--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you think about [Truman] Capote in…" description: "\"When you think about [Truman] Capote in the - was what he did exploitative of a person's life or exploitative of these murders? You look at our culture..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_capote_when-you-think-about-truman-capote-in-th_694751.jpg" --- # When you think about \[Truman\] Capote in the - was what he… ![“When you think about [Truman] Capote in the - was what he did exploitative of a person's life or exploitative of these murders? You look at our culture now, you look at celebrity and how it plays out in our culture now, and Capote was one of the great PR men of his time.” quote by Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_capote_when-you-think-about-truman-capote-in-th_694751.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_capote_when-you-think-about-truman-capote-in-th_694751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_capote_when-you-think-about-truman-capote-in-th_694751.jpg) > “When you think about \[Truman\] Capote in the - was what he did exploitative of a person's life or exploitative of these murders? You look at our culture now, you look at celebrity and how it plays out in our culture now, and Capote was one of the great PR men of his time.” [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capote’s work blurs the line between storytelling and exploiting personal tragedies for fame. **In simple terms:** Capote mixed fame with personal tragedy for fame Key Takeaway Consider ethical limits of storytelling. Themes ethics celebrity media storytelling exploitation Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical ethical When to use this quote - journalism - biography - true crime - celebrity culture - media criticism Key Concepts privacy consent public interest Questions to Reflect On - Do we glorify exploitative narratives? - How should creators balance truth and respect? A Different Perspective The audience also bears responsibility for demanding sensationalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capote/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Truman Capote\] was not only just selling his writing, but he was selling himself as a person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/truman-capote-was-not-only-just-selling-his-writing-but-he-was/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I am the heterosexual Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-the-heterosexual-truman-capote/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I love Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Flannery O'Connor. I read a lot of American writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-desai/i-love-truman-capote-tennessee-williams-flannery-o-connor-i-read-a/) [Kiran Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-desai/) > [A society person who is enthusiastic about modern painting or Truman Capote is already half a traitor to his class. It is middle-class people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/a-society-person-who-is-enthusiastic-about-modern-painting-or-truman/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [Before Truman Capote, journalism and non-fiction weren't taken very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-clarke/before-truman-capote-journalism-and-non-fiction-weren-t-taken-very/) [Gerald Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-clarke/) > [Truman Capote has made lying an art. A minor art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/truman-capote-has-made-lying-an-art-a-minor-art/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Truman Capote is really an interesting cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/truman-capote-is-really-an-interesting-cat/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The whole ecosystem of celebrity has broken down for writers. If you go back to the '50s, '60s, and '70s, writers were on TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/the-whole-ecosystem-of-celebrity-has-broken-down-for-writers-if-you/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Are there any writers on the literary scene whom I consider truly great? Yes: Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/are-there-any-writers-on-the-literary-scene-whom-i-consider-truly/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Truman Capote was a pop figure, but it wasn't until he went on David Susskind's show and had that extraordinary voice and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/truman-capote-was-a-pop-figure-but-it-wasn-t-until-he-went-on-david/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I remember writing 'The One I Can't Have' at the kitchen table. I was looking at a picture of Truman Capote with Marilyn Monroe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/i-remember-writing-the-one-i-can-t-have-at-the-kitchen-table-i-was/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) > [Truman Capote was a magical, beautiful writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/truman-capote-was-a-magical-beautiful-writer/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [ With "Good Night, and Good Luck," I think it's kind of obvious what \[Truman Capote\]'s getting at there, and the importance of how it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/with-good-night-and-good-luck-i-think-it-s-kind-of-obvious-what/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [“author Truman Capote says, failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-nicole-mason/author-truman-capote-says-failure-is-the-condiment-that-gives-success/) [C. Nicole Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-nicole-mason/) > [When Truman Capote wrote from the perspective of condemned murderers from a lower economic class than his own, he had some gall. But writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/when-truman-capote-wrote-from-the-perspective-of-condemned-murderers/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) ## More by Philip Seymour Hoffman > [To act well isn't an easy thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/to-act-well-isn-t-an-easy-thing/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I would never not work on the part without it playing. That's what being an actor is. You use everything that's influenced you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-would-never-not-work-on-the-part-without-it-playing-that-s-what/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I have a fine level of recognition in the business and among the acting community now, so I consider myself one of the lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-have-a-fine-level-of-recognition-in-the-business-and-among-the/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I don't want to repeat myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-want-to-repeat-myself/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [Life's pretty funny when you're objectively on the outside looking at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/life-s-pretty-funny-when-you-re-objectively-on-the-outside-looking-at/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I was a breed of people who aren't capable of doing anything, really. At college I began to get the idea that being macho…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-was-a-breed-of-people-who-aren-t-capable-of-doing-anything-really/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I would definitely say pleasure is not happiness. Because I think I kill pleasure. Like I take too much of it in, and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-would-definitely-say-pleasure-is-not-happiness-because-i-think-i/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [Creating anything is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/creating-anything-is-hard/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [For me, acting is torturous, and it's torturous because you know it's a beautiful thing. I was young once, and I said, that's beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/for-me-acting-is-torturous-and-it-s-torturous-because-you-know-it-s-a/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [When you're playing someone who really lived, you carry a burden, a burden to be accurate. But it's one that you have to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/when-you-re-playing-someone-who-really-lived-you-carry-a-burden-a/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [In a film there a lot of people scheduling, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/in-a-film-there-a-lot-of-people-scheduling-you-know/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I like so many different kinds of music just because all I did was listen to the radio as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-like-so-many-different-kinds-of-music-just-because-all-i-did-was/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I've seen a lot of friends who have a lot of great projects, whether it's a script or a play or whatever, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-friends-who-have-a-lot-of-great-projects-whether/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [You have all the influence you choose to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/you-have-all-the-influence-you-choose-to-have/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) [Explore all 153 Philip Seymour Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) ## More Capote quotes > [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It's the story of a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-a-brilliant-fusion-of-fact-and-fiction-jayne-anne-phillips-has/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [In Kamby Bolongo Mean River damage and delusion walk hand in hand, and everything we think we know is gradually called into question. Reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/in-kamby-bolongo-mean-river-damage-and-delusion-walk-hand-in-hand-and/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [I am the heterosexual Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-the-heterosexual-truman-capote/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [“Capote's rejoinder to the Kerouac assertion that he never needed to edit his writing: "That's not writing .That's typing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cavano/capote-s-rejoinder-to-the-kerouac-assertion-that-he-never-needed-to/) Joseph Cavano > [“There's the one and only T.C. There was nobody like me before, and there ain't gonna be anybody like me after I'm gone...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-s-the-one-and-only-t-c-there-was-nobody-like-me-before-and/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I remember writing 'The One I Can't Have' at the kitchen table. I was looking at a picture of Truman Capote with Marilyn Monroe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/i-remember-writing-the-one-i-can-t-have-at-the-kitchen-table-i-was/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) > [Truman Capote was a pop figure, but it wasn't until he went on David Susskind's show and had that extraordinary voice and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/truman-capote-was-a-pop-figure-but-it-wasn-t-until-he-went-on-david/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Are there any writers on the literary scene whom I consider truly great? Yes: Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/are-there-any-writers-on-the-literary-scene-whom-i-consider-truly/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [ \[Truman Capote\] was not only just selling his writing, but he was selling himself as a person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/truman-capote-was-not-only-just-selling-his-writing-but-he-was/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [If Brando can do Capote and I can do Brando - well then, I can do Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-belushi/if-brando-can-do-capote-and-i-can-do-brando-well-then-i-can-do-capote/) [John Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-belushi/) > [Capote, of course, addressed very similar themes to Good Night and Good Luck. Both films are about determined journalists defying obstacles in a relentless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/capote-of-course-addressed-very-similar-themes-to-good-night-and-good/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The whole ecosystem of celebrity has broken down for writers. If you go back to the '50s, '60s, and '70s, writers were on TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/the-whole-ecosystem-of-celebrity-has-broken-down-for-writers-if-you/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Truman Capote is really an interesting cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/truman-capote-is-really-an-interesting-cat/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [“The trouble with all these far-right and far-left mentalities is that they can encompass only one side of an argument and are congenitally incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-trouble-with-all-these-far-right-and-far-left-mentalities-is-that/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Truman Capote has made lying an art. A minor art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/truman-capote-has-made-lying-an-art-a-minor-art/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) [Browse all 35 Capote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capote/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you think about [Truman] Capote in the - was what he did exploitative of a person's life or exploitative of these murders? 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