10 Nora Ephron quotes that will inspire anyone

From her thoughts on the word ‘synergy’ to advice on wearing a bikini, the late author and screenwriter said a number of inspirational (and useful) things. In honor of what would be Ephron’s 72nd birthday, here we’re celebrating with some of her best.

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Her work influenced screenwriters and movie-goers, not to mention generations of women.

Her films such as “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle” defined the romantic comedy genre, while her other films, plays and countless essays covered a range of topics, many of them personal, including her relationships. After all, Ephron’s mother once told her, “Everything is copy.”

We went looking for useful and insightful quotes on writing from Ephron. We discovered a trove of sayings on various topics that could inspire anyone—from writers and editors to journalists and even PR pros (and everyone in between).

Sunday, May 19, marks what would have been the late writer’s 72nd birthday. In honor of the occasion, we look back at some of our favorite words from Ephron:

On Work (particularly writing)

In a 2010 interview with Charlie Rose, Ephron shared an important lesson from her mother—screenwriter Phoebe Ephron—about the importance of work:

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