Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for—in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

About Ellen Goodman

Ellen Goodman (born April 11, 1941) is an American journalist and syndicated columnist. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1980. She is also a speaker and commentator.

More quotations from Ellen Goodman

I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people who are convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another.

—Ellen Goodman

Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of.

—Ellen Goodman

We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck… But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.

—Ellen Goodman

In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right.

—Ellen Goodman

The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.

—Ellen Goodman

parents

More quotations tagged with “normal”

Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from.

—Jodie Foster

aspiration normal

The trouble with normal is it always gets worse.

—Bruce Cockburn

pessimism normal

The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.

—Alfred Adler

people normal

History

22 Feb 2014 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.