---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cut my teeth as a journalist writing…"
description: "\"I cut my teeth as a journalist writing about societies that didn't have democracy.\" — Chrystia Freeland"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg"
---

#  I cut my teeth as a journalist writing about societies…

![“I cut my teeth as a journalist writing about societies that didn't have democracy.” quote by Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg)

> “I cut my teeth as a journalist writing about societies that didn't have democracy.”

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She began her career reporting on societies lacking democracy, shaping her perspective on governance.

**In simple terms:** Early reporting on non‑democratic societies shaped her view.

Key Takeaway

Learn from diverse political contexts.

Themes

journalism democracy politics

Mood

analytical informed

Type

reflective educational

When to use this quote

- policy analysis
- media training
- international relations
- public speaking

Key Concepts

reporting analysis globalawareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How does early exposure affect policy decisions?
- What lessons apply to current democratic challenges?

A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex societies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Cut Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cut-teeth-1038361/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Didn Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-democracy-1038362/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Journalist Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist-writing-1038363/) [Societies Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/societies-didn-1038360/) [Teeth Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teeth-journalist-1038359/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [We are literally linked in a circle, including with nature, as well as with other human beings. Old societies didn't have and still don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/we-are-literally-linked-in-a-circle-including-with-nature-as-well-as/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [How can there be democracy if the leadership in the United States and Britain don't uphold the values which my father's generation fought the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/how-can-there-be-democracy-if-the-leadership-in-the-united-states-and/)

[Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/)

> [I've never had any interest at all in being a journalist or writing some sort of historically accurate autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-ve-never-had-any-interest-at-all-in-being-a-journalist-or-writing/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [Ive never had any interest at all in being a journalist or writing some sort of historically accurate autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/ive-never-had-any-interest-at-all-in-being-a-journalist-or-writing/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [My mother was a journalist, so writing is not unnatural to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/my-mother-was-a-journalist-so-writing-is-not-unnatural-to-me/)

[Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/)

> [I never intended to have a career as a journalist, writing about people who make movies. I did it as something that was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-never-intended-to-have-a-career-as-a-journalist-writing-about/)

[Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/)

> [Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/parents-are-the-bones-on-which-children-cut-their-teeth/)

[Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/)

> [I cut my teeth on religious liberty issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-cut-my-teeth-on-religious-liberty-issues/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [I was blessed with a good character in 'Hollyoaks,' and I cut my teeth in 'Brookside' as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sloane/i-was-blessed-with-a-good-character-in-hollyoaks-and-i-cut-my-teeth/)

[Barry Sloane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sloane/)

> [Television is where I cut my teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/television-is-where-i-cut-my-teeth/)

[Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/)

> [My mom always says I cut my teeth on the church pew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/my-mom-always-says-i-cut-my-teeth-on-the-church-pew/)

[Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/)

> [Even though I'm a jazz-trained drummer, I cut my teeth playing rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-chamberlin/even-though-i-m-a-jazz-trained-drummer-i-cut-my-teeth-playing-rock/)

[Jimmy Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-chamberlin/)

> [In Cleveland, music was always a big part of my life. That's really where I cut my teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/in-cleveland-music-was-always-a-big-part-of-my-life-that-s-really/)

[Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/)

> [In the olden days you cut your teeth on the northern club circuit. I've cut mine on the southern black-tie circuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-armstrong/in-the-olden-days-you-cut-your-teeth-on-the-northern-club-circuit-i/)

[Alexander Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-armstrong/)

> [I really cut my teeth on off-off-off Broadway shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bea-arthur/i-really-cut-my-teeth-on-off-off-off-broadway-shows/)

[Bea Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bea-arthur/)

## More by Chrystia Freeland

> [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [In a globalized economy, jobs no longer need a passport, but workers do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/in-a-globalized-economy-jobs-no-longer-need-a-passport-but-workers-do/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [When you think of technological revolution, you probably think of geeks in cool coastal spaces like the Google campus, or perhaps of math wizards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/when-you-think-of-technological-revolution-you-probably-think-of/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [It was surprising to me to hear a member question whether another member of the House was an adult. We're all adults in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/it-was-surprising-to-me-to-hear-a-member-question-whether-another/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [Especially among journalists, politics is not a pursuit that's held in high esteem. We tend to be cynical about it - but I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/especially-among-journalists-politics-is-not-a-pursuit-that-s-held-in/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [Talking about income inequality, even if you're not on the Forbes 400 list, can make us feel uncomfortable. It feels less positive, less optimistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/talking-about-income-inequality-even-if-you-re-not-on-the-forbes-400/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [The chief job of foreign policy today is helping to figure out the rules for the global economy and defending each nation's interests within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/the-chief-job-of-foreign-policy-today-is-helping-to-figure-out-the/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [I love the Internet. I love my mobile devices. I love the fact that they mean that whoever chooses to will be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/i-love-the-internet-i-love-my-mobile-devices-i-love-the-fact-that/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [TED is certainly a gathering of an incredibly eclectic, incredibly interesting community, but it's also an elite community - at least an important portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/ted-is-certainly-a-gathering-of-an-incredibly-eclectic-incredibly/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [Motherhood may be a 'killer' when it comes to becoming a Master of the Universe, but among middle-class mothers, even after that touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/motherhood-may-be-a-killer-when-it-comes-to-becoming-a-master-of-the/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [A thing that really troubles me about a more polarized society is that you stop having a sense of society and citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/a-thing-that-really-troubles-me-about-a-more-polarized-society-is/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [Western investment is usually assumed to walk hand-in-hand with the democratic values of its home countries, and indeed, opening an economy to outside money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/western-investment-is-usually-assumed-to-walk-hand-in-hand-with-the/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [Twitter-lutionaries are good at toppling regimes, but in the Mideast and North Africa, they're losing out to the Islamists, who've built protest movements the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/twitter-lutionaries-are-good-at-toppling-regimes-but-in-the-mideast/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [I am a very strong supporter of our government's view that it is important to engage with all countries around the world - very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/i-am-a-very-strong-supporter-of-our-government-s-view-that-it-is/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [The high-tech, globalized capitalism of the 21st century is very different from the postwar version of capitalism that performed so magnificently for the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/the-high-tech-globalized-capitalism-of-the-21st-century-is-very/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

[Explore all 102 Chrystia Freeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I cut my teeth as a journalist writing about societies that didn't have democracy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chrystia Freeland"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-about-societies-that-didn-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-about-societies-that-didn-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/chrystia-freeland-5308_about_i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-a_879712.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I cut my teeth as a journalist writing about societies that didn't have democracy.” — Chrystia Freeland",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chrystia Freeland",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I cut my teeth as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-about-societies-that-didn-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/i-cut-my-teeth-as-a-journalist-writing-about-societies-that-didn-t/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
