My nickname for my sister Elizabeth is “my sister the sage.” She regularly drops insightful observations or speaks deep truths–often, without seeming to notice.

If her super-power is being a sage, my super-power is realizing when she—or anyone—has said something profound.

I’m working on a collection of aphorisms, and along with the aphorisms I’m writing myself, I’ve got a section devoted to some of my favorite aphorists, people like Andy Warhol, Samuel Johnson, Marie von Ebener-Eschenbach, and Winston Churchill. And Elizabeth, of course!

Here are some highlights from my collection of her sayings related to work and to writing—you’ll hear that because she’s a TV writer and producer, they have a distinctly Hollywood flavor. But, as I’ve learned from collecting “proverbs of the professions,” a truth that applies in one area or profession often applies just as well in other areas and professions.

During casual conversation, Elizabeth has told me:

• No one has an opinion until someone else has an opinion.
• People succeed in groups.
• “Yes” comes right away; “no” never comes.
• Step into the future.
• People don’t remember late. They remember bad.
• Every cliché about Hollywood is more true than you can possibly imagine.
• In a creative undertaking, the question is: Does this decision move the needle?
• Action is the antidote for anxiety.
• The more creative input you have, the more creative output you have.
• My job isn’t to have the best ideas. My job is to have the best TV show.
• You want volunteers, not recruits.
• Take care of yourself; no one will take care of you.
• Any gift that’s personalized seems more thoughtful.
• When writing TV shows, you’re shooting at a target to try to hit a bull’s eye. For some targets, the bull’s eye is very big; for others, it’s very small. Look for ideas with a big, forgiving bull’s eye.
• Nothing endears you to people more than helping their career.
• Everyone’s always looking for a reason to say “no.”
• Everyone who moves from New York to Los Angeles gains ten pounds, because they’re doing so much less walking.
• Writing is re-writing.

I feel very fortunate to have such a sage for a sister!

If you have any proverbs of the professions, please send them my way so that I can add them to my collection.