--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Photographs attract false beliefs the way…" description: "\"Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper attracts flies.\" — Errol Morris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg" --- # Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper… ![“Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper attracts flies.” quote by Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg) > “Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper attracts flies.” [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Images can mislead, drawing people to false beliefs as easily as sticky paper captures flies. **In simple terms:** Photos can trap us in misconceptions. Key Takeaway Question visual evidence. Themes perception truth media literacy Mood skeptical analytical Type educational critical When to use this quote - advertising - news consumption - social media - education Key Concepts cognitive bias visual rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a photo’s authenticity? - What biases affect your interpretation? A Different Perspective Images are not always accurate representations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [“The inertia is as thick and sticky as flypaper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-belle/the-inertia-is-as-thick-and-sticky-as-flypaper/) [Kimberly Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-belle/) > [What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/what-am-i-flypaper-for-freaks/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“The very best people are like that. They don’t entangle you like flypaper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/the-very-best-people-are-like-that-they-don-t-entangle-you-like/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [Why, lies are like a sticky juice overspreading the world, a living, growing flypaper to catch and gum the wings of every human soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/why-lies-are-like-a-sticky-juice-overspreading-the-world-a-living/) [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [“And then my grandfather explained -in his language- that utopias are not for mortals. And that people are like flies, that the stories they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grossman/and-then-my-grandfather-explained-in-his-language-that-utopias-are/) [David Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grossman/) > [“I'm like flypaper for the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/i-m-like-flypaper-for-the-soul/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“Flies conquer the flypaper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/flies-conquer-the-flypaper/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The flies have conquered the flypaper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-flies-have-conquered-the-flypaper/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Books are like flypaper, memories cling to the printed pages better than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/books-are-like-flypaper-memories-cling-to-the-printed-pages-better/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [“Fake or false beliefs abound, supported by many.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/fake-or-false-beliefs-abound-supported-by-many/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Almost every book in the NT has something to say about false beliefs and those who advocate them. We are warned, e.g., about false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/almost-every-book-in-the-nt-has-something-to-say-about-false-beliefs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Instead, the lesson is that false beliefs, once they’ve become culturally entrenched—once they’ve become tribal badges of honor—are very difficult to change, and changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-d-greene/instead-the-lesson-is-that-false-beliefs-once-they-ve-become/) Joshua D. Greene > [Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task-than-to-shatter-false-beliefs/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [False beliefs can be every bit as consoling as true ones, right up until the moment of disillusionment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/false-beliefs-can-be-every-bit-as-consoling-as-true-ones-right-up/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Our thoughts are either focused on what's eternal, life-changing, and true, or lost in the details of our temporary, selfish, false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/our-thoughts-are-either-focused-on-what-s-eternal-life-changing-and/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) ## More by Errol Morris > [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [In the case of The Thin Blue Line, I was surprised actually by many things. I was shooting down in Texas where the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/in-the-case-of-the-thin-blue-line-i-was-surprised-actually-by-many/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [When 'The Thin Blue Line' came out, I was criticized by many people for using reenactments, as if I wasn't dedicated to the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/when-the-thin-blue-line-came-out-i-was-criticized-by-many-people-for/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [There is such a thing as truth, but we have a vested interest in not seeing it, in avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/there-is-such-a-thing-as-truth-but-we-have-a-vested-interest-in-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [Simply coming to the perpetrator and delivering the message is Nozick's definition of revenge. And in that sense, Adi is exacting revenge. When people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/simply-coming-to-the-perpetrator-and-delivering-the-message-is-nozick/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [The proper route to an understanding of the world is an examination of our errors about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/the-proper-route-to-an-understanding-of-the-world-is-an-examination/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [The chance that any given sentence is a lie, rather than a truth, I think, is fairly great. An intentional lie, a self-deception, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/the-chance-that-any-given-sentence-is-a-lie-rather-than-a-truth-i/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [ Maybe \[killers\] is one of my real passions. Why deny it? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/maybe-killers-is-one-of-my-real-passions-why-deny-it/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [I envy certain writers, because there are writers who do go into a kind of different zone, where the writing isn't controlled anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/i-envy-certain-writers-because-there-are-writers-who-do-go-into-a/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [Right now, we live in bad times in this country, and the fact that there are filmmakers addressing political and social issues is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/right-now-we-live-in-bad-times-in-this-country-and-the-fact-that/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [You can talk about a caption underneath a photograph being true or false, because there is a linguistic element. You can claim that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/you-can-talk-about-a-caption-underneath-a-photograph-being-true-or/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [The fact that the world is utterly insane makes it tolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/the-fact-that-the-world-is-utterly-insane-makes-it-tolerable/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [Appearing on the front page of the New York Times even given the state of papers today is still something that's seen by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/appearing-on-the-front-page-of-the-new-york-times-even-given-the/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [You can't tell by looking at a film-clip whether it is a drama or a documentary without knowing how it was produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/you-can-t-tell-by-looking-at-a-film-clip-whether-it-is-a-drama-or-a/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [Tell me what's wrong with this idea: If you're selling to somebody, find someone like that person to sell to them. If you're trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/tell-me-what-s-wrong-with-this-idea-if-you-re-selling-to-somebody/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) [Explore all 163 Errol Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper attracts flies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Errol Morris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-way-flypaper-attracts-flies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-way-flypaper-attracts-flies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/errol-morris-2512_belief_photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-wa_2239208.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper attracts flies.” — Errol Morris", "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": "Errol Morris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Photographs attract false beliefs the way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-way-flypaper-attracts-flies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-way-flypaper-attracts-flies/#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 } } ] } ```