--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was really embarrassed. And I asked why…" description: "\"I was really embarrassed. And I asked why they took my picture when I was in such agony, and I'm the girl, in the moment that I was naked, burning, hop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_girl_i-was-really-embarrassed-and-i-asked-why_348216.jpg" --- # I was really embarrassed. And I asked why they took my… ![“I was really embarrassed. And I asked why they took my picture when I was in such agony, and I'm the girl, in the moment that I was naked, burning, hopeless, crying - so ugly. And I asked why they took my picture at that that moment? I didn't like it at all.” quote by Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_girl_i-was-really-embarrassed-and-i-asked-why_348216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_girl_i-was-really-embarrassed-and-i-asked-why_348216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_girl_i-was-really-embarrassed-and-i-asked-why_348216.jpg) > “I was really embarrassed. And I asked why they took my picture when I was in such agony, and I'm the girl, in the moment that I was naked, burning, hopeless, crying - so ugly. And I asked why they took my picture at that that moment? I didn't like it at all.” [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She expresses outrage at being photographed in extreme suffering, feeling exposed and dehumanized. **In simple terms:** She feels violated by the photo. Key Takeaway Advocate for dignity and consent in media. Themes human dignity media ethics trauma awareness Mood anguished indignant Type ethical critical When to use this quote - war reporting - photojournalism - victim advocacy - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts rights of subjects ethical journalism Questions to Reflect On - Should photographers have consent? - How can media respect suffering? A Different Perspective Balancing truth‑telling with respect for subjects is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Why did you draw the chick in the ocean so fat and ugly?" asked a guy in a black tank top. "Where?" Kayla said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pack/why-did-you-draw-the-chick-in-the-ocean-so-fat-and-ugly-asked-a-guy/) Thomas Pack > [“I let a single tear fall. I shouldn’t have done that, because once I started, I couldn’t stop, and all of a sudden, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mihajlich/i-let-a-single-tear-fall-i-shouldn-t-have-done-that-because-once-i/) [Lucy Mihajlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mihajlich/) > [I don't really get embarrassed a lot because I feel like life goes on. I mean, I fell on stage one time; like, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-park/i-don-t-really-get-embarrassed-a-lot-because-i-feel-like-life-goes-on/) [Jay Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-park/) > [When West End Girls came out on import, I was a student at Liverpool University. I'd go to a club in Liverpool and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lowe/when-west-end-girls-came-out-on-import-i-was-a-student-at-liverpool/) [Chris Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lowe/) > [I wasn't into anything at school. I used to get really embarrassed. I used to get asked to do performing things, and I'd go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-wasn-t-into-anything-at-school-i-used-to-get-really-embarrassed-i/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [I didn't even listen to any music until I was 19, really. I just wanted to be famous. But I didn't say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-didn-t-even-listen-to-any-music-until-i-was-19-really-i-just-wanted/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [When I was little, I fell in the toilet and somebody had to come get me out. I was really embarrassed because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cannon/when-i-was-little-i-fell-in-the-toilet-and-somebody-had-to-come-get/) [Nick Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cannon/) > [When the 'godfather of punk' thing started floatin' around, it was, I was really, really embarrassed. I thought I should have a great, big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/when-the-godfather-of-punk-thing-started-floatin-around-it-was-i-was/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [I'm just very self-conscious about the way I look. I really am embarrassed of it, because I wish I wasn't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perfume-genius/i-m-just-very-self-conscious-about-the-way-i-look-i-really-am/) [Perfume Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perfume-genius/) > [“I love quick,” Gina said. “And come on, I’m getting jealous here. Was it zero sex last year for you, too?” “Yes,” he admitted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/i-love-quick-gina-said-and-come-on-i-m-getting-jealous-here-was-it/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [“Why are you so embarrassed?” he asked playfully. “So you passed out during an attempted blowjob. Who doesn’t?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/why-are-you-so-embarrassed-he-asked-playfully-so-you-passed-out/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [I'm always embarrassed when I'm asked about meaning, because it is what you make it. The meaning is yours, so it's not about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-sciamma/i-m-always-embarrassed-when-i-m-asked-about-meaning-because-it-is/) [Celine Sciamma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-sciamma/) > [I was really embarrassed about the fact that I had a disability. It was rough and tough like leather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-was-really-embarrassed-about-the-fact-that-i-had-a-disability-it/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [Everyone gets the feeling that they know you and they know your life, and I felt really embarrassed by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/everyone-gets-the-feeling-that-they-know-you-and-they-know-your-life/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I have been really embarrassed by this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-have-been-really-embarrassed-by-this/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## More by Phan Thi Kim Phuc > [I suffered too much and I want to stop the suffering of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-suffered-too-much-and-i-want-to-stop-the-suffering-of-other-people/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [From time to time I look at the picture when I am very sad. I just want to remember my past and that scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/from-time-to-time-i-look-at-the-picture-when-i-am-very-sad-i-just/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I am praying every day for peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-am-praying-every-day-for-peace/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Those bombs have brought me immeasurable pain. Even now, some 40 years later, I am still receiving treatment for burns that cover my arms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/those-bombs-have-brought-me-immeasurable-pain-even-now-some-40-years/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I want to give back all the love and care that I have received over the years from so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-want-to-give-back-all-the-love-and-care-that-i-have-received-over/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I got burned by napalm, and I became a victim of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-got-burned-by-napalm-and-i-became-a-victim-of-war/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [God used me that day. Even though so much of my body was burned, my feet were not burned, and so I could run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/god-used-me-that-day-even-though-so-much-of-my-body-was-burned-my/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Religion doesn't help me at all. But the relationship between me and God and Jesus, that changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/religion-doesn-t-help-me-at-all-but-the-relationship-between-me-and/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [As a child, I loved to climb on the tree, like a monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/as-a-child-i-loved-to-climb-on-the-tree-like-a-monkey/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I have my foundation, I help the children who are victims of war, and I talk about kids and I help people to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-my-foundation-i-help-the-children-who-are-victims-of-war-and-i/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I have two boys, so I don't want any more child to suffer like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-two-boys-so-i-don-t-want-any-more-child-to-suffer-like-me/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [For years, I prayed to the gods of Cao Dai for healing and peace. 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I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Perhaps we have failed as human beings. Perhaps we have embarrassed ourselves to the natural world. We have been rigorous and willful in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/perhaps-we-have-failed-as-human-beings-perhaps-we-have-embarrassed/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [One of the really bad things you can do to your writing is to dress up the vocabulary, looking for long words because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/one-of-the-really-bad-things-you-can-do-to-your-writing-is-to-dress/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“The thing that truly amazes me about myself is that I’m actually more scared of being embarrassed than anything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-burgess/the-thing-that-truly-amazes-me-about-myself-is-that-i-m-actually-more/) [Melvin Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-burgess/) > [Science and technology have been embarrassed by two world wars, many smaller ones, and the spread of weapons that could destroy humanity. 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