--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to…" description: "\"Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that's what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.\" — Kirk Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kirk-douglas-4420_big_virtue-is-not-photogenic-what-is-it-to-b_1025396.jpg" --- # Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To… ![“Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that's what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.” quote by Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kirk-douglas-4420_big_virtue-is-not-photogenic-what-is-it-to-b_1025396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kirk-douglas-4420_big_virtue-is-not-photogenic-what-is-it-to-b_1025396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kirk-douglas-4420_big_virtue-is-not-photogenic-what-is-it-to-b_1025396.jpg) > “Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that's what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.” [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue that be praised visually; being kind can feel empty if not genuine. **In simple terms:** Being nice can be hollow. Key Takeaway Seek authentic integrity. Themes authenticity virtue image Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - public image Key Concepts Existentialism self‑deception Questions to Reflect On - What does true virtue look like? - How can you balance kindness and authenticity? A Different Perspective Being kind without depth can lead to resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Nice guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-guy/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Virtue is not photogenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/virtue-is-not-photogenic/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Virtue is not photogenic, so I liked playing bad guys. But, whenever I played a bad guy, I tried to find something good in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/virtue-is-not-photogenic-so-i-liked-playing-bad-guys-but-whenever-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [For modeling, you have to be photogenic, but to be a VJ, you actually project your whole personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-rouass/for-modeling-you-have-to-be-photogenic-but-to-be-a-vj-you-actually/) [Laila Rouass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-rouass/) > [I think that when you're taking pictures with my principles, you can try anything. Dare to do a lot of things - dare with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/i-think-that-when-you-re-taking-pictures-with-my-principles-you-can/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [Love is photogenic. It needs darkness room to develop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/love-is-photogenic-it-needs-darkness-room-to-develop/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I wish I was always photogenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/i-wish-i-was-always-photogenic/) [Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/) > [Photogenic is a stupid, nonsensical word, but it is also a great mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/photogenic-is-a-stupid-nonsensical-word-but-it-is-also-a-great-mystery/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [“Love is photogenic, it develops in the dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-gokul/love-is-photogenic-it-develops-in-the-dark/) [LORRAINE GOKUL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-gokul/) > [Have you ever had one of those moments when you know that you're being visited by your own future? They come so rarely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/have-you-ever-had-one-of-those-moments-when-you-know-that-you-re/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Dogs seem more photogenic than cats. In photos most cats look like sociopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/dogs-seem-more-photogenic-than-cats-in-photos-most-cats-look-like/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“She was also completely beautiful: blonde with a face that was ridiculously photogenic and a tall, yet curvy figure that always got plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-evhans/she-was-also-completely-beautiful-blonde-with-a-face-that-was/) Reece Evhans > [You know, I'm very photogenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/you-know-i-m-very-photogenic/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/cats-never-strike-a-pose-that-isn-t-photogenic/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [If we examine a work of ordinary art, by means of a powerful microscope, all traces of resemblance to nature will disappear - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/if-we-examine-a-work-of-ordinary-art-by-means-of-a-powerful/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [Saturn is the most photogenic planet in the solar system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-porco/saturn-is-the-most-photogenic-planet-in-the-solar-system/) [Carolyn Porco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-porco/) ## More by Kirk Douglas > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When I produced Spartacus, the writer was Dalton Trumbo, who spent a year in jail because he would not answer McCarthy's questions about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-i-produced-spartacus-the-writer-was-dalton-trumbo-who-spent-a/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you-lose-so-many-friends-burt/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Know what a loner is? He's a born cripple. He's a cripple because the only person he can live with is himself. It's his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/know-what-a-loner-is-he-s-a-born-cripple-he-s-a-cripple-because-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-have-a-stroke-you-must-talk-slowly-to-be-understood-and-i-ve/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Love has more depth as you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/love-has-more-depth-as-you-get-older/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [On a crowded bus in Israel, a mother was speaking to her son in Yiddish. An Israeli woman reprimanded her. 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I never thought I was the good-looking movie type, which I assumed they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-never-had-any-desire-to-be-a-film-actor-i-never-thought-i-was-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you get to my age, you find that most of your dear friends are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-to-my-age-you-find-that-most-of-your-dear-friends-are/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-came-from-abject-poverty-there-was-nowhere-to-go-but-up/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [You'll never see Spartacus in a (expletive) chair!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/you-ll-never-see-spartacus-in-a-expletive-chair/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I'm a loner clear down deep to my guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-m-a-loner-clear-down-deep-to-my-guts/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I went to Hollywood to test for Martha Ivers and I thought I was going to play the part that Van Heflin played.But they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-went-to-hollywood-to-test-for-martha-ivers-and-i-thought-i-was/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) [Explore all 111 Kirk Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. 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