Absent Quote by Jane Welsh Carlyle
“Blessed be the inventor of photography! I set him above even the inventor of chloroform! It has given more positive pleasure to poor suffering humanity than anything else that has ''cast up'' in my time or is like to -- this art by which even the ''poor'' can possess themselves of tolerable likenesses of their absent dear ones. And mustn't it be acting favorably on the morality of the country?”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Private correspondence, 1855
Celebrates photography as a moral and uplifting art that preserves likenesses of loved ones, especially for the poor.
In simple terms: Photography offers comfort and moral benefit by capturing images of absent loved ones.
Key Takeaway
Value and support artistic mediums that bring comfort to society.
Themes
art
technology
human connection
morality
Mood
reflective
appreciative
Type
cultural
inspirational
When to use this quote
- family remembrance
- historical documentation
- artistic expression
- social welfare
- cultural heritage
Key Concepts
photography
visual representation
emotional solace
Questions to Reflect On
- How does photography influence our perception of memory?
- Can art always be morally beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Art may be inaccessible to some and can raise privacy concerns.
![“... one of art photography's most vigorous enterprises--[is] concentrating on victims, on the unfortunate--but without the compassionate purpose that such a project is expected to serve.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a8a/susan-sontag-332_art_one-of-art-photography-s-most-vigorous-e_1454734.jpg)
