"I like chatting with people. If people ask me a direct question, I give them a direct answer and I feel I've always done that with the press"
About this Quote
The next clause tightens the message into a kind of personal brand policy: direct question, direct answer. It's a neat, almost contractual formulation that shifts responsibility onto the asker. If you want truth, ask cleanly. If you get a sidestep, maybe you asked a messy question. That's the subtext: transparency is offered, but on terms he can control. It also quietly distinguishes him from the stereotype of the slippery publicist-sculpted star, while still leaving plenty of room to define what counts as a "direct" question.
Context matters because Sutherland has lived in the long shadow of Jack Bauer, a character whose whole identity is blunt urgency and moral certainty. The quote reads like an off-camera echo of that persona, which helps it land with fans and interviewers alike. At the same time, actors operate inside an industry where access is managed and narratives are negotiated. Saying he's "always done that" with the press isn't just reassurance; it's a preemptive defense against the inevitable compilation clips of evasions, contradictions, or carefully phrased non-answers. It sells steadiness as a virtue in a culture that constantly tests you for cracks.
Quote Details
| Topic | Honesty & Integrity |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Sutherland, Kiefer. (2026, January 16). I like chatting with people. If people ask me a direct question, I give them a direct answer and I feel I've always done that with the press. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-like-chatting-with-people-if-people-ask-me-a-102084/
Chicago Style
Sutherland, Kiefer. "I like chatting with people. If people ask me a direct question, I give them a direct answer and I feel I've always done that with the press." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-like-chatting-with-people-if-people-ask-me-a-102084/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I like chatting with people. If people ask me a direct question, I give them a direct answer and I feel I've always done that with the press." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-like-chatting-with-people-if-people-ask-me-a-102084/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.



