Quotes

We are trying to entertain the audience. We happen to do it by enlightening and educating them. [January 10, 1988]

"I have learned quite a bit, but it's not like you know enough about the topics to lead a discussion at a cocktail party." - On the question if hosting the show has expanded his knowledge.

[When asked if he missed Bob Barker's final show in 2007]: I was doing some electrical work in an attic today.

We're trying to build a gentler, kinder society and if we all pitch in just a little bit, we'll get there.

[When asked if he had owned a single collection from the Jeopardy! (1984) set]: No. I don't take things from shows I've worked on. I'm not a souvenir hound, if you will. Years ago I made comments that I collected baseball caps. So people would send me baseball caps from all over the world. I had the most outlandish baseball caps. One cap had a little oil derrick on it from oil country. Or 'I survived Spacelab.'

Don't tell me what you believe in. I'll observe how you behave and I will make my own determination.

I was just reading something by Immanuel Kant about perpetual peace, and I'm looking at that, and it's a great idea. But I've got to read it about three or four times in order to figure out exactly the point he's trying to make.

[Of his heart attack]: I had been doing some work around the house working with a heavy ladder. I just thought it was muscle strain.

[When asked if he had ever spoken to Bob Barker about the record Trebek broke on Jeopardy! (1984)]: No, we haven't had any communication about this. I had lunch with Bob a few months ago, and we've been meaning to get back together for another lunch, but no. You know, it's funny, when you're hosting a program like Jeopardy! for this long, you don't necessarily think about records.

[Who was vocal about the climate change]: I believe that climate change exists and is contributed to by human activity.

[When predicted who'll replace him on Jeopardy! (1984)]: I mean, someone like Brad Rutter, who was a contestant in our Battle of the Decades tournament. He's got a good sense of humor and certainly broad-based knowledge that will help him immensely. And he has the credentials - he's won two of our big tournaments: 1 million and 2 million dollars. So somebody like Brad.

I realize that there is an end in sight for me, just as there is for everyone else. One line that I have used with our staff in recent weeks and months is, that when I do pass on, one thing they will not say at my funeral is, 'Oh, he was taken from us too soon.'

I was doing so well and my numbers went down to the equivalent of a normal human being who does not have pancreatic cancer so we were all very optimistic. And they said good, we're going to stop chemo, we'll start you on immunotherapy.

[Who saw the silver lining of his diagnosis, the overwhelming support of Jeopardy! (1984) fans and contestants]: Because of the cancer diagnosis, it's no longer an open-ended life; it's a closed ended life because of the terrible survival rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of that, and something else that is operating here, people all over America and abroad have decided they want to let me know now, while I'm alive, about the impact that I've been having on their existence.

[If he'd joked about Matt Lauer would be interesting in hosting Jeopardy! (1984)]: If Matt Lauer would come over to 'Jeopardy!,' I'd be happy to take over his job on 'Today.'

[Who admitted he doesn't have much of a so-called collection since he never takes anything from Jeopardy! (1984)]: No. I don't take things from shows I've worked on. I'm not a souvenir hound, if you will. Years ago I made comments that I collected baseball caps. So people would send me baseball caps from all over the world. I had the most outlandish baseball caps. One cap had a little oil derrick on it from oil country. Or 'I survived Spacelab.'

[Who said in 2013 about not watching game shows]: I think game shows were the beginning and best of reality television," he says. "With the exception of The Gong Show, we didn't embarrass people. And some great actors came out of daytime TV.