--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Half the pictures directed by men of…" description: "\"Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail.\" — Carroll O'Connor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg" --- # Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail. ![“Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail.” quote by Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg) > “Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail.” [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reputation does not guarantee quality; many acclaimed male directors produce subpar work. **In simple terms:** Famous directors can fail. Key Takeaway Judge work on merit, not fame. Themes reputation gender film criticism Mood skeptical analytical Type critical observational When to use this quote - film reviews - creative hiring - award selection Key Concepts media studies artistic merit Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a director’s work objectively? - Do you separate creator from creation? A Different Perspective Bias toward famous names can overlook talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) ## Related quotes > [Some men's reputation seems like seed-wheat, which thrives best when brought from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-men-s-reputation-seems-like-seed-wheat-which-thrives-best-when/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [I have a great respect for actors like Clint Eastwood, who's a wonderful director. I think two pictures that I directed were not successful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-have-a-great-respect-for-actors-like-clint-eastwood-who-s-a/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [And in more than half the pictures, she isn't looking at the camera; she's looking at him. Not the way I would look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/and-in-more-than-half-the-pictures-she-isn-t-looking-at-the-camera/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [There are a lot of movies about women's psychology, I think almost all of them are directed by men. I mean they all really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-takal/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-women-s-psychology-i-think-almost-all/) [Sophia Takal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-takal/) > [The truth is, most of those female stories that are contending for Oscars are directed by men. Let's be honest. I looked at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/the-truth-is-most-of-those-female-stories-that-are-contending-for/) [Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/) > [I am 54 years old and happily single. In addition to my nuclear family, I have a close circle of friends. Most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-lee-wei-ling/i-am-54-years-old-and-happily-single-in-addition-to-my-nuclear-family/) Geraldine Lee Wei Ling > [Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/kindly-words-do-not-enter-so-deeply-into-men-as-a-reputation-for/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Until you lose your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/until-you-lose-your-reputation-you-never-realize-what-a-burden-it-was/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [A man's reputation is the opinion people have of him; his character is what he really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-miner/a-man-s-reputation-is-the-opinion-people-have-of-him-his-character-is/) Jack Miner > [I got the reputation of being hard to work with. It has been hard for me to get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-got-the-reputation-of-being-hard-to-work-with-it-has-been-hard-for/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Louisiana's spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/louisiana-s-spicy-colorful-politics-have-saddled-our-state-with-a/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Carroll O'Connor > [I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything it would have to be something I'd done myself. Race pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-proud-of-anything-it-would/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [I do talk less now because the sound of my voice saying over and over the things I said years ago embarrasses and depresses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-do-talk-less-now-because-the-sound-of-my-voice-saying-over-and-over/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [One irreducible residual of 38 years in the business is the number of lasting, loving friendships I have made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/one-irreducible-residual-of-38-years-in-the-business-is-the-number-of/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [We don't really need reviewers, just first-night reporters who will tell us faithfully whether or not the audience liked the show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/we-don-t-really-need-reviewers-just-first-night-reporters-who-will/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [My professional life in Hollywood has been filled with joy and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/my-professional-life-in-hollywood-has-been-filled-with-joy-and/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [Some people thought we were presenting Archie as a false character. President Nixon thought we were making a fool out of a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/some-people-thought-we-were-presenting-archie-as-a-false-character/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [The reviewer is a singularly detested enemy because he is, unlike the hapless artist, invulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/the-reviewer-is-a-singularly-detested-enemy-because-he-is-unlike-the/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [I have heard show business characterized as a refuge for childlike persons in flight from all things harsh and real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-have-heard-show-business-characterized-as-a-refuge-for-childlike/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [Nothing but the heart can change the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/nothing-but-the-heart-can-change-the-heart/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [It's the character that is the strongest that God gives the most challenges to. Take your struggles as a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/it-s-the-character-that-is-the-strongest-that-god-gives-the-most/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [Talent can be developed, gift is God-given. But artists have both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/talent-can-be-developed-gift-is-god-given-but-artists-have-both/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [Not all celebrities are dunces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/not-all-celebrities-are-dunces/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [The wages of pedantry is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/the-wages-of-pedantry-is-pain/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [In a capitalist society, persons who create capital, like Michael Eisner, are given the staggering rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/in-a-capitalist-society-persons-who-create-capital-like-michael/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) > [It was a lack of system that made the '30s Depression as inevitable as all others previously suffered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/it-was-a-lack-of-system-that-made-the-30s-depression-as-inevitable-as/) [Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) [Explore all 32 Carroll O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/) ## More Failing quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/trial-by-jury-live-wherever-you-can-make-a-living-how-could-a/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/i-would-warn-against-holsters-with-devices-for-quick-draw-devices/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [When I paint, I never think of selling. People simply fail to understand that we paint in order to experiment and to develop ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/when-i-paint-i-never-think-of-selling-people-simply-fail-to/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I wake up every morning fearing I am going to fail. But I love a challenge, big or small. There's so much I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-mone/i-wake-up-every-morning-fearing-i-am-going-to-fail-but-i-love-a/) [Michelle Mone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-mone/) > [What I want is to be willing to fail rather than stagnate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/what-i-want-is-to-be-willing-to-fail-rather-than-stagnate/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The very first company I started failed with a great bang. The second one failed a little bit less, but still failed. The third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-levchin/the-very-first-company-i-started-failed-with-a-great-bang-the-second/) [Max Levchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-levchin/) Browse all 5,634 Failing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carroll O'Connor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-reputation-fail/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-reputation-fail/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/carroll-o-connor-19438_failing_half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-rep_752239.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail.” — Carroll O'Connor", "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": "Carroll O'Connor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Half the pictures directed by men...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-reputation-fail/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-reputation-fail/#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 } } ] } ```