--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For better or worse, editing is what…" description: "\"For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That editors newspaper or broadcast can and do a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg" --- # For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and… ![“For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That editors newspaper or broadcast can and do abuse this power is beyond doubt, but that is no reason to deny the discretion Congress provided.” quote by Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg) > “For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That editors newspaper or broadcast can and do abuse this power is beyond doubt, but that is no reason to deny the discretion Congress provided.” [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Editors hold power to shape content through selective inclusion and exclusion, but that power can be misused; congressional discretion does not eliminate responsibility. **In simple terms:** Editors choose what to include, but can misuse that power. Key Takeaway Use discretion responsibly. Themes media ethics power responsibility Mood cautious reflective Type ethical political When to use this quote - newsrooms - broadcast stations - legislative oversight - public trust Key Concepts gatekeeping editorial judgment Questions to Reflect On - How can editors guard against bias? - What safeguards protect editorial independence? A Different Perspective Even with discretion, external pressures may bias decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [You never really know as an actor; it's completely out of your control, in terms of editing, and music, and film stock, shot selection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/you-never-really-know-as-an-actor-it-s-completely-out-of-your-control/) [Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/) > [You have to edit the material. That assumes that some kind of a mind is operating in relation to the material. Not all minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-wiseman/you-have-to-edit-the-material-that-assumes-that-some-kind-of-a-mind/) [Frederick Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-wiseman/) > [Evolution advances, not by a priori design, but by the selection of what works best out of whatever choices offer. We are the products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/evolution-advances-not-by-a-priori-design-but-by-the-selection-of/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Aishwarya, my parent's daughter, has been brought up with enough values inculcated where I will use my discretion in my choices. At the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/aishwarya-my-parent-s-daughter-has-been-brought-up-with-enough-values/) [Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/) > [The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-fleet-sailed-to-its-war-base-in-the-north-sea-headed-not-so-much/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-too-tame-neither-but-let-your-own-discretion-be-your-tutor/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/great-is-our-admiration-of-the-orator-who-speaks-with-fluency-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out discretion, and so disappears the most immediate breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-lay-aside-letters-never-to-read-them-again-and-at-last-we-destroy/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“All sexual activity performed is at the discretion of the participants and is confined to only one hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-miles/all-sexual-activity-performed-is-at-the-discretion-of-the/) Karen A.Miles > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Commonality & Camaraderie. By identifying, developing, and connecting powerful points of reference to others, you will have a rich resource of information from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/commonality-camaraderie-by-identifying-developing-and-connecting/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) ## More by Warren E. Burger > [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The State may justify a limitation on religious liberty by showing it is essential to accomplish an overriding governmental interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-state-may-justify-a-limitation-on-religious-liberty-by-showing-it/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The Constitution does not require complete separation of church and state; it affirmatively mandates accommodation, not merely tolerance, of all religions, and forbids hostility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-constitution-does-not-require-complete-separation-of-church-and/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Crime and the fear of crime have permeated the fabric of American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/crime-and-the-fear-of-crime-have-permeated-the-fabric-of-american-life/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [However, when the privilege depends solely on the broad, undifferentiated claim of public interest in the confidentiality of such conversations, a confrontation with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/however-when-the-privilege-depends-solely-on-the-broad/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Is the challenge to every lawyer and judge in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/is-the-challenge-to-every-lawyer-and-judge-in-america/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The men who wrote the First Amendment religion clause did not view paid legislative chaplains and opening prayers as a violation of that amendment...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-men-who-wrote-the-first-amendment-religion-clause-did-not-view/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Calculated risks of abuse are taken in order to preserve higher values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/calculated-risks-of-abuse-are-taken-in-order-to-preserve-higher-values/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [There may be some incorrigible human beings who cannot be changed except by God's own mercy to that one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/there-may-be-some-incorrigible-human-beings-who-cannot-be-changed/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [ \[No one will be able to\] deter the scientific mind from probing into the unknown any more than Canute could command the tides. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/no-one-will-be-able-to-deter-the-scientific-mind-from-probing-into/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The president's need for complete candor and objectivity from advisers calls for great deference from the courts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-president-s-need-for-complete-candor-and-objectivity-from/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [It is not unprofessional to give free legal advice, but advertising that the first visit will be free is a bit like a fox…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/it-is-not-unprofessional-to-give-free-legal-advice-but-advertising/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Judges . . . rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/judges-rule-on-the-basis-of-law-not-public-opinion-and-they-should/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Trials by the adversarial contest must in time go the way of the ancient trial by battle and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/trials-by-the-adversarial-contest-must-in-time-go-the-way-of-the/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [“There can be no assumption that today's majority is 'right' and the Amish and others like them are 'wrong.' A way of life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/there-can-be-no-assumption-that-today-s-majority-is-right-and-the/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) [Explore all 31 Warren E. Burger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That editors newspaper or broadcast can and do abuse this power is beyond doubt, but that is no reason to deny the discretion Congress provided.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren E. Burger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-editors-are-for-and-editing-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-editors-are-for-and-editing-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/warren-e-burger-20339_abuse_for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-edit_1675494.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That…” — Warren E. Burger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren E. Burger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For better or worse, editing is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-editors-are-for-and-editing-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-editors-are-for-and-editing-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```