---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Several tons of dynamite are set off in…"
description: "\"Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture - none of it under the right people.\" — James Agee"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg"
---

#  Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture…

![“Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture - none of it under the right people.” quote by James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg)

> “Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture - none of it under the right people.”

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

## About This Quote

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

Dynamite in the image shows power misused when placed with wrong people.

**In simple terms:** Misplaced power causes destruction.

Key Takeaway

Ensure responsible use of power.

Themes

war danger misuse

Mood

critical serious

Type

analytical reflective

When to use this quote

- journalism
- historical analysis
- education

Key Concepts

explosives visual metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- Who decides who holds power?
- How can we prevent misuse?

A Different Perspective

Context may be misinterpreted.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/)

## Related quotes

> [The ratio of successful shots is one in God-knows-how-many. Sometimes you'll get several in one contact sheet, and sometimes it's none for days. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/the-ratio-of-successful-shots-is-one-in-god-knows-how-many-sometimes/)

[Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/)

> [In my days, I played under several captains, none of whom were alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/in-my-days-i-played-under-several-captains-none-of-whom-were-alike/)

[Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/)

> [Two or three tons of rock can really get you down-and keep you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamahl/two-or-three-tons-of-rock-can-really-get-you-down-and-keep-you-there/)

[Kamahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamahl/)

> [In reality, there are tons of unrepresented voices that we don't see in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franchesca-ramsey/in-reality-there-are-tons-of-unrepresented-voices-that-we-don-t-see/)

[Franchesca Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franchesca-ramsey/)

> [You're gonna meet tons of different people throughout your life, and it's totally worth it to stick your neck out a little bit if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/you-re-gonna-meet-tons-of-different-people-throughout-your-life-and/)

[Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/)

> [The Soyuz craft weighs tons, and you're lying on the floor of it on your back. But the Russians do tell you, remember, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/the-soyuz-craft-weighs-tons-and-you-re-lying-on-the-floor-of-it-on/)

[Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/)

> [I don't like most Christmas movies. They're pretty bad, though they seem to make tons of money anyway. Like this movie 'Elf,' I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/i-don-t-like-most-christmas-movies-they-re-pretty-bad-though-they/)

[Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/)

> [I work very closely with my publisher and just give them tons and tons of music, and then they link that with different songwriters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/i-work-very-closely-with-my-publisher-and-just-give-them-tons-and/)

[Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/)

> [I love 'Modern Family; I think that is a great show. I don't get to watch tons of TV, but when I do, 'Sons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-love-modern-family-i-think-that-is-a-great-show-i-don-t-get-to/)

[Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/)

> [I didn't realize how many actresses have tons of extensions. Their hair is still pretty, but it blew my mind to find that out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/i-didn-t-realize-how-many-actresses-have-tons-of-extensions-their/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Florida has tons of entertainment opportunities because Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-richardson/florida-has-tons-of-entertainment-opportunities-because-walt-disney/)

[Kevin Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-richardson/)

> [You load 16 tons, and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-travis/you-load-16-tons-and-what-do-you-get-another-day-older-and-deeper-in/)

[Merle Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-travis/)

> [Is it possible Hanukkah doesn't inspire folksy songs? Plot lines may be a part. The Christmas story has a lot of material to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/is-it-possible-hanukkah-doesn-t-inspire-folksy-songs-plot-lines-may/)

[Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/)

> [I want there to be tons and tons and tons and tons of movies starring women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-want-there-to-be-tons-and-tons-and-tons-and-tons-of-movies-starring/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [I'm perfectly flawed... I've got tons of flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-perfectly-flawed-i-ve-got-tons-of-flaws/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

## More by James Agee

> [By some chance, here they are, all on this earth; and who shall ever tell the sorrow of being on this earth, lying, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/by-some-chance-here-they-are-all-on-this-earth-and-who-shall-ever/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [The camera seems to me, next to unassisted and weaponless consciousness, the central instrument of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/the-camera-seems-to-me-next-to-unassisted-and-weaponless/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [“Yes, for every child, rich or poor, there's a time of running through a dark place; and there's no word for a child's fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/yes-for-every-child-rich-or-poor-there-s-a-time-of-running-through-a/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [“Kate, the mother of thirteen, is forty-nine; delicately made; her skin creamlike where the weather has not got at it. She is smaller than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/kate-the-mother-of-thirteen-is-forty-nine-delicately-made-her-skin/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [ “The passion for vengeance is a terrifyingly strong one, very easily and probably inevitably wrought up by such evidence \[of atrocities\], even at our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/the-passion-for-vengeance-is-a-terrifyingly-strong-one-very-easily/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [It's kind of a test, Mary, and it's the only kind that amounts to anything. When something rotten like this happens, then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/it-s-kind-of-a-test-mary-and-it-s-the-only-kind-that-amounts-to/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [The mere attempt to examine my own confusion would consume volumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/the-mere-attempt-to-examine-my-own-confusion-would-consume-volumes/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [It is a peculiar part of the good photographer's adventure to know where luck is most likely to lie in the stream, to hook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/it-is-a-peculiar-part-of-the-good-photographer-s-adventure-to-know/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [“God is not here, Hannah said to herself; and made a small cross upon her breastbone, against her blasphemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/god-is-not-here-hannah-said-to-herself-and-made-a-small-cross-upon/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [Well, now, some people learn a little quicker than others. It's nice to learn fast but it's nice to take your time too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/well-now-some-people-learn-a-little-quicker-than-others-it-s-nice-to/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [The artist's task is not to alter the world as the eye sees it into a world of aesthetic reality, but to perceive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/the-artist-s-task-is-not-to-alter-the-world-as-the-eye-sees-it-into-a/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [Understanding, and action proceeding from understanding and guided by it, is one weapon against the world's bombardment, the one medicine, the one instrument by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/understanding-and-action-proceeding-from-understanding-and-guided-by/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [This continent, an open palm spread frank before the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/this-continent-an-open-palm-spread-frank-before-the-sky/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [You've got to bear it in mind that nobody that ever lived is specially privileged; the axe can fall at any moment, on any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/you-ve-got-to-bear-it-in-mind-that-nobody-that-ever-lived-is/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

> [He used this great, sad, motionless face to suggest various related things: a one-track mind near the track's end of pure insanity; mulish imperturbability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/he-used-this-great-sad-motionless-face-to-suggest-various-related/)

[James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

[Explore all 75 James Agee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/)

## More Dynamite quotes

> [Print neatly. That's the kind of advice that the IRS considers a "dynamite" tax tip. If you ask them a real tax question, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/print-neatly-that-s-the-kind-of-advice-that-the-irs-considers-a/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [I seriously think I could have sat in the middle of the kitchen floor rubbing two sticks together over a pile of dynamite blocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-sonnenblick/i-seriously-think-i-could-have-sat-in-the-middle-of-the-kitchen-floor/)

[Jordan Sonnenblick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-sonnenblick/)

> [Evolution cannot be brought about by the use of dynamite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-parlby/evolution-cannot-be-brought-about-by-the-use-of-dynamite/)

Irene Parlby

> [Take a young man from Gaza living in the most horrendous conditions - most of it imposed by Israel - who straps dynamite around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/take-a-young-man-from-gaza-living-in-the-most-horrendous-conditions/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [If you are talking about terrorism, you need to sit down and understand what is making these people put dynamite around their waists and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakhdar-brahimi/if-you-are-talking-about-terrorism-you-need-to-sit-down-and/)

[Lakhdar Brahimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakhdar-brahimi/)

> [Because mothers make us, because they map our emotional terrain before we even know we are capable of having an emotional terrain, they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-walker/because-mothers-make-us-because-they-map-our-emotional-terrain-before/)

[Rebecca Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-walker/)

> [Commercialism is the blemish on the fair face of American life. Fighting against the terrible conditions of the explorer and pioneer, our forefathers had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-foote-macdougall/commercialism-is-the-blemish-on-the-fair-face-of-american-life/)

[Alice Foote MacDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-foote-macdougall/)

> [Babies in silk hats playing with dynamite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-woollcott/babies-in-silk-hats-playing-with-dynamite/)

[Alexander Woollcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-woollcott/)

> [People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-power-is-on-the-inside-but/)

[Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/)

> [Our planning system was dynamite when we first put it in. The thinking was fresh; the form mattered little. It was idea oriented. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welch/our-planning-system-was-dynamite-when-we-first-put-it-in-the-thinking/)

[John Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welch/)

> [My family has always called me 'Lay Lay,' and my dad used to always call me 'Dynamite Termite' because I was really short and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-chabert/my-family-has-always-called-me-lay-lay-and-my-dad-used-to-always-call/)

[Lacey Chabert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-chabert/)

> [As was the case for Nobel's own invention of dynamite, the uses that are made of increased knowledge can serve both beneficial and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaas-bloembergen/as-was-the-case-for-nobel-s-own-invention-of-dynamite-the-uses-that/)

[Nicolaas Bloembergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaas-bloembergen/)

> [She's no flibberti-gibberti mamzell, but a whir-stir-get-lost-sir bundla dynamite!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/she-s-no-flibberti-gibberti-mamzell-but-a-whir-stir-get-lost-sir/)

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

> [“Because time does the job, dynamite can't touch. (Samuel Hamilton)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/because-time-does-the-job-dynamite-can-t-touch-samuel-hamilton/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [One handles truths like dynamite. Literature is one vast hypocrisy, a giant deception, treachery. All writers have concealed more than they revealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/one-handles-truths-like-dynamite-literature-is-one-vast-hypocrisy-a/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

Browse all 161 Dynamite quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture - none of it under the right people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Agee"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in-this-picture-none-of-it-under/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dynamite"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in-this-picture-none-of-it-under/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/james-agee-9167_dynamite_several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in_2963311.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture - none of it under the right people.” — James Agee",
                "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": "James Agee",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Several tons of dynamite are set...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in-this-picture-none-of-it-under/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/several-tons-of-dynamite-are-set-off-in-this-picture-none-of-it-under/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
