Logo - Feel The Words

Swallow Quotes

To swallow something whole, whether a story, a belief, or an account, means accepting it without question, and these quotes push back on doing that too easily. This collection of swallow quotes touches on journalism, honesty, and the courage it takes to admit what you actually did or didn't accept.

Good journalism means never taking an Account and swallowing it whole without question.

'Swallow Me Whole' is still the creation that's closest to my heart.

Quotes by Nate Powell

We didn't really swallow much of the Jesus thing, but we got the vocab.

Quotes by Kristin Hersh

I admit to drinking it, but I did not swallow.

Quotes by Kinky Friedman

I admit I was drinking a Guinness... but I did not swallow.

Quotes by Kinky Friedman

Account Quotes

Journalists who swallow the subject's account whole and publish it are not journalists but publicists.

Quotes by Janet Malcolm

I cannot swallow whole the view of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator.

Quotes by Barack Obama

Pathology by Daesh is distinctively to swallow its opponents, to frighten the population. In that regard, the threat is very real.

Quotes by Ashraf Ghani

One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of March thaw, is the Spring.

Quotes by Aldo Leopold

Frequently Asked Questions

How do the quotes treat journalism and swallowing a story whole?
One argues that journalists who accept a subject's Account without question and publish it aren't really practicing journalism at all. That line draws a sharp distinction between reporting and simply repeating what someone claims.
What personal meaning does swallow carry for one artist?
One speaker calls a particular creation the piece closest to their heart, using the word swallow as part of its title. That personal attachment gives the word an unexpectedly tender meaning within the collection.
How do the quotes touch on belief and religion?
One admits not fully accepting a certain religious idea, even while picking up some of the surrounding vocabulary and culture around it. That honesty captures a kind of partial, selective acceptance rather than full belief.
Is there a lighter, more literal use of swallow in this set?
Yes, one speaker jokingly admits to drinking a beer while insisting they did not actually swallow, referencing a well-known political phrase. It adds some self-aware humor to an otherwise thoughtful collection.
What do these swallow quotes suggest about honesty overall?
They suggest real honesty means being willing to Admit what you truly accepted, while also naming what you simply Cannot bring yourself to swallow. That balance between accepting and questioning runs through the whole collection.

These quotes also explore what people Admit to swallowing, and where they simply Cannot bring themselves to accept something whole.