--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A journalist's work depends on a…" description: "\"“A journalist's work depends on a willingness to ask questions of people who are better informed and more powerful than you.”\" — Elizabeth Pisani" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg" --- # A journalist's work depends on a willingness to ask… ![“A journalist's work depends on a willingness to ask questions of people who are better informed and more powerful than you.” quote by Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg) > ““A journalist's work depends on a willingness to ask questions of people who are better informed and more powerful than you.”” [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Journalists must be willing to question experts and powerful figures to uncover truth and hold power accountable. **In simple terms:** Ask powerful people tough questions. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and courage in reporting. Themes journalism accountability truth-seeking Mood determined serious Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - political reporting - investigative journalism - interviews Key Concepts critical inquiry power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help overcome resistance? - How do you prepare for hostile interviews? A Different Perspective Powerful sources may resist or intimidate, limiting answers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-questions/) [Depends Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends-willingness-323081/) [Informed Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/informed-powerful-500317/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Journalist Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist-work-500316/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) [Willingness Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness-ask-500318/) ## Related quotes > [The journalist must do his work in a kind of deliberately induced state of moral anarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-journalist-must-do-his-work-in-a-kind-of-deliberately-induced/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [“I believe that a willingness to ask when they do not know is a characteristic of many great minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-w-k-rner/i-believe-that-a-willingness-to-ask-when-they-do-not-know-is-a/) [T.W. Körner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-w-k-rner/) > [“Whether or not you get what you're looknig for depends entirely on one things and one thing only. It depends on your willingness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-webb/whether-or-not-you-get-what-you-re-looknig-for-depends-entirely-on/) [Wyatt Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-webb/) > [“So much depends upon our willingness to make up our minds, collectively and individually, that our present levels of performance are not acceptable, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/so-much-depends-upon-our-willingness-to-make-up-our-minds/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/the-amount-of-good-luck-coming-your-way-depends-on-your-willingness/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [“It’s funny how the devout pretend like they want people to ask questions, but really they only want you to ask the questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tal-m-klein/it-s-funny-how-the-devout-pretend-like-they-want-people-to-ask/) [Tal M. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tal-m-klein/) > [...all the answers are but waiting for us while we, poor fools, ask questions and wait for the secrets of God to open themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-asad/all-the-answers-are-but-waiting-for-us-while-we-poor-fools-ask/) [Muhammad Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-asad/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I feel really strongly about not wanting to overly guide the reader about what he or she should think. I really trust the reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-feel-really-strongly-about-not-wanting-to-overly-guide-the-reader/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“you do that all the time you know. you ask me questions when you know the answer will piss you off. ask me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-do-that-all-the-time-you-know-you-ask-me-questions-when-you-know/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) ## More by Elizabeth Pisani > [I think if we can prevent a fatal disease, we should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/i-think-if-we-can-prevent-a-fatal-disease-we-should/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) > [“Local NGOs are like high-fashion boutiques. They sell very high-quality products – the Prada bag, the Armani frock – to a small number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/local-ngos-are-like-high-fashion-boutiques-they-sell-very-high/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) > [“When the country’s founding fathers declared independence from Dutch colonists in 1945, the declaration read, in its entirety: ‘We, the people of Indonesia, hereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/when-the-country-s-founding-fathers-declared-independence-from-dutch/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) > [“There’s no doubt that Indonesia’s infrastructure is in a parlous state. It’s the largest country in the world to consist entirely of islands, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/there-s-no-doubt-that-indonesia-s-infrastructure-is-in-a-parlous/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) > [I don't get how it's okay to keep someone alive once they're sick - but not okay to stop them getting sick. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/i-don-t-get-how-it-s-okay-to-keep-someone-alive-once-they-re-sick-but/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) > [“Yes, our social and economic circumstances shape decisions we make about all sorts of things in life, including sex. Sometimes they rob us of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/yes-our-social-and-economic-circumstances-shape-decisions-we-make/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) [Explore all 7 Elizabeth Pisani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) ## More Ask questions quotes > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“you do that all the time you know. you ask me questions when you know the answer will piss you off. ask me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-do-that-all-the-time-you-know-you-ask-me-questions-when-you-know/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I feel really strongly about not wanting to overly guide the reader about what he or she should think. I really trust the reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-feel-really-strongly-about-not-wanting-to-overly-guide-the-reader/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [...all the answers are but waiting for us while we, poor fools, ask questions and wait for the secrets of God to open themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-asad/all-the-answers-are-but-waiting-for-us-while-we-poor-fools-ask/) [Muhammad Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-asad/) > [“It’s funny how the devout pretend like they want people to ask questions, but really they only want you to ask the questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tal-m-klein/it-s-funny-how-the-devout-pretend-like-they-want-people-to-ask/) [Tal M. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tal-m-klein/) > [“This was a success in itself, but it came with an added and unexpected benefit: The act of thinking about the problem and responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-was-a-success-in-itself-but-it-came-with-an-added-and-unexpected/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [I feel like a good director provokes you to ask questions about your character, but doesn't answer them for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-reed/i-feel-like-a-good-director-provokes-you-to-ask-questions-about-your/) [Crystal Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-reed/) > [“You ask questions. You take your life seriously, but you don't take yourself too seriously. You're going to take over the world, and change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/you-ask-questions-you-take-your-life-seriously-but-you-don-t-take/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [The most subversive people are those who ask questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-most-subversive-people-are-those-who-ask-questions/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Rules for texting a girl: 1. Don't take 40 minutes to reply. 2. Use good grammar. 3. Ask Questions. 4. Use the :) face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rules-for-texting-a-girl-1-don-t-take-40-minutes-to-reply-2-use-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 828 Ask questions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-questions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A journalist's work depends on a willingness to ask questions of people who are better informed and more powerful than you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Pisani" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willingness-to-ask-questions-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ask questions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willingness-to-ask-questions-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/elizabeth-pisani-50844_ask-questions_a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willing_2442501.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A journalist's work depends on a willingness to ask questions of people who are better informed and more…” — Elizabeth Pisani", "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": "Elizabeth Pisani", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A journalist's work depends on a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willingness-to-ask-questions-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/a-journalist-s-work-depends-on-a-willingness-to-ask-questions-of/#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 } } ] } ```