--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Photographs have the kind of authority…" description: "\"Photographs have the kind of authority over imagination to-day, which the printed word had yesterday, and the spoken word before that. They seem utterl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/walter-lippmann-1083_accomplished_photographs-have-the-kind-of-authority-o_1403887.jpg" --- # Photographs have the kind of authority over imagination… ![“Photographs have the kind of authority over imagination to-day, which the printed word had yesterday, and the spoken word before that. They seem utterly real. They come, we imagine, directly to us without human meddling, and they are the most effortless food for the mind conceivable.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/walter-lippmann-1083_accomplished_photographs-have-the-kind-of-authority-o_1403887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/walter-lippmann-1083_accomplished_photographs-have-the-kind-of-authority-o_1403887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/walter-lippmann-1083_accomplished_photographs-have-the-kind-of-authority-o_1403887.jpg) > “Photographs have the kind of authority over imagination to-day, which the printed word had yesterday, and the spoken word before that. They seem utterly real. They come, we imagine, directly to us without human meddling, and they are the most effortless food for the mind conceivable.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes that photographs dominate imagination today, appearing more authentic than text or speech, feeding the mind effortlessly. **In simple terms:** Photos seem more real than words. Key Takeaway Use images wisely, aware of their persuasive power. Themes media visual culture perception truth information Mood observational critical Type media cultural When to use this quote - advertising - news reporting - social media Key Concepts media studies visual rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How do photos shape our beliefs? - What responsibilities do creators have? A Different Perspective Images can be manipulated, misleading perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Photographs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographs/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Printed word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/printed-word/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Spoken word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoken-word/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [Photographs have the kind of authority over imagination to-day, which the printed word had yesterday, and the spoken word before that. 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