"I never wanted to retire. I wanted to kind of shift my work pattern so I could stay fresh and invigorated, and use the experience that I had gained in 30 years, but in a slightly different direction"
About this Quote
The subtext is about control. Journalism is a profession that can chew up its elders: deadlines, travel, the grind of nightly broadcasts, the subtle industry bias toward the new face. By rejecting retirement, Kurtis resists becoming a museum piece or a cautionary tale. He’s also signaling that experience isn’t just seniority; it’s usable capital. “Use the experience” reads like a rebuttal to workplaces that discard institutional memory right when it becomes most valuable.
Context matters: Kurtis built a reputation in the era when authority on camera was a practiced posture - steady voice, restrained affect, a trust-me cadence. As media splintered and the performance of authenticity changed, “a slightly different direction” becomes both pragmatic and strategic. It hints at moving from daily churn to long-form storytelling, production, narration, or mentoring - roles where judgment, not stamina, is the competitive edge.
What makes the quote work is its modesty. No grand reinvention narrative, no hustle gospel. Just a clear-eyed negotiation with time: keep working, but on terms that preserve curiosity and dignity.
Quote Details
| Topic | Reinvention |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Kurtis, Bill. (2026, January 16). I never wanted to retire. I wanted to kind of shift my work pattern so I could stay fresh and invigorated, and use the experience that I had gained in 30 years, but in a slightly different direction. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-wanted-to-retire-i-wanted-to-kind-of-124430/
Chicago Style
Kurtis, Bill. "I never wanted to retire. I wanted to kind of shift my work pattern so I could stay fresh and invigorated, and use the experience that I had gained in 30 years, but in a slightly different direction." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-wanted-to-retire-i-wanted-to-kind-of-124430/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I never wanted to retire. I wanted to kind of shift my work pattern so I could stay fresh and invigorated, and use the experience that I had gained in 30 years, but in a slightly different direction." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-wanted-to-retire-i-wanted-to-kind-of-124430/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

