--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you take pictures does that make you…" description: "\"If you take pictures does that make you an art thief?\" — Bill Jay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg" --- # If you take pictures does that make you an art thief? ![“If you take pictures does that make you an art thief?” quote by Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg) > “If you take pictures does that make you an art thief?” [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning whether photographing others constitutes theft of artistic expression. **In simple terms:** Taking pictures may feel like stealing art. Key Takeaway Respect subjects and seek originality in photography. Themes ethics art authorship Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type artistic ethical When to use this quote - portrait work - street photography - art criticism Key Concepts photography creative ownership Questions to Reflect On - When is photographing ethically acceptable? - How can you honor the original creator? A Different Perspective Photography can be collaborative, not theft. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-thief-2948929/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Make Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-art/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures/) [Pictures Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures-does-2948930/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) ## Related quotes > [Although the photographer and the art thief were close friends, neither had ever taken the other's picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/although-the-photographer-and-the-art-thief-were-close-friends/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [An art thief is a man who takes pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/an-art-thief-is-a-man-who-takes-pictures/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Royce cast a harsh and anxious look at the prince. “What?” Alric asked. “I thought we discussed the importance of keeping a low profile.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/royce-cast-a-harsh-and-anxious-look-at-the-prince-what-alric-asked-i/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [While the parts change, the whole always remains the same. For every thief who departs this world, a new one is born. And every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-the-parts-change-the-whole-always-remains-the-same-for-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Every rascal is not a thief, but every thief is a rascal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-rascal-is-not-a-thief-but-every-thief-is-a-rascal/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [A procrastinator is a thief of his or her own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhoon-goo-rhee/a-procrastinator-is-a-thief-of-his-or-her-own-time/) [Jhoon Goo Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhoon-goo-rhee/) > [Anyone who puts a small gloss on a fundamental technology, calls it proprietary, and then tries to keep others from building on it, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/anyone-who-puts-a-small-gloss-on-a-fundamental-technology-calls-it/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [“Your Majesty?” Alric looked up at the thief with a scowl. “I just want to say for the record that as far as royal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/your-majesty-alric-looked-up-at-the-thief-with-a-scowl-i-just-want-to/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Out of the closets and into the museums, libraries, architectural monuments, concert halls, bookstores, recording studios and film studios of the world. Everything belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-the-closets-and-into-the-museums-libraries-architectural/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every true man's apparel fits your thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/every-true-man-s-apparel-fits-your-thief/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If a man knows he will sooner or later be robbed upon a journey, he will have a bottle of the best in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/if-a-man-knows-he-will-sooner-or-later-be-robbed-upon-a-journey-he/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [If war comes upon us, it will come as a thief in the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-de-valera/if-war-comes-upon-us-it-will-come-as-a-thief-in-the-night/) [Eamon de Valera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-de-valera/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Your thief looks Exactly like the rest, or rather better; 'Tis only at the bar, and in the dungeon, That wise men know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/your-thief-looks-exactly-like-the-rest-or-rather-better-tis-only-at/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) ## More by Bill Jay > [I appreciate photographs which celebrate harmony. I don't particularly want to look at chaos. I see enough of that at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/i-appreciate-photographs-which-celebrate-harmony-i-don-t-particularly/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [I agree, intellectualism in photography is overrated. I just wish it could be replaced by common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/i-agree-intellectualism-in-photography-is-overrated-i-just-wish-it/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Why do photographers photograph? To make unreality visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/why-do-photographers-photograph-to-make-unreality-visible/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [There are many reasons why photography does not attract the social and cultural attention it deserves. I would add one more which has received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/there-are-many-reasons-why-photography-does-not-attract-the-social/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [I start a lot of photo projects but never seem to. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/i-start-a-lot-of-photo-projects-but-never-seem-to/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [If you cannot think of anything to say that is useful or enlightening about your images, then don't say anything. There are plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/if-you-cannot-think-of-anything-to-say-that-is-useful-or-enlightening/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Think clearly, act sensibly, commit yourself to caring and work hard in order to discover joy. Then give the images back to the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/think-clearly-act-sensibly-commit-yourself-to-caring-and-work-hard-in/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Be gentle and tolerant. Intimacy will grow, but will take time and cannot be rushed. If all goes well, soon you will become more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/be-gentle-and-tolerant-intimacy-will-grow-but-will-take-time-and/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [If you are intent on drawing or painting on your prints, you must first learn to draw and paint at least as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/if-you-are-intent-on-drawing-or-painting-on-your-prints-you-must/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [...photographers who carry 60 pounds of equipment up a hill to photograph a view are not suffering enough, although their whining causes enough suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/photographers-who-carry-60-pounds-of-equipment-up-a-hill-to/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Only in art can you make something that no one wants and still be considered successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/only-in-art-can-you-make-something-that-no-one-wants-and-still-be/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Photographers have already photographed everything too many times, except cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/photographers-have-already-photographed-everything-too-many-times/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [A photograph is a mirror; mostly it reflects the prejudices of the viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/a-photograph-is-a-mirror-mostly-it-reflects-the-prejudices-of-the/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Photography opens your eyes a little wider to the world around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/photography-opens-your-eyes-a-little-wider-to-the-world-around-you/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Photographers, like kids, should be seen and not heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/photographers-like-kids-should-be-seen-and-not-heard/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) [Explore all 44 Bill Jay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you take pictures does that make you an art thief?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Jay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you-an-art-thief/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you-an-art-thief/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-jay-14930_art_if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you_2730219.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you take pictures does that make you an art thief?” — Bill Jay", "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": "Bill Jay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you take pictures does that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you-an-art-thief/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/if-you-take-pictures-does-that-make-you-an-art-thief/#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 } } ] } ```