--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anonymous sources are a practice of…" description: "\"Anonymous sources are a practice of American journalism in the 20th and 21st century, a relatively recent practice. The literary tradition of anonymity..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/joe-klein-12661_21st-century_anonymous-sources-are-a-practice-of-amer_2000112.png" --- # Anonymous sources are a practice of American journalism in… ![“Anonymous sources are a practice of American journalism in the 20th and 21st century, a relatively recent practice. The literary tradition of anonymity goes back to the Bible.” quote by Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/joe-klein-12661_21st-century_anonymous-sources-are-a-practice-of-amer_2000112.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/joe-klein-12661_21st-century_anonymous-sources-are-a-practice-of-amer_2000112.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/joe-klein-12661_21st-century_anonymous-sources-are-a-practice-of-amer_2000112.png) > “Anonymous sources are a practice of American journalism in the 20th and 21st century, a relatively recent practice. The literary tradition of anonymity goes back to the Bible.” [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anonymous sources have become common in modern journalism, though anonymity has historic roots. **In simple terms:** Anonymous sources are now common, but have long history. Key Takeaway Consider source credibility when anonymity is used. Themes journalism media ethics anonymity history Mood critical analytical Type explanatory informative When to use this quote - news reporting - investigative journalism - media criticism - academic study Key Concepts source verification public trust information flow Questions to Reflect On - When is anonymity justified? - How can readers assess truthfulness? A Different Perspective Anonymity can obscure accountability and lead to misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [21st century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/21st-century/) [American Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-journalism-500379/) [Anonymity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anonymity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anonymous/) [Anonymous Sources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anonymous-sources-921545/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Tradition Anonymity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-anonymity-3514311/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, anonymous sources, when merely stating opinions or running a smear campaign, are certainly cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/sometimes-anonymous-sources-when-merely-stating-opinions-or-running-a/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [Trump may not like the fact that 20-plus anonymous sources provided the 'Times' with an unflattering portrait of his campaign, but that doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-may-not-like-the-fact-that-20-plus-anonymous-sources-provided/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [There's no credibility in anonymous sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-muschamp/there-s-no-credibility-in-anonymous-sources/) [Will Muschamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-muschamp/) > [I just don't see anonymous sources as fair against a candidate. I think if someone has a real concern, they should come out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-bailey-hutchison/i-just-don-t-see-anonymous-sources-as-fair-against-a-candidate-i/) [Kay Bailey Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-bailey-hutchison/) > [I think it's a lack of journalistic integrity to print things with anonymous sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-muschamp/i-think-it-s-a-lack-of-journalistic-integrity-to-print-things-with/) [Will Muschamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-muschamp/) > [Some of the best stories that I've gotten, that others have written about this administration, about the previous administration, you have to rely on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-isikoff/some-of-the-best-stories-that-i-ve-gotten-that-others-have-written/) [Michael Isikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-isikoff/) > [“On the late afternoon streets, everyone hurries along, going about their own business. Who is the person walking in front of you on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/on-the-late-afternoon-streets-everyone-hurries-along-going-about/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Anonymity was nothing more than me wanting to make it about the music and not necessarily the image. Of course, you realize later that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mister-lies/anonymity-was-nothing-more-than-me-wanting-to-make-it-about-the-music/) [Mister Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mister-lies/) > [The challenge for me as an actor is if you become a celebrity, you don't meet strangers anymore. And strangers are where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-challenge-for-me-as-an-actor-is-if-you-become-a-celebrity-you-don/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [She liked to imagine that when she passed, the world looked after her, but she also knew how anonymous she was. Except when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/she-liked-to-imagine-that-when-she-passed-the-world-looked-after-her/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [Washington is a town where there's all kinds of allegations. You've heard much of the allegations. And if people have got solid information, please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/washington-is-a-town-where-there-s-all-kinds-of-allegations-you-ve/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There was an honorable tradition of using anonymous sources that was ruined by Jayson Blair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/there-was-an-honorable-tradition-of-using-anonymous-sources-that-was/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [Sure, some journalists use anonymous sources just because they’re lazy, and I think editors ought to insist on more precise identification even if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bradlee/sure-some-journalists-use-anonymous-sources-just-because-they-re-lazy/) [Ben Bradlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bradlee/) > [Well, a lot of people don't want to be quoted. But keep in mind that Bob Woodward did all of his Watergate reporting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-klein/well-a-lot-of-people-don-t-want-to-be-quoted-but-keep-in-mind-that/) [Edward Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-klein/) > [Anonymous sources are to journalism what silicon enhancements are to the feminine figure; they look impressive to the gullible, but something doesn't feel right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/anonymous-sources-are-to-journalism-what-silicon-enhancements-are-to/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) ## More by Joe Klein > [You know, when George Bush talks about freedom not being America's gift to world but God's gift to all humankind, it smells like market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-when-george-bush-talks-about-freedom-not-being-america-s/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [When I started in the press there were really ink-stained wretches. Not everybody went to college. Now, everybody at the New York Times and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/when-i-started-in-the-press-there-were-really-ink-stained-wretches/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [In 2012 there was a megafoolish, if well-funded, effort by a group called Americans Elect to raise an independent Cincinnatus to run for president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-2012-there-was-a-megafoolish-if-well-funded-effort-by-a-group/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [We journalists are never so idiotic as when we analyze things that we shouldn't be analyzing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/we-journalists-are-never-so-idiotic-as-when-we-analyze-things-that-we/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [You know, larger-than-life politicians have larger-than-life strengths and larger-than-life weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-larger-than-life-politicians-have-larger-than-life-strengths/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I believe that poverty is often the result of inappropriate behavior - out-of-wedlock births, dropping out of school, crime and drugs - which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-believe-that-poverty-is-often-the-result-of-inappropriate-behavior/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [That was the miracle of Abraham Lincoln, politician. He pursued the high purpose of moving justice forward via the low arts of patronage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/that-was-the-miracle-of-abraham-lincoln-politician-he-pursued-the/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [For me, a really radical position for journalism to take is to stop being cynical. Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/for-me-a-really-radical-position-for-journalism-to-take-is-to-stop/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [Affirmative action was always racial justice on the cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/affirmative-action-was-always-racial-justice-on-the-cheap/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I'm in favour of politicians having extra-marital relationships. Oh yeah. It makes them more understanding of the flaws that the rest of us have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-m-in-favour-of-politicians-having-extra-marital-relationships-oh/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I believe, I believe that the people who voted in those primaries for Donald Trump were at least helping him along with his message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-believe-i-believe-that-the-people-who-voted-in-those-primaries-for/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [“Faith, unaccompanied by rigorous skepticism, is a recipe for myopia and foolishness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/faith-unaccompanied-by-rigorous-skepticism-is-a-recipe-for-myopia-and/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [This dilettante notion that the global economy is evil because big corporate leaders make too much money... they do make too much money, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/this-dilettante-notion-that-the-global-economy-is-evil-because-big/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I got into journalism because I came of age in the '60s. It just seemed one way for me to get things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-got-into-journalism-because-i-came-of-age-in-the-60s-it-just-seemed/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) [Explore all 54 Joe Klein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) ## More 21st century quotes > [The young people today are the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-young-people-today-are-the-21st-century/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [“You know it’s the 21st Century when someone TEXTS you from the washroom to ask you to bring them a roll of toilet paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/you-know-it-s-the-21st-century-when-someone-texts-you-from-the/) [Comic Strip Mama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comic-strip-mama/) > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) [Bella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-james/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-firmly-believe-that-the-mission-of-religion-in-the-21st-century/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Facebook, Twitter...Welcome to The 21st Century...Where Someone can stalk you without leaving the couch!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-twitter-welcome-to-the-21st-century-where-someone-can-stalk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human Race is all over universe! And I am the first person to inform you. I am the most influential person of this decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwani-kumar-ojha/human-race-is-all-over-universe-and-i-am-the-first-person-to-inform/) [Ashwani Kumar Ojha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwani-kumar-ojha/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [What I love about making albums in the 21st century is that so few people buy albums! I can make an album without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-i-love-about-making-albums-in-the-21st-century-is-that-so-few/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [The computer provides the only way to give students a real foundation in 21st-century skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/the-computer-provides-the-only-way-to-give-students-a-real-foundation/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) [Browse all 771 21st century quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/21st-century/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anonymous sources are a practice of American journalism in the 20th and 21st century, a relatively recent practice. 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