---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's like I say to young people who ask…"
description: "\"It's like I say to young people who ask me about going into journalism: If you want to be loved, don't go into this business.\" — Helen Thomas"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg"
---

#  It's like I say to young people who ask me about going…

![“It's like I say to young people who ask me about going into journalism: If you want to be loved, don't go into this business.” quote by Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg)

> “It's like I say to young people who ask me about going into journalism: If you want to be loved, don't go into this business.”

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

## About This Quote

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

Journalism is a demanding field that often sacrifices personal affection; those seeking love should avoid it.

**In simple terms:** Journalism can be unloving; avoid if you crave love.

Key Takeaway

Consider motivations before entering journalism.

Themes

career love journalism

Mood

candid critical

Type

professional personal

When to use this quote

- career choice
- relationship expectations
- media work

Key Concepts

public scrutiny emotional cost integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- What draws you to journalism despite challenges?
- Can love be expressed through work?

A Different Perspective

Love can be found in other professions; passion may outweigh lack of affection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/)

## Related quotes

> [I've always been an outsider. I think, being in the White House press corps, it's difficult to do the sort of journalism that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/i-ve-always-been-an-outsider-i-think-being-in-the-white-house-press/)

[Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/)

> [I want to go to college to study journalism. I want to speak French fluently, to travel. My mom was a journalist and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-want-to-go-to-college-to-study-journalism-i-want-to-speak-french/)

[Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/)

> [What we want is responsible journalism. We want to avoid bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/what-we-want-is-responsible-journalism-we-want-to-avoid-bigotry/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [You basically have to be willing to devote your life to journalism if you want to break in. Treat it like it's medical school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/you-basically-have-to-be-willing-to-devote-your-life-to-journalism-if/)

[Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/)

> [I don't want to paint everybody with the same broad brush. But I do think that the majority of folks now in the briefing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/i-don-t-want-to-paint-everybody-with-the-same-broad-brush-but-i-do/)

[Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/)

> [There is a shortage of clerks. Everyone is going into journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/there-is-a-shortage-of-clerks-everyone-is-going-into-journalism/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [I loved journalism until the day my journalism teacher, a man I revered, came by my desk and said, 'Are you planning on going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-asner/i-loved-journalism-until-the-day-my-journalism-teacher-a-man-i/)

[Ed Asner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-asner/)

> [My father always wanted me to be president of the United States, and his fallback position was that I not become a ward of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sessums/my-father-always-wanted-me-to-be-president-of-the-united-states-and/)

[Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sessums/)

> [Journalism today is obviously in a major transition. Going to journalism school, learning how to write, working your way up in a little paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/journalism-today-is-obviously-in-a-major-transition-going-to/)

[Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/)

> [My dad bought me a guitar and people would ask me to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/my-dad-bought-me-a-guitar-and-people-would-ask-me-to-play/)

[Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/)

> [Once you have a kid, it's amazing how quickly people ask, 'So are you going to stop at just one?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/once-you-have-a-kid-it-s-amazing-how-quickly-people-ask-so-are-you/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-was-off-tv-people-would-ask-me-to-please-come-back-which-i/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. It's funny - people ask me that, and I don't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-rosman/i-don-t-know-what-i-want-to-be-when-i-grow-up-it-s-funny-people-ask/)

[Mackenzie Rosman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-rosman/)

> [It's always fun when people ask you for advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-always-fun-when-people-ask-you-for-advice/)

[Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/)

> [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/)

[Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/)

## More by Helen Thomas

> [I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-think-when-you-re-dead-you-re/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [I'm of Arab background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-of-arab-background/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today-has-got-to-know-his-life-or/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/there-are-better-ways-we-can-transform-this-virulent-hatred-by-living/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [I think I'll work all my life. When you're having fun, why stop having fun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-think-i-ll-work-all-my-life-when-you-re-having-fun-why-stop-having/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [“Today, because of the immediacy of the live TV appearance with the direct quote, the presidency seems hamstrung with governing by polls and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/today-because-of-the-immediacy-of-the-live-tv-appearance-with-the/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [Maybe the Jefferson case will give members of Congress second thoughts the next time they get ready to legislate away the rights of ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/maybe-the-jefferson-case-will-give-members-of-congress-second/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [I'm a liberal, I was born a liberal, I'll be one 'til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-a-liberal-i-was-born-a-liberal-i-ll-be-one-til-i-die-what-else/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/we-are-the-only-institution-in-our-society-that-can-question-a/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [I had a lot of fun bantering back and forth with Kennedy. But for ease and comfort, it would be Gerald Ford. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-had-a-lot-of-fun-bantering-back-and-forth-with-kennedy-but-for-ease/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [“Anybody in public life is well aware of how important the judgments of the press are. I'm firmly convinced that if the good Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-in-public-life-is-well-aware-of-how-important-the-judgments/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

> [All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/all-presidents-rail-against-the-press-it-goes-with-the-turf/)

[Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

[Explore all 95 Helen Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/)

## 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

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's like I say to young people who ask me about going into journalism: If you want to be loved, don't go into this business.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Helen Thomas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask-me-about-going-into/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask-me-about-going-into/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/helen-thomas-7044_about_it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask_1189879.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's like I say to young people who ask me about going into journalism: If you want to be loved, don't go…” — Helen Thomas",
                "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": "Helen Thomas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's like I say to young...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask-me-about-going-into/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/it-s-like-i-say-to-young-people-who-ask-me-about-going-into/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
