--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not brain surgery. It's not nuclear…" description: "\"It's not brain surgery. It's not nuclear physics. It's television. It's only television.\" — Linda Ellerbee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/linda-ellerbee-13669_brain_it-s-not-brain-surgery-it-s-not-nuclear_2759741.png" --- # It's not brain surgery. It's not nuclear physics. It's… ![“It's not brain surgery. It's not nuclear physics. It's television. It's only television.” quote by Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/linda-ellerbee-13669_brain_it-s-not-brain-surgery-it-s-not-nuclear_2759741.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/linda-ellerbee-13669_brain_it-s-not-brain-surgery-it-s-not-nuclear_2759741.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/linda-ellerbee-13669_brain_it-s-not-brain-surgery-it-s-not-nuclear_2759741.png) > “It's not brain surgery. It's not nuclear physics. It's television. It's only television.” [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She humorously notes that TV is simple compared to complex fields like brain surgery or nuclear physics. **In simple terms:** TV is simple, not complex science. Key Takeaway Don’t overcomplicate simple media. Themes media simplicity humor Mood lighthearted critical Type commentary humorous When to use this quote - news consumption - entertainment - media literacy - critical thinking Key Concepts communication theory public perception Questions to Reflect On - Why is TV considered “simple”? - How does media shape perception? A Different Perspective May downplay media influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-surgery/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-physics/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Physics Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics-television-3161098/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Surgery Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery-nuclear-3161099/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-television-2360187/) ## Related quotes > [The press don't like to say nice things because nice is boring. It's much better to label me the devil. What we do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/the-press-don-t-like-to-say-nice-things-because-nice-is-boring-it-s/) [Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/) > [Filmmaking is a huge privilege; it's not brain surgery. It's art, and art is supposed to be an enjoyable process, and it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lake-bell/filmmaking-is-a-huge-privilege-it-s-not-brain-surgery-it-s-art-and/) [Lake Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lake-bell/) > [I properly enjoy what I do, but I know it's not brain surgery. I don't take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-macdonald/i-properly-enjoy-what-i-do-but-i-know-it-s-not-brain-surgery-i-don-t/) [Kelly Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-macdonald/) > [The only thing that I haven't done is perform brain surgery on myself. I've been very, very lucky. I've spared Shakespeare undue stress by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/the-only-thing-that-i-haven-t-done-is-perform-brain-surgery-on-myself/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [ I never felt inspired to write this book \[ I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?\], like I did with the cat or dog… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-becker/i-never-felt-inspired-to-write-this-book-i-had-brain-surgery-what-s/) [Suzy Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-becker/) > [Making records is not brain surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/making-records-is-not-brain-surgery/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [Cut the top off the Jag, call it open brain surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-dro/cut-the-top-off-the-jag-call-it-open-brain-surgery/) [Young Dro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-dro/) > [I think I'm still trying to find my feet as an actor. And I know it ain't brain surgery, but it confuses me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/i-think-i-m-still-trying-to-find-my-feet-as-an-actor-and-i-know-it/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) > [The interesting thing with acting, actually, is that you get to be so many different people that you get to do so much research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gugino/the-interesting-thing-with-acting-actually-is-that-you-get-to-be-so/) [Carla Gugino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gugino/) > ['Why do you think it is...', I asked Dr. Cook ... 'that brain surgery, above all else-even rocket science-gets singled out as the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/why-do-you-think-it-is-i-asked-dr-cook-that-brain-surgery-above-all/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I'm an actor - it's not brain surgery. If I do my job right, people won't ask for their money back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-m-an-actor-it-s-not-brain-surgery-if-i-do-my-job-right-people-won-t/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [So long as I get some sleep and get to take care of myself and eat healthy and that sort of thing, I'm OK.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-rinna/so-long-as-i-get-some-sleep-and-get-to-take-care-of-myself-and-eat/) [Lisa Rinna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-rinna/) > [Fashion and style is just that. Fashion and style. It's not brain surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-crawford/fashion-and-style-is-just-that-fashion-and-style-it-s-not-brain/) [Cindy Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-crawford/) > [What makes you think painting is any less difficult than brain surgery?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-willard/what-makes-you-think-painting-is-any-less-difficult-than-brain-surgery/) [Christopher Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-willard/) > [What I've learned is that unless it's an emergency, like a fire or brain surgery, hierarchy is not necessary and may be damaging. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-unless-it-s-an-emergency-like-a-fire-or/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More by Linda Ellerbee > [I have always felt that laughter in the face of reality is probably the finest sound there is and will last until the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/i-have-always-felt-that-laughter-in-the-face-of-reality-is-probably/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [What I like most about change is that it's a synonym for 'hope'. If you're taking a risk, what you are really saying is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/what-i-like-most-about-change-is-that-it-s-a-synonym-for-hope-if-you/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [I've heard it said that the first law of journalism is to confirm existing prejudice, rather than contradict it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/i-ve-heard-it-said-that-the-first-law-of-journalism-is-to-confirm/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [If somebody stretches out a helping hand, don't look to see if it's old, young, male, female, or green, just take the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/if-somebody-stretches-out-a-helping-hand-don-t-look-to-see-if-it-s/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [People are pretty much alike. It's only that our differences are more susceptible to definition than our similarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/people-are-pretty-much-alike-it-s-only-that-our-differences-are-more/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [Co-dependence...taking someone else's temperature to see how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/co-dependence-taking-someone-else-s-temperature-to-see-how-you-feel/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [Presumably a movement is more polite than a revolution, and a lot slower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/presumably-a-movement-is-more-polite-than-a-revolution-and-a-lot/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [I am not for abortion; nobody is for abortion. I am for your right to make your own hard choices in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/i-am-not-for-abortion-nobody-is-for-abortion-i-am-for-your-right-to/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [“Nothing you think at twenty-five is so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/nothing-you-think-at-twenty-five-is-so/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [I think laughter may be a form of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/i-think-laughter-may-be-a-form-of-courage/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [If you believe in your heart that you are right, you must fight with all your might to do it your way. Only dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/if-you-believe-in-your-heart-that-you-are-right-you-must-fight-with/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [Like Nietzsche, I believe that without music, life would be a mistake. Nothing but silence says it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/like-nietzsche-i-believe-that-without-music-life-would-be-a-mistake/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [When the anchorman is wearing a colonel's uniform, it tells you something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/when-the-anchorman-is-wearing-a-colonel-s-uniform-it-tells-you/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [Styles, like everything else, change. Style doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/styles-like-everything-else-change-style-doesn-t/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [Just because it's a rat race doesn't mean it's okay to be a rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/just-because-it-s-a-rat-race-doesn-t-mean-it-s-okay-to-be-a-rat/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) [Explore all 49 Linda Ellerbee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not brain surgery. It's not nuclear physics. It's television. 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