--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am an idealist. I often feel I would…" description: "\"I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I speak to people, so I must desert that ivory..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-li_219378.jpg" --- # I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an… ![“I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I speak to people, so I must desert that ivory tower. To do this, I am a journalist—a photojournalist. But I am always torn between the attitude of the journalist, who is a recorder of facts…” quote by W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-li_219378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-li_219378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-li_219378.jpg) > “I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I speak to people, so I must desert that ivory tower. To do this, I am a journalist—a photojournalist. But I am always torn between the attitude of the journalist, who is a recorder of facts, and the artist, who is often necessarily at odds with the facts. My principle concern is for honesty, above all honesty with myself…” [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing artistic vision with factual reporting creates tension; the core duty is unwavering honesty to self and audience. **In simple terms:** Art and facts clash; honesty is key. Key Takeaway Prioritize truth over personal style. Themes honesty journalism art integrity Mood reflective determined Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - covering conflict - documenting culture - personal projects Key Concepts ethical journalism creative expression Questions to Reflect On - Can a journalist be both artist and truth‑teller? - Where should the line be drawn? A Different Perspective Artistic impulses may compromise factual clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Idealist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealist/) [Imperatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperatives/) [Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory/) [Ivory tower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory-tower/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Photojournalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photojournalists/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [Unfortunately, conflicts have always been there and they don't seem to be stopping. I'm a journalist and a photojournalist at heart, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaul-schwarz/unfortunately-conflicts-have-always-been-there-and-they-don-t-seem-to/) [Shaul Schwarz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaul-schwarz/) > [Reporters listen, photographers look. If you are doing your job seriously as a photojournalist, your sight must be the primary sense that you use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-eppridge/reporters-listen-photographers-look-if-you-are-doing-your-job/) Bill Eppridge > [What does a professional photojournalist do that others cannot? Depicting photo opportunities as if they are authentic, covering press conferences, or making subjects play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ritchin/what-does-a-professional-photojournalist-do-that-others-cannot/) [Fred Ritchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ritchin/) > [As we all know, the objective and mission of the photojournalist is to show us the reality of the world. And in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfredo-jaar/as-we-all-know-the-objective-and-mission-of-the-photojournalist-is-to/) [Alfredo Jaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfredo-jaar/) > [If I wasn't a comic or TV star, I really wanted to be a photojournalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/if-i-wasn-t-a-comic-or-tv-star-i-really-wanted-to-be-a-photojournalist/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [To be a photojournalist takes experience, skill, endurance, energy, salesmanship, organization, wheedling, climbing, gatecrashing, etc. - plus an eye and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-orkin/to-be-a-photojournalist-takes-experience-skill-endurance-energy/) Ruth Orkin > [F8 And Be There! For years, this was the cry of the photojournalist. It meant that 90% of a great photo was being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dewitt-jones/f8-and-be-there-for-years-this-was-the-cry-of-the-photojournalist-it/) [Dewitt Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dewitt-jones/) > [As an emerging photojournalist in the early 70s, my focus was on trying to create stories for magazines to the exclusion of almost everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-an-emerging-photojournalist-in-the-early-70s-my-focus-was-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are not just a photojournalist, you're a historian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-eppridge/you-are-not-just-a-photojournalist-you-re-a-historian/) Bill Eppridge > [My evolution into becoming a photojournalist started with falling in love with literature when I was a teenager, falling in love with novels and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kashi/my-evolution-into-becoming-a-photojournalist-started-with-falling-in/) [Ed Kashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kashi/) > [Photojournalist? With a few exceptions, those of us working as photojournalists might now more appropriately call ourselves illustrators. For, unlike real reporters, whose job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/photojournalist-with-a-few-exceptions-those-of-us-working-as/) [Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/) > [If you want to be a photographer, particularly a photojournalist , you want to learn about the world. You want to learn about yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kashi/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-particularly-a-photojournalist-you/) [Ed Kashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kashi/) > [I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-constantly-torn-between-the-attitude-of-the-conscientious/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [There's a tired notion that the photojournalist has to be disengaged to be able to shoot what he shoots, and that's such a cliched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/there-s-a-tired-notion-that-the-photojournalist-has-to-be-disengaged/) [Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/) > [My job is very simply that of a photojournalist. I want to stop people's eye on the page, I want to move the viewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-armstrong-jones/my-job-is-very-simply-that-of-a-photojournalist-i-want-to-stop-people/) [Antony Armstrong-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-armstrong-jones/) ## More by W. Eugene Smith > [If I can get them to think, get them to feel, get them to see, then I've done about all that I can as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/if-i-can-get-them-to-think-get-them-to-feel-get-them-to-see-then-i-ve/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [... to became neighbours and friends instead of journalists. This is the way to make your finest photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/to-became-neighbours-and-friends-instead-of-journalists-this-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Most photographers seem to operate with a pane of glass between themselves and their subjects. They just can't get inside and know the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/most-photographers-seem-to-operate-with-a-pane-of-glass-between/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I was after a set of pictures, so that when people looked at them they would say, ‘This is war’-that the people who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-was-after-a-set-of-pictures-so-that-when-people-looked-at-them-they/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [The first word I would remove from the folklore of journalism is the word objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/the-first-word-i-would-remove-from-the-folklore-of-journalism-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [What's the best type of light? Why that would be available light... and by available light I mean any damn light is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/what-s-the-best-type-of-light-why-that-would-be-available-light-and/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-constantly-torn-between-the-attitude-of-the-conscientious/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [You can't photograph if you're not in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/you-can-t-photograph-if-you-re-not-in-love/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I think photojournalism is documentary photography with a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-think-photojournalism-is-documentary-photography-with-a-purpose/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not-the-coverage-of-a-news-event/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Many claim I am a photographer of tragedy. In the greater sense I am not, for though I often photograph where the tragic emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/many-claim-i-am-a-photographer-of-tragedy-in-the-greater-sense-i-am/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [My camera, my intentions stopped no man from falling. Nor did they aid him after he had fallen. It could be said that photographs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-camera-my-intentions-stopped-no-man-from-falling-nor-did-they-aid/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion, also one that is entertaining or pleasing. Out of the depth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/the-purpose-of-all-art-is-to-cause-a-deep-and-emotion-also-one-that/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I didn’t write the rules. Why would I follow them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-didn-t-write-the-rules-why-would-i-follow-them/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I can’t stand these damn shows on museum walls with neat little frames, where you look at the images as if they were pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-can-t-stand-these-damn-shows-on-museum-walls-with-neat-little/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) [Explore all 37 W. Eugene Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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