--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would it not be better to have it…" description: "\"Would it not be better to have it understood that realism, in so far as the word means reality to life, is always bad art -- although it may possibly b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/sherwood-anderson-2780_art_would-it-not-be-better-to-have-it-unders_2229604.png" --- # Would it not be better to have it understood that realism… ![“Would it not be better to have it understood that realism, in so far as the word means reality to life, is always bad art -- although it may possibly be very good journalism?” quote by Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/sherwood-anderson-2780_art_would-it-not-be-better-to-have-it-unders_2229604.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/sherwood-anderson-2780_art_would-it-not-be-better-to-have-it-unders_2229604.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/sherwood-anderson-2780_art_would-it-not-be-better-to-have-it-unders_2229604.png) > “Would it not be better to have it understood that realism, in so far as the word means reality to life, is always bad art -- although it may possibly be very good journalism?” [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realism mirrors life but can be poor art; journalism may excel. **In simple terms:** Realism can be bad art, good journalism. Key Takeaway Recognize medium limits when depicting reality. Themes art realism journalism Mood analytical critical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - painting - news reporting - documentary film Key Concepts aesthetic theory media studies Questions to Reflect On - When is realism appropriate in art? - How does journalism benefit from realism? A Different Perspective Art can transcend realism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Good journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-journalism/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [Realism in so far as it means Reality to life is always bad art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/realism-in-so-far-as-it-means-reality-to-life-is-always-bad-art/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [Realism, in so far as the word means reality to life, is always bad art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/realism-in-so-far-as-the-word-means-reality-to-life-is-always-bad-art/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [I never understood the realism of an imaginary circumstance. While I was doing 'Smoke Signals,' I relied on my instinct and what I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-beach/i-never-understood-the-realism-of-an-imaginary-circumstance-while-i/) [Adam Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-beach/) > [We have to give up the idea of realism to a far greater extent than most physicists believe today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/we-have-to-give-up-the-idea-of-realism-to-a-far-greater-extent-than/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [Reality is how we interpret it. Imagination and volition play a part in that interpretation. Which means that all reality is to some extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/reality-is-how-we-interpret-it-imagination-and-volition-play-a-part/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Our civilization is first and foremost a civilization of means; in the reality of modern life, the means, it would seem, are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/our-civilization-is-first-and-foremost-a-civilization-of-means-in-the/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“A realist is a man of action, because he does not dwell too much on reason when the results or the end will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/a-realist-is-a-man-of-action-because-he-does-not-dwell-too-much-on/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“The Real World' The real word doesn't take flight the way dreams do. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachlan-murdoch/i-have-been-privileged-to-grow-up-retaining-the-love-of-good/) [Lachlan Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachlan-murdoch/) > [If that is what makes us liberals, so be it, just as long as in reporting the news we adhere to the first ideals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-that-is-what-makes-us-liberals-so-be-it-just-as-long-as-in/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-i-believe-that-good-journalism-good-television-can-make-our-world/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) ## More by Sherwood Anderson > [You must not become a mere peddler of words. The thing to learn is to know what people are thinking about, not what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/you-must-not-become-a-mere-peddler-of-words-the-thing-to-learn-is-to/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [“Doctor Parcival began to plead with George Willard. 'You must pay attention to me,' he urged. 'If something happens you will be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/doctor-parcival-began-to-plead-with-george-willard-you-must-pay/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [It has long been my desire to be a little worm in the fair apple of Progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/it-has-long-been-my-desire-to-be-a-little-worm-in-the-fair-apple-of/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [What's wrong with this egotism? 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They have too much respect for physicians, are taughtto have too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/it-might-be-that-women-who-have-beennurses-should-not-marry/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [“He was almost a poet in his old age and his notion of what happened took a poetic turn. 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