---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All murder is a tragedy but when…"
description: "\"All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an important contribution to democracy. It is ess..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg"
---

#  All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed…

![“All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an important contribution to democracy. It is essential that governments do all they can to ensure safe conditions for journalists to carry out their work.” quote by Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg)

> “All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an important contribution to democracy. It is essential that governments do all they can to ensure safe conditions for journalists to carry out their work.”

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

## About This Quote

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

Journalists’ safety is vital; their loss silences essential democratic dialogue.

**In simple terms:** Protect journalists to keep democracy healthy.

Key Takeaway

Ensure safe working conditions for media.

Themes

press freedom democracy human rights

Mood

concerned determined

Type

policy advocacy

When to use this quote

- conflict zones
- investigative reporting
- political protests
- media outlets

Key Concepts

journalism safety government responsibility public discourse

Questions to Reflect On

- What mechanisms can improve journalist protection?
- How does media silence affect society?

A Different Perspective

Safety measures can be hard to enforce globally.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Important contributions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-contributions/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/)

## Related quotes

> [Actions speak louder than words. The reality is that at least 10 journalists have been killed by the US military, and according to reports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eason-jordan/actions-speak-louder-than-words-the-reality-is-that-at-least-10/)

[Eason Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eason-jordan/)

> [The great concern is that year after year, rising numbers of journalists are being killed in pursuit of their work. They are increasingly seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-great-concern-is-that-year-after-year-rising-numbers-of/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [Intersectionality has made an important contribution to social and political analysis, asking all of us to think about what assumptions of race and class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/intersectionality-has-made-an-important-contribution-to-social-and/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [If an architect's ego is very small, he is done for it; if it is vast then he might make some very important contributions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-soleri/if-an-architect-s-ego-is-very-small-he-is-done-for-it-if-it-is-vast/)

Paolo Soleri

> [We have emphasized the importance of applied action research because it allows evidence-based policy and program development and a focus on learning. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-simmons/we-have-emphasized-the-importance-of-applied-action-research-because/)

[Ruth Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-simmons/)

> [Achieving sustainable ways of living is inextricably linked to how we organize work in the future. State of the World 2014 makes an important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/achieving-sustainable-ways-of-living-is-inextricably-linked-to-how-we/)

[Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/)

> [Perhaps the most important contribution to me being centered in the midst of this chaos is my daughter, Krystal Ann. I am very lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/perhaps-the-most-important-contribution-to-me-being-centered-in-the/)

[Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/)

> [Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced only by a more rapid increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/inflation-is-always-and-everywhere-a-monetary-phenomenon-in-the-sense/)

[Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/)

> [The Federalist Society has made important contributions to the nation's understanding of our constitutional heritage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/the-federalist-society-has-made-important-contributions-to-the-nation/)

[Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/)

> [By now, legions of tireless essayists and op-ed columnists have dressed feminists down for making such a fuss about entering the professions and earning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-blakely/by-now-legions-of-tireless-essayists-and-op-ed-columnists-have/)

[Mary Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-blakely/)

> [That wall, embodied in the First Amendment, is perhaps America's most important contribution to political progress on this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-p-weicker-jr/that-wall-embodied-in-the-first-amendment-is-perhaps-america-s-most/)

[Lowell P. Weicker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lowell-p-weicker-jr/)

> [The Astonishment Tapes will now take its place within the growing field of international research about postwar American poetry's important contribution to world literature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gizzi/the-astonishment-tapes-will-now-take-its-place-within-the-growing/)

[Peter Gizzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gizzi/)

> [I can hope that this long sad story, this progression of priests and ministers and rabbis and ulamas and imams and bonzes and bodhisattvas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/i-can-hope-that-this-long-sad-story-this-progression-of-priests-and/)

[Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/)

> [Looking back, I realize that nurturing curiosity and the instinct to seek solutions are perhaps the most important contributions education can make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-berg/looking-back-i-realize-that-nurturing-curiosity-and-the-instinct-to/)

[Paul Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-berg/)

> [The excellence of this important contribution to genre literature CANNOT be overstated A masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-nolan/the-excellence-of-this-important-contribution-to-genre-literature/)

William F. Nolan

## More by Irina Bokova

> [Education brings sustainability to all the development goals, and literacy is the foundation of all learning. It provides individuals with the skills to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/education-brings-sustainability-to-all-the-development-goals-and/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [Literacy is the door to knowledge, essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment. Books, in all forms, play an essential role here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/literacy-is-the-door-to-knowledge-essential-to-individual-self-esteem/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [THEATRE HAS THE POWER TO MOVE, INSPIRE, TRANSFORM AND EDUCATE IN WAYS THAT NO OTHER ART FORM CAN. THEATRE REFLECTS BOTH THE EXTRAORDINARY DIVERSITY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/theatre-has-the-power-to-move-inspire-transform-and-educate-in-ways/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [The history of the genocide perpetrated during the Second World War does not belong to the past only. It is a ‘living history’ that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/the-history-of-the-genocide-perpetrated-during-the-second-world-war/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [All forms of books make a valuable contribution to education and the dissemination of culture and information. The diversity of books and editorial content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/all-forms-of-books-make-a-valuable-contribution-to-education-and-the/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [In times of change and uncertainty, we need the spirit of jazz more than ever before, to bring people - especially young women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/in-times-of-change-and-uncertainty-we-need-the-spirit-of-jazz-more/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [There are no immovable barriers to education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/there-are-no-immovable-barriers-to-education/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

> [Literacy is much more than an educational priority - it is the ultimate investment in the future and the first step towards all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/literacy-is-much-more-than-an-educational-priority-it-is-the-ultimate/)

[Irina Bokova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

[Explore all 9 Irina Bokova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/)

## More Conditions quotes

> [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/)

[Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/)

> [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/)

[Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [History is, in its essentials, the science of change. It knows and it teaches that it is impossible to find two events that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bloch/history-is-in-its-essentials-the-science-of-change-it-knows-and-it/)

[Marc Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bloch/)

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [It clearly follows that to make men moral it is necessary to make their social environment moral. And that can be done in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/it-clearly-follows-that-to-make-men-moral-it-is-necessary-to-make/)

[Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/)

> [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/)

[Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/)

> [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [A social group can, indeed must, already exercise 'leadership' before winning governmental power (this is indeed one of the principal conditions for the winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/a-social-group-can-indeed-must-already-exercise-leadership-before/)

[Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/)

> [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

> [Changes in human conditions are brought about by the pioneering of the cleverest and most energetic men. They take the lead and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/changes-in-human-conditions-are-brought-about-by-the-pioneering-of/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

Browse all 4,249 Conditions quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an important contribution to democracy. It is essential that governments do all they can to ensure safe conditions for journalists to carry out their work.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Irina Bokova"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journalists-are-killed-public-debate/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conditions"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journalists-are-killed-public-debate/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/irina-bokova-44161_conditions_all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journal_3191230.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an…” — Irina Bokova",
                "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": "Irina Bokova",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-bokova/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All murder is a tragedy but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journalists-are-killed-public-debate/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-bokova/all-murder-is-a-tragedy-but-when-journalists-are-killed-public-debate/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
