--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After many months of writing, it occured…" description: "\"After many months of writing, it occured to me that it might be possible to photograph, in the flesh, what I was attempting to capture in words. I boug..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/wright-morris-25032_attempting_after-many-months-of-writing-it-occured_2437940.jpg" --- # After many months of writing, it occured to me that it… ![“After many months of writing, it occured to me that it might be possible to photograph, in the flesh, what I was attempting to capture in words. I bought a Rolleiflex camera and began to take pictures of objects or structures that were used and abused by human hands” quote by Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/wright-morris-25032_attempting_after-many-months-of-writing-it-occured_2437940.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/wright-morris-25032_attempting_after-many-months-of-writing-it-occured_2437940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/wright-morris-25032_attempting_after-many-months-of-writing-it-occured_2437940.jpg) > “After many months of writing, it occured to me that it might be possible to photograph, in the flesh, what I was attempting to capture in words. I bought a Rolleiflex camera and began to take pictures of objects or structures that were used and abused by human hands” [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) ## 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 attempts to translate written description into visual form, using a camera to capture the tangible effects of human activity on objects and structures. **In simple terms:** Turn words into pictures of human‑made things. Key Takeaway Use images to illustrate written ideas. Themes observation translation human impact Mood analytical inquisitive Type documentary artistic When to use this quote - architectural documentation - industrial history - artistic projects Key Concepts visual storytelling material culture photography Questions to Reflect On - What can a photo reveal that text cannot? - How does medium choice affect perception? A Different Perspective Photographs may not fully convey the nuance of language. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Used and abused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-and-abused/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The experience of using a Rolleiflex camera is very different than using a SLR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/the-experience-of-using-a-rolleiflex-camera-is-very-different-than/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [Perhaps most intriguing of all is that it is possible to photograph what is impossible for the human eye to see - cumulative time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenna/perhaps-most-intriguing-of-all-is-that-it-is-possible-to-photograph/) [Michael Kenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenna/) > [What, or who, led you to take up photography, and about what date ? George Bernard Shaw – I always wanted to draw and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-or-who-led-you-to-take-up-photography-and-about-what-date-george/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Very clever implementation techniques are required to implement this insanity correctly and usefully, not to mention that code written with this feature used and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/very-clever-implementation-techniques-are-required-to-implement-this/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I used and abused drugs and alcohol. When I stopped doing that it became a lot clearer that life goes from inside to giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/i-used-and-abused-drugs-and-alcohol-when-i-stopped-doing-that-it/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [“The pastoral task with words is not communication but communion - the healing and restoration and creation of love relationships between God and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-pastoral-task-with-words-is-not-communication-but-communion-the/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“When we feel used and abused, the Bible says we are loved. When we feel abandoned, the Bible says we are never alone. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-schultz/when-we-feel-used-and-abused-the-bible-says-we-are-loved-when-we-feel/) [Teresa Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-schultz/) > [Karma's a b\*\*ch. Alot of These single mothers are the same women who used and abused us nice guys while they were f\*\*king the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/karma-s-a-b-ch-alot-of-these-single-mothers-are-the-same-women-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Where misunderstanding dwells, misuse will not be far behind. No theory in the history of science has been more misused and abused by cranks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/where-misunderstanding-dwells-misuse-will-not-be-far-behind-no-theory/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [“If we are allowed to interpret African history through the lenses of Africans, what we see and understand is that Christianity is misused and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alemayehu-mekonnen/if-we-are-allowed-to-interpret-african-history-through-the-lenses-of/) [Alemayehu Mekonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alemayehu-mekonnen/) > [I loved him with all in my power.But he used and abused me till I was sweet and sour.I though it would be ok,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabby/i-loved-him-with-all-in-my-power-but-he-used-and-abused-me-till-i-was/) [Tabby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabby/) > [“The class-dominance approach to political activity is acutely related to our own in an unfortunate terminological sense. By historical accident, the class-dominance conception, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-class-dominance-approach-to-political-activity-is-acutely-related/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Got raped of by own personal identity, got used and abused as I was www.ig.com](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/got-raped-of-by-own-personal-identity-got-used-and-abused-as-i-was/) Unkown > [Unfortunately, money is more often misused and abused than used intelligently. Most people haven't figured out how to use money wisely to truly enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/unfortunately-money-is-more-often-misused-and-abused-than-used/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [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/) ## More by Wright Morris > [Everyone in California is from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/everyone-in-california-is-from-somewhere-else/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [ \[We\] make images to see clearly: then we see clearly what we have made. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/we-make-images-to-see-clearly-then-we-see-clearly-what-we-have-made/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [We're in the world of communications more and more, tough we're in communication less and less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/we-re-in-the-world-of-communications-more-and-more-tough-we-re-in/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [The photograph, after all, is just a photograph. Words will determine its meaning and status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/the-photograph-after-all-is-just-a-photograph-words-will-determine/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [I prefer a taken to a made photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/i-prefer-a-taken-to-a-made-photograph/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [The past is useless. That explains why it is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/the-past-is-useless-that-explains-why-it-is-past/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [ However much \[photographs\] may lie, they do so with the raw materials of truth. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/however-much-photographs-may-lie-they-do-so-with-the-raw-materials-of/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [The imagination made us human, but being human, becoming more human, is a greater burden than we imagined. We have no choice but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/the-imagination-made-us-human-but-being-human-becoming-more-human-is/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [In the blur of the photograph, time leaves its gleaming, snail-like track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/in-the-blur-of-the-photograph-time-leaves-its-gleaming-snail-like/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [As the style of Faulkner grew out of his rage--out of the impotence of his rage--the style of Hemingway grew out of the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/as-the-style-of-faulkner-grew-out-of-his-rage-out-of-the-impotence-of/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [“Life, raw life, the kind we lead every day, whether it leads us into the past or the future, has the curious property of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/life-raw-life-the-kind-we-lead-every-day-whether-it-leads-us-into-the/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [The man who comes to writing late, but is in essence a writer, may sometimes gain as much as he has lost: his experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/the-man-who-comes-to-writing-late-but-is-in-essence-a-writer-may/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [The man who walks alone is soon trailed by the F.B.I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/the-man-who-walks-alone-is-soon-trailed-by-the-f-b-i/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [The vast number of photographers, feeding on anything visible, overgraze the landscape the way cattle overgraze their pasture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/the-vast-number-of-photographers-feeding-on-anything-visible/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [There's little to see, but things leave an impression. It's a matter of time and repetition. As something old wears thin or out, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/there-s-little-to-see-but-things-leave-an-impression-it-s-a-matter-of/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) [Explore all 23 Wright Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After many months of writing, it occured to me that it might be possible to photograph, in the flesh, what I was attempting to capture in words. 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