--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you dared to put your opinion into a…" description: "\"If you dared to put your opinion into a factual piece, your editors said, \"You can't do this. Write an op-ed.\"\" — Barbara Boxer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg" --- # If you dared to put your opinion into a factual piece… ![“If you dared to put your opinion into a factual piece, your editors said, "You can't do this. Write an op-ed."” quote by Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg) > “If you dared to put your opinion into a factual piece, your editors said, "You can't do this. Write an op-ed."” [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When factual reporting is constrained, editors may push opinion pieces, limiting objective journalism. **In simple terms:** Editors may force opinion over facts. Key Takeaway Advocate for editorial independence. Themes journalism freedom of press editorial pressure Mood concerned determined Type professional advocacy When to use this quote - newsrooms - op-ed sections - fact-checking Key Concepts media ethics truth bias Questions to Reflect On - How can journalists protect factual integrity? - What safeguards ensure balanced reporting? A Different Perspective Opinion pieces can still be grounded in facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors/) [Editors Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors-said-2999983/) [Factual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factual/) [Factual Piece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factual-piece-2999984/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion Factual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-factual-824257/) [Piece Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piece-editors-2999985/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Write Op](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-op-1894136/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In the old days... it was a basic, cardinal fact that producers didn't have opinions. When I was producing natural history programmes, I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/in-the-old-days-it-was-a-basic-cardinal-fact-that-producers-didn-t/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [If Tom Clancy didn't write any Op-Centers, he would be $60 million less rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/if-tom-clancy-didn-t-write-any-op-centers-he-would-be-60-million-less/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [“I don't give a damn for anybody's opinion, I only care about the facts. So I'm not an enthusiast for diversity of opinion where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-don-t-give-a-damn-for-anybody-s-opinion-i-only-care-about-the-facts/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The sensible thing for everyone to do would be to write all their op-eds and think pieces now so they're ready the day after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/the-sensible-thing-for-everyone-to-do-would-be-to-write-all-their-op/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [The songs are not meant to be real life. They're meant to have a psychic - rather than a factual - bearing on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/the-songs-are-not-meant-to-be-real-life-they-re-meant-to-have-a/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [A popular feel for scientific endeavors should, if possible, be restored given the needs of the twenty-first century. This does not mean that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/a-popular-feel-for-scientific-endeavors-should-if-possible-be/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Advocacy groups in the USA, as in other countries, may not be able to silence this hateful, cowardly and deceitful attack upon people’s humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/advocacy-groups-in-the-usa-as-in-other-countries-may-not-be-able-to/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [The propositions of mathematics are devoid of all factual content; they convey no information whatever on any empirical subject matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-gustav-hempel/the-propositions-of-mathematics-are-devoid-of-all-factual-content/) [Carl Gustav Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-gustav-hempel/) > [... in a capitalist society a man is expected to be an aggressive, uncompromising, factual, lusty, intelligent provider of goods,and the woman, a retiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/in-a-capitalist-society-a-man-is-expected-to-be-an-aggressive/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [Science is not marginal. Like art, it is a universal possession of humanity, and scientific knowledge has become a vital part of our species'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/science-is-not-marginal-like-art-it-is-a-universal-possession-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The Bible interprets life from its particular perspective; it does not record in a factual way the human journey through history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-interprets-life-from-its-particular-perspective-it-does-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Should our moral beliefs really prove to be dependent on factual assumptions shown to be incorrect, it would be hardly moral to defend them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/should-our-moral-beliefs-really-prove-to-be-dependent-on-factual/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [To claim that science and religion pose different questions to the world is not to suggest that if the bones of Jesus were discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/to-claim-that-science-and-religion-pose-different-questions-to-the/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [For fantasy is true, of course. It isn't factual, but it is true. Children know that. Adults know it too, and that is precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/for-fantasy-is-true-of-course-it-isn-t-factual-but-it-is-true/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) ## More by Barbara Boxer > [In the early stages of a pregnancy, the Government cannot intervene with a woman's right to choose. That is it, plain and simple. Guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/in-the-early-stages-of-a-pregnancy-the-government-cannot-intervene/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [There are many faces to war. There is the face of courage, of bravery, of fellowship.There is the face of fear. Above all, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/there-are-many-faces-to-war-there-is-the-face-of-courage-of-bravery/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Iraq made commitments after the Gulf War to completely dismantle all weapons of mass destruction, and unfortunately, Iraq has not lived up to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/iraq-made-commitments-after-the-gulf-war-to-completely-dismantle-all/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [I think Democrats are right. We fight for the American dream, for the environment, for privacy rights, a woman's right to choose, a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/i-think-democrats-are-right-we-fight-for-the-american-dream-for-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Some people play golf. Some are artists, Some jog. I like to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/some-people-play-golf-some-are-artists-some-jog-i-like-to-write/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [You take what you've learned, you pass it down, and you keep working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/you-take-what-you-ve-learned-you-pass-it-down-and-you-keep-working/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [We know no document is perfect, but when we amend the Constitution, it would be to expand rights, not to take away rights from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/we-know-no-document-is-perfect-but-when-we-amend-the-constitution-it/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Each issue has to be looked at as to whether or not it threatens a woman's health or her life, and if it does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/each-issue-has-to-be-looked-at-as-to-whether-or-not-it-threatens-a/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [If it's racist, it's racist. If it's anti-Semitic, it's anti-Semitic. If it's anti-women, it's anti-women. If it's anti-immigrant, it's anti-immigrant, and we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-it-s-racist-it-s-racist-if-it-s-anti-semitic-it-s-anti-semitic-if/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [The combined efforts of millions of concerned citizens could do wonders to help the impoverished. The American people are ready for action!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/the-combined-efforts-of-millions-of-concerned-citizens-could-do/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [If something is opinion, put it in the opinion section: Don't put it in the facts section.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-something-is-opinion-put-it-in-the-opinion-section-don-t-put-it-in/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [If I can make a generalization, men get into politics because, from the time they're little boys, they've been wanting to be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-i-can-make-a-generalization-men-get-into-politics-because-from-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Iraq was a war of choice, not necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/iraq-was-a-war-of-choice-not-necessity/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [The point is that what we want, Democrats, and what we've always wanted, is to make abortion safe, legal, and rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/the-point-is-that-what-we-want-democrats-and-what-we-ve-always-wanted/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Even if I have to stand alone, I will not be afraid to stand alone. I'm going to fight for you. I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/even-if-i-have-to-stand-alone-i-will-not-be-afraid-to-stand-alone-i-m/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) [Explore all 107 Barbara Boxer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) ## More Editors quotes > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [My biggest advice would be to take the pictures you want to take. Don’t think about the marketplace, what sells or what an editor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/my-biggest-advice-would-be-to-take-the-pictures-you-want-to-take-don/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. I was really happy that I got everyone that I got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/a-perfect-movie-is-a-different-thing-but-a-funny-movie-is-easy-i-was/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [ I walked all around it \[the Guggenheim Bilbao\] and couldn't find one clear, clean shot. To make things worse, the weather was lousy. Nothing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-polidori/i-walked-all-around-it-the-guggenheim-bilbao-and-couldn-t-find-one/) [Robert Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-polidori/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Authors of published papers and editors of scientific journals can, unfortunately, be slow to come to terms with criticism, and it's good that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gelman/authors-of-published-papers-and-editors-of-scientific-journals-can/) [Andrew Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gelman/) > [Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/democracy-becomes-a-government-of-bullies-tempered-by-editors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [51% of the French people - who are not very religious - were thinking that what "Charlie Hebdo" did was unwise. They aren't asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/51-of-the-french-people-who-are-not-very-religious-were-thinking-that/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [If you look at any list of great modern writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'll notice two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/if-you-look-at-any-list-of-great-modern-writers-such-as-ernest/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial 'we.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/only-kings-presidents-editors-and-people-with-tapeworms-have-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [While I was still going to embrace social media, I knew I had to do things that nobody else was doing. I decided I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edward/while-i-was-still-going-to-embrace-social-media-i-knew-i-had-to-do/) [Mark Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edward/) > [My books have been translated into various languages and sold in other countries, but I never have any contact with the foreign publishers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/my-books-have-been-translated-into-various-languages-and-sold-in/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [Every newspaper editor says the heart of the paper is the reporter - which is true - except for the pay!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/every-newspaper-editor-says-the-heart-of-the-paper-is-the-reporter/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) [Browse all 976 Editors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you dared to put your opinion into a factual piece, your editors said, \"You can't do this. Write an op-ed.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Boxer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a-factual-piece-your-editors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Editors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a-factual-piece-your-editors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/barbara-boxer-4675_editors_if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a_2737114.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you dared to put your opinion into a factual piece, your editors said, \"You can't do this. Write an op-ed.\"” — Barbara Boxer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barbara Boxer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you dared to put your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a-factual-piece-your-editors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-you-dared-to-put-your-opinion-into-a-factual-piece-your-editors/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```