavor.
Related: Quote of the Day: Poet Edgar Allan Poe on the Power of Creativity, Imagination and Daydreaming
The saying, originally attributed to the Indian spiritual teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan, deeply resonated with Lear. Rather than measuring people by their titles, accomplishments or social status, he believed every person had something valuable to teach him. Whether he was talking with world leaders, fellow artists or someone he'd just met, Lear approached each encounter with genuine curiosity and the belief that wisdom could come from anywhere.
That philosophy is why Lear's television shows felt so authentic. He spent his life listening to people, observing how they spoke, what they feared, what made them laugh and what brought them together. By remaining open to new perspectives, he created groundbreaking characters and stories that reflected the richness and complexity of American life.
Norman Lear's words remind us that true wisdom begins with humility. It's easy to assume we have nothing to learn from someone whose life looks very different from our own. Lear challenged that idea, believing that every person carries experiences, insights and perspectives that can broaden our understanding of the world.
His philosophy wasn't simply about acquiring knowledge. It was about cultivating empathy. By approaching others with curiosity instead of judgment, we become better listeners, stronger leaders and more compassionate human beings. Lear understood that meaningful conversations begin when we stop trying to be the smartest person in the room and start asking questions.
Perhaps that's why Lear remained so vibrant and creative throughout his life. Even after changing television forever, winning countless awards and becoming one of Hollywood's most influential producers, he never believed he had all the answers. He continued listening, learning and growing well into his 90s, proving that curiosity isn't just the key to great storytelling. It is the key to a life well lived.
Related: Quote of the Day: Ralph Waldo Emerson on Self-Reliance and Staying True to Yourself
More Quotes from Norman Lear
“Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don't collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don't really mean anything.”
"When we laugh together, we are ONE."
“I’ve learned something every day from the start to this moment, and there’s far more to know.”
"The best gift I've ever gotten, I've gotten every day of my life, and that's waking up. I love waking up"
About All In The Family: "The greatest compliment I have ever received, and I receive it almost on a daily basis…is, ‘I used to watch it with my folks and my grandfolks; we used to watch it as a family. And then we argued about it, we talked about it.’ That, to me, is the greatest compliment, that it caused people to talk.”
“I don’t wake up in the morning to be old. I wake up to do the things that were on my mind when I fell asleep last night.”
"The sooner we agree that we’re just other versions of each other—we human beings—the sooner we will find some sense of world peace."
“I just wanted to make people laugh. We dealt with serious subjects, but I saw that there was humor in everything.”
“The only thing that’s impossible is the thing that you don’t try.”
Next, Quote of the Day: Psychologist Gordon Allport on Humor Being the Best Way To Fight Life’s ‘Tangles’—‘We Have No Appropriate Sword Other Than Laughter’
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