--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would that my photographs might be, not…" description: "\"I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war.\" — W. Eugene Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f8/w-eugene-smith-17192_coverage_i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not_871836.jpg" --- # I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of… ![“I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war.” quote by W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f8/w-eugene-smith-17192_coverage_i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not_871836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f8/w-eugene-smith-17192_coverage_i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not_871836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f8/w-eugene-smith-17192_coverage_i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not_871836.jpg) > “I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war.” [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. The photographer as his work to serve as a moral indictment of war rather than mere documentation. **In simple terms:** Photos should condemn war, not just report it. Key Takeaway Create images that expose war’s injustice. Themes war photography ethics activism Mood critical urgent Type activist reflective When to use this quote - photojournalism - peace activism - educational campaigns - exhibitions Key Concepts moral responsibility visual storytelling social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can photographers maintain truth while delivering moral critique? - What responsibilities do visual artists have in conflict zones? A Different Perspective Balancing artistic expression with factual accuracy can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographs/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war - the brutal corrupting viciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not-the-coverage-of-a-news-event-2/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Let's see in those indictments you can't level at Sweden, they never tried to ban the constitution or undermine the settlement that they wanted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/let-s-see-in-those-indictments-you-can-t-level-at-sweden-they-never/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Excellent Sheep is likely to makea lasting mark for three reasons. 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I never will be guilty of that again - as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/in-the-past-yes-i-have-made-sweeping-indictments-of-all-white-people/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Management cares about only one thing. Paperwork. They will forgive almost anything else - cost overruns, gross incompetence, criminal indictments - as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/management-cares-about-only-one-thing-paperwork-they-will-forgive/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [We need a Savior. 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When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/i-am-at-the-moment-writing-a-lengthy-indictment-against-our-century/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [The barometer that shows "variable" is an ironic indictment of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/the-barometer-that-shows-variable-is-an-ironic-indictment-of-god/) [Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/) > [Half of Louisiana is under water and the other half is under indictment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-tauzin/half-of-louisiana-is-under-water-and-the-other-half-is-under/) [Billy Tauzin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-tauzin/) > [The pictures that were coming from Vietnam were showing us what was really happening on the ground level. It was in contradiction to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/the-pictures-that-were-coming-from-vietnam-were-showing-us-what-was/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) ## 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/) > [I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-like-to-be-an-artist-in-an/) [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/) > [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 Coverage quotes > [We didn't see what happen when Marines fired M-16s... We didn't see what happened after mortars landed, only the puff of smoke. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-banfield/we-didn-t-see-what-happen-when-marines-fired-m-16s-we-didn-t-see-what/) [Ashleigh Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-banfield/) > [I think most people live in a space where they are looking for meaning in life and good in the world and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryn-kagan/i-think-most-people-live-in-a-space-where-they-are-looking-for/) [Daryn Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryn-kagan/) > [Eighty five percent of Americans, year in and year out, say they believe everyone should have universal coverage. 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Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Clearly, those of us women who play football wish that there was more coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta/clearly-those-of-us-women-who-play-football-wish-that-there-was-more/) [Marta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marta/) > [Universal WiFi. Without a doubt. I am done with being on the train, not having internet. Or having spotty coverage. 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