---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't live and hold the camera, someone…"
description: "\"I can't live and hold the camera, someone gotta take this\" — Drake"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png"
---

#  I can't live and hold the camera, someone gotta take this

![“I can't live and hold the camera, someone gotta take this” quote by Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png)

> “I can't live and hold the camera, someone gotta take this”

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker feels unable to both observe and act, urging someone else to intervene.

**In simple terms:** I can't do both, someone must act.

Key Takeaway

Let others step in when needed.

Themes

responsibility action delegation

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- photography
- teamwork
- emergency response
- leadership

Key Concepts

existentialism agency

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can you trust to act when you cannot?
- When is it wise to step back?

A Different Perspective

If you always rely on others, you may never develop agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/)

## Related quotes

> [Sometimes I have taken photographs and just felt so excited that I could barely hold the camera steady, and the photo was boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/sometimes-i-have-taken-photographs-and-just-felt-so-excited-that-i/)

[Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/)

> [“To live is to hold your child, your own flesh, your very blood, in your arms. To see her smile and wrap five tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-gemini-sasson/to-live-is-to-hold-your-child-your-own-flesh-your-very-blood-in-your/)

[N. Gemini Sasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-gemini-sasson/)

> [I can't hold a camera anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/i-can-t-hold-a-camera-anymore/)

[Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/)

> [I just hold it down for my side, I hold it down for my set. I give everybody a piece of this and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-just-hold-it-down-for-my-side-i-hold-it-down-for-my-set-i-give/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [I just hold it down for my side, I just hold it down for my set. I just give everybody a piece of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-just-hold-it-down-for-my-side-i-just-hold-it-down-for-my-set-i-just/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Cause she hold me down every time I hit her up. When I get right I promise that we gon live it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/cause-she-hold-me-down-every-time-i-hit-her-up-when-i-get-right-i/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [As a director who loves the camera you learn a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-gomez-rejon/as-a-director-who-loves-the-camera-you-learn-a-lot/)

[Alfonso Gomez-Rejon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-gomez-rejon/)

> [The camera has an interest in turning history into spectacle, but none in reversing the process. At best, the picture leaves a vague blur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-donoghue/the-camera-has-an-interest-in-turning-history-into-spectacle-but-none/)

[Denis Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-donoghue/)

> [The camera is simply not the supple and powerful instrument of description that the pen is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-camera-is-simply-not-the-supple-and-powerful-instrument-of/)

[Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/)

> [That's the way I learned photography: You make your picture in the camera. Now, so much is made in the computer. ... I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/that-s-the-way-i-learned-photography-you-make-your-picture-in-the/)

[Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/)

> [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/)

[Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/)

> [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/)

Mitra Farahani

> [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/)

[Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

## More by Drake

> [Me, my niggas and some Madonna hoes that look just like virgins but trust they down to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/me-my-niggas-and-some-madonna-hoes-that-look-just-like-virgins-but/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Gianna Marie Turner is a beatiful name for a precious little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/gianna-marie-turner-is-a-beatiful-name-for-a-precious-little-girl/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [There were people who incorporated melody before me, but I would deem myself the first person to successfully rap and sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/there-were-people-who-incorporated-melody-before-me-but-i-would-deem/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Killing shit the ever so talented Mr. Ripley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/killing-shit-the-ever-so-talented-mr-ripley/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Dont it seem like, like Im always there when it matters...but missing most of the other time, a terrible pattern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/dont-it-seem-like-like-im-always-there-when-it-matters-but-missing/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Floating in and out of consciousness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/floating-in-and-out-of-consciousness/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Pushing me away so I give her space. Dealing with a heart that I didnt break. Ill be there for you, I will care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/pushing-me-away-so-i-give-her-space-dealing-with-a-heart-that-i-didnt/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [No I'm not saying I'm the nicest I just life like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/no-i-m-not-saying-i-m-the-nicest-i-just-life-like-it/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [I like all different kinds of music. I never heavily molded myself after rappers. Sometimes they say when you think something and you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-like-all-different-kinds-of-music-i-never-heavily-molded-myself/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [I just hate sleeping alone, I hate sleeping alone. So shes here and were both so throwed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-just-hate-sleeping-alone-i-hate-sleeping-alone-so-shes-here-and/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [I respect Chris Brown. I'd like to call myself a friend - I don't know if I'm allowed to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-respect-chris-brown-i-d-like-to-call-myself-a-friend-i-don-t-know/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [I haven't slept in days. And me and my latest girl agreed to go our separate ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-haven-t-slept-in-days-and-me-and-my-latest-girl-agreed-to-go-our/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [The Girl Or The World, You See Someone Gotta Lose, I thought I Could Have It All, Do I Really Gotta Choose, Wat Good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/the-girl-or-the-world-you-see-someone-gotta-lose-i-thought-i-could/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't get so mad at the things you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/if-i-didn-t-care-about-you-i-wouldn-t-get-so-mad-at-the-things-you-do/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

[Explore all 2,072 Drake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

## More Camera quotes

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/)

[Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/)

[Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/)

> [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/)

Mitra Farahani

> [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/)

[Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/)

> [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/)

[Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/)

> [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/)

[Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/)

> [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/)

[Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/)

> [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/)

[Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/)

> [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/)

[Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/)

> [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/)

[Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/)

> [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/)

[Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/)

> [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/)

[Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/)

[Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I can't live and hold the camera, someone gotta take this",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Drake"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone-gotta-take-this/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Camera"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone-gotta-take-this/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/drake-44_camera_i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone_1909229.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I can't live and hold the camera, someone gotta take this” — Drake",
                "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": "Drake",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I can't live and hold the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone-gotta-take-this/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-can-t-live-and-hold-the-camera-someone-gotta-take-this/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
