One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind.
Dorothea LangeRead
You go into a room and you know where you're welcome; you know where you're unwelcome.Sometimes in a hostile situation you stick around because hostility itself is important.The people who are garrulous and wear their heart on their sleeve and tell you everything, that's one kind of person, but the fellow who's hiding behind a tree and hoping you don't see him is the fellow that you'd better find out why.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the importance of understanding social dynamics and recognizing where one is accepted or not.
Dorothea Lange's quote speaks to the complexities of human interaction and the nuances of our social environments. It suggests that in any gathering, there are implicit cues about acceptance and rejection, and it encourages one to be aware of the underlying emotions and motivations in both welcoming and hostile situations. By observing various behaviors, such as overt expressions of feelings versus subtle actions, we can better comprehend the true dynamics at play.
Themes
RelationshipsSocial DynamicsAcceptanceHostilityPerception
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a workshop about interpersonal relationships.
More from Dorothea Lange
All quotes →Being disabled gave me an immense advantage. People are kinder to you. It puts you on a different level than if you go into a situation whole and secure.
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Surefire things are deadening to the human spirit.
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The words that come direct from the people are the greatest.If you substitute one out of your own vocabulary, it disappears before your eyes.
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Photographers stop photographing a subject too soon before they have exhausted the possibilities.
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I believe in living with the camera, and not using the camera.
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