17 Quotes & Sayings By Rod Serling

Rod Serling was an American television and film producer, writer, and director best known for creating the classic television series Night Gallery (1968–1971), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1972), and, most famously, The Twilight Zone (1959–64). He also wrote the screenplay for the feature film adaptation of his 1960 Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." He received five Emmy Awards during his career. And he was an accomplished author whose work included the novels The Comedians, Wild Palms, The First Adventure, The Second Adventure, and The Comedians' Table. It is difficult to place Rod Serling's work precisely in time. His career spans over sixty years, with beginning to end dates of October 1st 1929 through December 31st 1991 Read more

However, it is generally accepted that Rod Serling's career spanned the years from approximately 1934 through December 31st 1991. And during that time he was best known as a writer for radio programs broadcast on CBS Radio. But by combining the dates of 1934 through December 31st 1991 with his actual broadcast dates of September 1st 1951 to August 31st 1963 there are eighteen distinct periods in Rod Serling's career that are considered "canonical" or "legitimate" by Rod Serling scholars . During these eighteen years Rod Serling was employed as a radio script writer by CBS Radio.

And he produced over 150 radio programs for CBS Radio between 1951 and 1962. He also wrote many television scripts for episodes of series other than The Twilight Zone. Unfortunately Rod Serling's canon has been severely damaged by his dismissal from CBS Radio in 1963 due to concerns about his alcoholism ("alcoholism" is not yet a recognized medical diagnosis). And Rod Serling scholars have often used this dismissal as a convenient scapegoat explanation for some of his less popular or less successful works in subsequent media adaptations of his Twilight Zone material. So during this period of eighteen years in which Rod Serling was employed as a radio script writer by CBS Radio it is useful to examine the actual output of Rod Serling during those years in order to make an accurate assessment of what might be considered "canonical" or "legitimate" output from this period in Rod Serling's career.

In order to make this assessment it will be necessary to break down the period from October 1st 1929 through December 31st 1991 into eighteen distinct annual periods that are known as "canonical" or "legitimate". Each annual period will

If in any quest for magic, in any search for...
1
If in any quest for magic, in any search for sorcery, witchery, legerdemain, first check the human spirit. Rod Serling
2
In eleven or twelve years of writing, Mike, I can lay claim to at least this: I have never written beneath myself. I have never written anything that I didn't want my name attached to. I have probed deeper in some scripts and I've been more successful in some than others. But all of them that have been on, you know, I'll take my lick. They're mine and that's the way I wanted them. Rod Serling
3
Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science Fiction is the improbable made possible. Rod Serling
4
As long as they talk about you, you're not really dead, as long as they speak your name, you continue. A legend doesn't die, just because the man dies. Rod Serling
5
He's not a piece of meat you can job off the market by the pound. because, if you do, maish, if you do, you'll rot in hell. Rod Serling
6
Every writer is a frustrated actor who recites his lines in the hidden auditorium of his skull. Rod Serling
7
It may be said with a degree of assurance that not everything that meets the eye is as it appears. Rod Serling
8
Science fiction makes the implausible possible, while science fantasy makes the impossible plausible. Rod Serling
9
The ultimate obscenity is not caring, not doing something about what you feel, not feeling! Just drawing back and drawing in, becoming narcissistic. Rod Serling
10
I only wanted to tell you that this was the wonderful time for you. Don’t let any of it go by without enjoying it. There won’t be any more merry-go-rounds. No more cotton candy. No more band concerts. I only wanted to tell you, Martin, that this is the wonderful time. Now! Here! That’s all. That’s all I wanted to tell you. Rod Serling
11
Coming up with ideas is the easiest thing on earth. Putting them down is the hardest. Rod Serling
12
I don't think playing it safe constitutes a retreat, necessarily. In other words, I don't think if, by playing safe he means we are not going to delve into controversy, then if that's what he means he's quite right. I'm not going to delve into controversy. Somebody asked me the other day if this means that I'm going to be a meek conformist, and my answer is no. I'm just acting the role of a tired non-conformist. Rod Serling
13
Farewell, Timothy Riley’s Bar, " Lane said softly. "Home of the nickel beer. Snooker emporium. Repository of Bluebird records, three for a dime. We honor you and your passing. Farewell. Farewell, Timothy Riley–and terraplanes and rumbleseats and saddle shoes and Helen Forrest and the Triple-C camps and Andy Hardy and Lum ‘n’ Abner and the world-champion New York Yankees! Rest in peace, you age of innocence–you beautiful, serene, carefree, pre- Pearl Harbor, long summer night. We’ll never see your likes again. Rod Serling
14
For the record, suspicion can kill, and prejudice can destroy. And a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own, for the children and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone. Rod Serling
15
There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition. Rod Serling
16
Imagination... its limits are only those of the mind itself. Rod Serling