Kapuściński Quotes on Truth and Journalism
Ryszard Kapuściński's quotes on truth, journalism and the power of words — on the ethics of the reporter, empathy and responsibility for what is written.
Translation note: Unless a published English translator is named, the wording on this page is an editorial translation from Polish and may differ from the authorised English-language edition.
A selection of Ryszard Kapuściński’s quotes on truth and journalism — on the ethics of the reporter, empathy, and the power and responsibility of words. Thoughts from his books and interviews.
📖 See also: all quotes by Kapuściński · A Portrait of the Reporter — analysis
On journalism and the ethics of the reporter
“To be a journalist, you must first of all be a good human being. Bad people cannot be good journalists.” — Interview with Helena Kowalik, Przegląd, 2007
“I do not believe in impartial journalism, I do not believe in formal objectivity. A journalist cannot be an indifferent witness; he should possess the capacity that psychology calls empathy.” — Newsweek, 21 February 2010
“In countries where freedom of speech prevails, a journalist’s freedom is limited by the interests of the paper he works for. In many cases a journalist, especially a young one, has to make far-reaching compromises.” — A Portrait of the Reporter
On truth and the power of words
“Can writing change anything? Yes. I deeply believe it can. Without that belief I would not know how, I could not write.” — The Power of the Word, Gazeta Wyborcza, 24 January 2007
“Words have grown cheap. They have multiplied and lost their value.” — Travels with Herodotus / Lapidarium
“People remember what they want to remember, not what actually happened.” — Lapidarium
“Only children ask important questions and really want to find something out.” — Travels with Herodotus
On writing and reading
“To write one sentence of your own, you have to read thousands written by others.” — Interview with Helena Kowalik, Przegląd, 2007
“Bookshops look more and more like bakeries: they want only fresh goods.” — Lapidarium
“Literature seemed to be the whole world then. People looked to it for the strength to live.” — Travels with Herodotus
See also
source: kapuscinski.info