Joe Sacco Quotes

Some of the world's blackest holes are out
in the open for anyone to see ...

— Joe Sacco

“What becomes of someone who thinks he has all the power ... and what becomes of someone who believes he has none?”

— Joe Sacco

A boy standing in the rain, and what is he thinking?

— Joe Sacco

I chiefly concern myself with those who seldom get a hearing, & I don't feel it is incumbent on me to balance their voices with the well-crafted apologetics of the powerful. The powerful are generally excellently served by the mainstream media or propaganda organs. The powerful should be quoted, yes, but to measure their pronouncements against the truth, not to obscure it.

— Joe Sacco

“Make no mistake, everywhere you go, not just in Marvel Comics,
there's parallel universes ... Here? On the surface streets: traffic, couples in love,
falafel-to-go, tourists in jogging suits licking stamps for postcards ... And over the
wall behind closed doors: other things-people strapped to chairs, sleep deprivation,
the smell of piss ... other things happening for reasons of national
security”

— Joe Sacco

“Americans care more about the rights of animals than about what happens to us!”

— Joe Sacco

“I'd much rather hang out in a cafe. That's where things are really happening.”

— Joe Sacco

“It's a visual world and people respond to visuals.”

— Joe Sacco

“I tried to draw people more realistically, but the figure I neglected to update was myself.”

— Joe Sacco

I will interview bigwigs if I get the chance, but you are seldom surprised by people in power - you've got to get awfully damn close to get anything new.

— Joe Sacco

“I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a budget, and if you're working for them, they want something by a certain time.”

— Joe Sacco

“And I think I find, I know a lot of people around, in different cities, and so it's not - it might sound strange - but it's not that hard to say good-bye, because I know there's other people where I'm going. I can sort of fit in in a lot of places.”

— Joe Sacco

“And, in some ways I like traveling, in other ways I'm sort of fed up by the whole notion.”

— Joe Sacco

When I was there, something clicked in my head; I found myself interviewing people, searching out facts and figures. Later on I became much more self-conscious of what I was doing.

— Joe Sacco

“I don't often go to a place just to check out all the cultural sites of a city.”

— Joe Sacco

“When I went to Bosnia, I was there to tell someone else's story and I was more methodical.”

— Joe Sacco

“There's probably one more story about Bosnia that I'd like to do, because I spent a fair amount of time on the Serb side of the lines, which isn't apparent in the other books.”

— Joe Sacco

My guide had a copy of Palestine on my last trip to Gaza. He'd bring it out and show people what I was trying to do. That usually went over pretty well.

— Joe Sacco

I think I'm generally a good listener anyway.

— Joe Sacco

I'd rather go to a place and spend a couple of months, get to know it, get to know the people.

— Joe Sacco

I'm not a good tourist, I don't like tourism.

— Joe Sacco

It became clear to me that I had to push it toward a more representational way of drawing.

— Joe Sacco

Of course, I'm drawn to a place like Iraq because It's the biggest story of our generation.

— Joe Sacco

“With comics you can put interesting and solid information in a format that's pretty palatable.”

— Joe Sacco

“I think any journalist who spends time in a place realizes that there are lots of stories around beyond their primary story. You meet so many interesting people and have all kinds of experiences.”

— Joe Sacco

“I try to ask visual questions. I'll ask what someone was wearing, if that seems relevant. If possible, I'll walk over the same ground that they're depicting. Of course, I can never get it precisely as it was.”

— Joe Sacco

“Oh, it's essential. I mean, you have to - if I'm writing about the Middle East, I have to go there, and if possible, stay long enough to get a real feeling for what's going on.”

— Joe Sacco

“Robert Crumb is an influence on how I draw, but not on the subject matter I take or my approach. One thing I do like about Crumb is that he's chronicled his age, his times, and I think that is what artists should do.”

— Joe Sacco

“It is great to be introspective, self analysis can be useful, but only if it results in action.”

— Joe Sacco

What is it you want? My reply, I want what I have.

— Joe Sacco

“Nothing is quite as satisfying and exhausting as teaching.”

— Joe Sacco

Don't be indifferent when opportunity knocks at the door, just invite it in

— Joe Sacco

“Don't let your excuses stand in the way of achieving your dreams”

— Joe Sacco

Cherish your health, family, friends, and vocation for none of these things are permanent.

— Joe Sacco

“Be humble and grateful for what you have and the universe will reward your gratitude.”

— Joe Sacco

“Want to be a better leader? Meditate in the morning and prepare yourself for the day ahead.”

— Joe Sacco

“Failure to meditate in the morning increases the probability of chaos throughout the day.”

— Joe Sacco

“I wish my capacity for reason would always translate into action, but it doesn't.”

— Joe Sacco

“Enjoy what you have, live in the moment, focus on things you can change and ignore the rest.”

— Joe Sacco

“If not now then when? Oh I can always do it tomorrow. Unfortunately there is no lifetime of tomorrows.”

— Joe Sacco

“Look inside, without anyone else's validation understand that you are valuable, talented, unique, and worthy.”

— Joe Sacco

“I meditate not to escape the world but instead to be completely present.”

— Joe Sacco

“Be happy with who you are, where you are, for this is the way.”

— Joe Sacco