Charlie Rose: Quotes from Fresh Dialogues

Charlie Rose: Quotes from Fresh Dialogues

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues Charlie Rose on Fresh Dialogues

Extract from Fresh Dialogues interview dated March 3, 2009:

On his Great and Glorious Life

For the full transcript, click here

“I get up every morning with a new adventure. The adventure is fueled by interesting people. I get a chance to control my own destiny.”

On Silicon Valley’s role in this challenging economy

“The economy today is a place of uncharted waters. I think technology is part of the solution. Science and technology are part of the key to unlocking the future.”

On what Silicon Valley visionaries like Larry Page and Sergey Brin have in common

“Certainly they have in common curiosity, certainly those two have in common great intelligence. They all have in common a sense of wanting to explore the unknown. ..There is a passion about the future and they bring to a consideration of the future enormous tools.”

On joining Twitter

“I’m very excited about it. All these technologies are my friend. My interest is in distributing what I do. I am fortunate to have a reputation… a brand name…my interest in maximizing distribution is made for the technology community.”

On his role as a journalist

“I’m not in the role of being an advocate for anything. My goal is to provide the kind of analysis that helps people make a decision, to approach an issue. I don’t have to be the expert. My role is to ignite, inspire, create a platform for engagement by experts.”

On how he prepares for an interview

“Just read and read and read and read. And talk. Get on the phone with someone and say, what is it you think I should know?”

On Tom Friedman and the green revolution

“Tom Friedman has been on our show more than anybody. His range is extraordinary. His book Hot Flat & Crowded is a call for a new energy policy… There is an argument that can be made that America can reassert its leadership in the world by engaging the energy question.”

On his insatiable curiosity

“I constantly wanted to know and experience everything. But I was never intrigued by drugs. I always liked alcohol, but I never had cocaine in my life…I was never tempted – I was so in love with doing, experiencing, feeling, traveling…the experience itself was enough for me.”

On what he dreams about

“To engage life and have the experience of discovery. But I also want to create in a very specific way, a true global conversation.”