--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are doing a piece about somebody…" description: "\"If you are doing a piece about somebody, even if you admire them tremendously and express that in the piece, express that admiration, if they're not us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joan-didion-497_admiration_if-you-are-doing-a-piece-about-somebody_2985641.jpg" --- # If you are doing a piece about somebody, even if you… ![“If you are doing a piece about somebody, even if you admire them tremendously and express that in the piece, express that admiration, if they're not used to being written about, if they're civilians, [...] they're not used to seeing themselves through other people's eyes. So you will always see…” quote by Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joan-didion-497_admiration_if-you-are-doing-a-piece-about-somebody_2985641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joan-didion-497_admiration_if-you-are-doing-a-piece-about-somebody_2985641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joan-didion-497_admiration_if-you-are-doing-a-piece-about-somebody_2985641.jpg) > “If you are doing a piece about somebody, even if you admire them tremendously and express that in the piece, express that admiration, if they're not used to being written about, if they're civilians, \[...\] they're not used to seeing themselves through other people's eyes. So you will always see them from a slightly different angle than they see themselves, and they feel a little betrayed by that.” [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing about private individuals can unintentionally expose them to perspectives they never chose, causing feelings of betrayal. **In simple terms:** Writing about people may betray them. Key Takeaway Consider subjects' comfort before publishing. Themes privacy ethics perspective trust Mood reflective cautious Type ethical analytical When to use this quote - journalism - biography - profile pieces Key Concepts subjectivity public eye authorial responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How might you balance honesty with respect for privacy? - What responsibilities do writers have to their subjects? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Different angles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-angles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [one reason we haven't any national art is because we have too much magnificence. All our capacity for admiration is used up on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-canfield-fisher/one-reason-we-haven-t-any-national-art-is-because-we-have-too-much/) [Dorothy Canfield Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-canfield-fisher/) > [“Here it is self-evident that public admiration and monetary reward are of the same nature and can become substitutes for each other. Public admiration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/here-it-is-self-evident-that-public-admiration-and-monetary-reward/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [It's always fun when somebody who you admire and respect is the voice - is your voice, as a viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/it-s-always-fun-when-somebody-who-you-admire-and-respect-is-the-voice/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I would say that Cynthia Nixon is somebody I admire, and Toni Collette as well. Those women - their work inspires me, whatever they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/i-would-say-that-cynthia-nixon-is-somebody-i-admire-and-toni-collette/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [“To Polish the Gold & Help Others Shine . . . Acknowledge their achievements: Great achievements require great effort and usually come dressed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/to-polish-the-gold-help-others-shine-acknowledge-their-achievements/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Many of the people I'm gratified to see have gotten acclaim like Mark Turner or Bill Charlap. Ed Simon or Maria Schneider or Jim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/many-of-the-people-i-m-gratified-to-see-have-gotten-acclaim-like-mark/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [“I'm going to take every chance I get to make a nuisance of myself when somebody I admire is in the vicinity...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-going-to-take-every-chance-i-get-to-make-a-nuisance-of-myself/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [All I can say is anybody who's spent most of his life living a lie is not somebody I admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/all-i-can-say-is-anybody-who-s-spent-most-of-his-life-living-a-lie-is/) [Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/) > [“Is that why we give flowers? To express admiration? Sometimes. But there are other reasons. A symbol of love or of commiseration. A way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/is-that-why-we-give-flowers-to-express-admiration-sometimes-but-there/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Express your admiration for the traits, possessions or accomplishments of your customer. Little things mean a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/express-your-admiration-for-the-traits-possessions-or-accomplishments/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I encourage all Americans to express admiration and appreciation to fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-encourage-all-americans-to-express-admiration-and-appreciation-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [When there is change, it must not alter the content of what propaganda is driving at, but in the end must always say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/when-there-is-change-it-must-not-alter-the-content-of-what-propaganda/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Here on the edge of the river, the motifs are very plentiful, the same subject seen from a different angle gives a subject for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/here-on-the-edge-of-the-river-the-motifs-are-very-plentiful-the-same/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [There's only a very small representation of girls among you. Too little. Women have much to tell us in today’s society. Sometimes we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-s-only-a-very-small-representation-of-girls-among-you-too/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Joan Didion > [To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/to-shift-the-structure-of-a-sentence-alters-the-meaning-of-that/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I work every day. Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Style is character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/style-is-character/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [California is a place in which a boom mentality and a sense of Chekhovian loss meet in uneasy suspension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/california-is-a-place-in-which-a-boom-mentality-and-a-sense-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“I went because I was interested in the alchemy of issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-went-because-i-was-interested-in-the-alchemy-of-issues/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Why did I write it down? In order to remember, of course, but exactly what was it I wanted to remember? How much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/why-did-i-write-it-down-in-order-to-remember-of-course-but-exactly/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I no longer want reminders of what was, what got broken, what got lost, what got wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-no-longer-want-reminders-of-what-was-what-got-broken-what-got-lost/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [My mother 'gave teas' the way other mothers breathed. Her own mother 'gave teas.' All of their friends 'gave teas,' each involving butter cookies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/my-mother-gave-teas-the-way-other-mothers-breathed-her-own-mother/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I'm not very interested in people. I recognize it in myself - there is a basic indifference toward people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-m-not-very-interested-in-people-i-recognize-it-in-myself-there-is-a/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Was there ever in anyone's life span a point free in time, devoid of memory, a point when choice was any more than sum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/was-there-ever-in-anyone-s-life-span-a-point-free-in-time-devoid-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Research to date has shown that, like many other stressors, grief frequently leads to changes in the endocrine, immune, autonomic nervous, and cardiovascular systems;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/research-to-date-has-shown-that-like-many-other-stressors-grief/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“By the end of the week she was thinking constantly about where her body stopped and the air began about the exact point in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/by-the-end-of-the-week-she-was-thinking-constantly-about-where-her/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“I just can't see the upside in this," I heard myself say by way of explanation. Later he said that if John had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-just-can-t-see-the-upside-in-this-i-heard-myself-say-by-way-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [To those of us who remained committed mainly to the exploration of moral distinctions and ambiguities, the feminist analysis may have seemed a particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/to-those-of-us-who-remained-committed-mainly-to-the-exploration-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) [Explore all 515 Joan Didion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) ## More Admiration quotes > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) > [“There have been those among us who have been so dazzled by the might and technological wizardy of Europe that they have been rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahdaf-soueif/there-have-been-those-among-us-who-have-been-so-dazzled-by-the-might/) [Ahdaf Soueif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahdaf-soueif/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“A warm, trustworthy person who is also strong elicits admiration, but only after you’ve established trust does your strength become a gift rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/a-warm-trustworthy-person-who-is-also-strong-elicits-admiration-but/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [“Let me make two remarks. First I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I’m quite busy with that—thank you very much. And I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/let-me-make-two-remarks-first-i-concentrate-on-the-task-ahead-for/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/) [Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/) > [Admittedly great though these reasons be, they are not the principal grounds, that is, those which may rightfully claim for themselves the privilege of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/admittedly-great-though-these-reasons-be-they-are-not-the-principal/) [Giovanni Pico della Mirandola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/) > [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) [Browse all 1,179 Admiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are doing a piece about somebody, even if you admire them tremendously and express that in the piece, express that admiration, if they're not used to being written about, if they're civilians, [...] they're not used to seeing themselves through other people's eyes. 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