Allan Sloan Quotes

I grew up in an environment of jokes and sarcasm and puns. I talk that way, so I write that way.

It’s easy to write a good column if you’ve got good information. It’s hard if you have to depend on style alone. I suppose there are people who can get away with styling on a regular basis. I’m not one of them. You’re probably not, either.

Report, report, report. Dig, dig, dig. Think, think, think. Don’t stop being a reporter because you’ve become a columnist.

I wanted to be a columnist so badly that I took a huge pay cut to leave Forbes, which wouldn’t give me a column, and join Newsday, which wanted my column for its Sunday business section.

Don’t commit to being a columnist unless you’re willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful to say. Say it in a way that will interest someone other than you, your family and your sources.

The column’s worked out great for me. I’ve gotten a ton of ego satisfaction, had a lot of fun, won a batch of prizes and occasionally done some public good.