---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only stuff we looked at were…"
description: "\"The only stuff we looked at were incidents for which there are a paper trail ... (and) everything we looked up was full of lies. (Winfrey said) the bel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg"
---

#  The only stuff we looked at were incidents for which there…

![“The only stuff we looked at were incidents for which there are a paper trail ... (and) everything we looked up was full of lies. (Winfrey said) the belief this book is changing the lives of people trumps the fact that maybe the story is a fake. You would expect somebody in her position would take…” quote by William Bastone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg)

> “The only stuff we looked at were incidents for which there are a paper trail ... (and) everything we looked up was full of lies. (Winfrey said) the belief this book is changing the lives of people trumps the fact that maybe the story is a fake. You would expect somebody in her position would take the ethical stand.”

[William Bastone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bastone/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The book’s claims are dubious, yet its narrative influences many despite questionable ethics.

**In simple terms:** A compelling story can mask falsehoods.

Key Takeaway

Critically evaluate persuasive narratives.

Themes

media literacy ethics truth influence

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- news consumption
- political discourse
- public speaking

Key Concepts

Journalism ethics critical thinking information reliability

Questions to Reflect On

- How to discern truth in persuasive works?
- What ethical standards should authors follow?

A Different Perspective

Popularity can eclipse factual accuracy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake/) [Incidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incidents/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Lies Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-winfrey-685341/) [Looked Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-lies-685343/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-fake-685342/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Trails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trails/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Winfrey Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winfrey-said-685344/)

## Related quotes

> [Youre always going to have some individual incidents that arent going to show off the Ryder Cup in the true form and spirit that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kite/youre-always-going-to-have-some-individual-incidents-that-arent-going/)

[Tom Kite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kite/)

> [A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-tragedy-is-the-imitation-of-an-action-that-is-serious-and-also-as/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [To-day there is hardly a woman of intelligence in all America ... who is not definitely and actively concerned in some social interest, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/to-day-there-is-hardly-a-woman-of-intelligence-in-all-america-who-is/)

[Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/)

> [Wherein lies a poet's claim to originality? That he invents his incidents? No. That he was present when his episodes had their birth? No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/wherein-lies-a-poet-s-claim-to-originality-that-he-invents-his/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [I let my game do the talking. I've had incidents like that but when I compare my own story to the stories that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-ashley/i-let-my-game-do-the-talking-i-ve-had-incidents-like-that-but-when-i/)

[Maurice Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-ashley/)

> [The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-story-of-the-jews-in-the-bible-is-replete-with-incidents-of-their/)

[Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/)

> [Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/domestic-violence-causes-far-more-pain-than-the-visible-marks-of/)

[Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/)

> [You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/you-are-unique-and-there-may-be-incidents-in-your-experience-that-are/)

[Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/)

> [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/)

[Michael Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atherton/)

> [A memoir takes some particular threads, some incidents, some experience from a person's life and gives an account of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/a-memoir-takes-some-particular-threads-some-incidents-some-experience/)

[Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/)

> [What's given, in fact, always depends on the person or thing it's given to. A minor incident in the street brings the cook to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/what-s-given-in-fact-always-depends-on-the-person-or-thing-it-s-given/)

[Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/)

> [I have yet to see someone attack Obama over his report card. A lot of people I talk to from both sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-yet-to-see-someone-attack-obama-over-his-report-card-a-lot-of/)

[Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/)

> [And I sat there getting drunker and drunker and more in love and more in love...And you can never touch a girl in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/and-i-sat-there-getting-drunker-and-drunker-and-more-in-love-and-more/)

[Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/)

> [Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/until-one-is-committed-there-is-hesitancy-the-chance-to-draw-back/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by William Bastone

> [Any magazine editor will tell you, Colin Farrell still sells better than Colin Powell,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bastone/any-magazine-editor-will-tell-you-colin-farrell-still-sells-better/)

[William Bastone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bastone/)

[Explore all 2 William Bastone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bastone/)

## More Belief quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“MIND &amp; GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/)

[Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/)

> [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/)

[Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/)

> [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/)

[David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/)

[J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/)

> [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

[Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The only stuff we looked at were incidents for which there are a paper trail ... (and) everything we looked up was full of lies. (Winfrey said) the belief this book is changing the lives of people trumps the fact that maybe the story is a fake. You would expect somebody in her position would take the ethical stand.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Bastone"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bastone/the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-incidents-for-which-there-are-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Belief"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bastone/the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-incidents-for-which-there-are-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/william-bastone-96047_belief_the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-inciden_845101.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only stuff we looked at were incidents for which there are a paper trail ... (and) everything we looked…” — William Bastone",
                "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": "William Bastone",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bastone/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The only stuff we looked at...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bastone/the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-incidents-for-which-there-are-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bastone/the-only-stuff-we-looked-at-were-incidents-for-which-there-are-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
