Seph Lawless Quotes

Powerful Seph Lawless for Daily Growth

About Seph Lawless

Seph Lawless, born on January 13th, 1980 in Dublin, Ireland, is a renowned photographer, filmmaker, and activist, known for his striking, often controversial, images of abandoned structures and urban decay. Raised in a working-class family, Lawless developed a deep appreciation for art at an early age, which was nurtured by his grandmother, who was an artist herself. This passion led him to study photography and film at the Dublin Institute of Technology. However, it was during his travels in the United States that he found his true calling – documenting the haunting beauty of decaying urban landscapes. Lawless's work is heavily influenced by his experiences growing up in a city undergoing rapid change and development. His images serve as a poignant reminder of what was lost in the process, striking a chord with many who have felt the impact of gentrification and urban renewal. His major works include "The Ruins of Detroit" (2011), a powerful photographic series that captures the once-thriving city's decline, and "The Abandoned Suburbs of America" (2015), which documents suburban decay across the United States. His work has been exhibited worldwide, including at the prestigious Rencontres d'Arles in France and the National Gallery of Ireland. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Lawless is an active advocate for social justice issues. He often uses his platform to raise awareness about urban poverty, homelessness, and environmental degradation. His work serves not only as a testament to the transient nature of human civilization but also as a call to action for a more sustainable future.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

This quote by Seph Lawless suggests that rather than hoping for life's challenges (the "storm") to disappear, one should learn to adapt and find joy amidst those difficulties ("dancing in the rain"). It encourages resilience and the ability to find happiness even when facing adversity, implying that life's true beauty often lies in our responses to hardships, rather than avoiding them.


"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

This quote emphasizes that genuine passion and enjoyment are essential for achieving outstanding results in one's endeavors. To create significant, impressive work, it's vital to be fully invested in the task at hand – to have a profound love for what you do. Passion fuels determination, motivation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that leads to greatness. Thus, the quote implies that if you are not passionate about your work, the results may fall short of what you or others might expect.


"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle."

This quote encourages self-belief and emphasizes one's innate inner strength to overcome challenges. It suggests that within each individual lies a power capable of surmounting any obstacles life may present. The message invites us to trust ourselves, recognize our potential, and approach difficulties with confidence, knowing that we have what it takes to succeed despite adversity.


"Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going."

This quote by Seph Lawless encourages persistence and continuous effort, rather than focusing on time or waiting for it to pass. The "clock" symbolizes tasks, deadlines, or obstacles that seem daunting or endless. However, just like a clock keeps moving, we should keep going with our tasks without fixating on the passage of time. This quote inspires us to be proactive and make progress, regardless of how long it takes, as the only true measure of success is the completion of our work.


"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

This quote emphasizes resilience, perseverance, and the value of overcoming adversity. It suggests that true greatness comes not from avoiding hardships or failures, but rather from the ability to get back up after a setback and continue moving forward. The spirit embodied in this quote encourages individuals to embrace life's challenges, learn from their mistakes, and strive for growth and progress despite the obstacles they may face.


The Democratic Party's success or failure - if they expect any opportunity to gain a political foothold in the foreseeable future - resides solely on the party's ability to reconcile with the American people, most especially with the Americans that they chose to ignore.

- Seph Lawless

Foreseeable Future, Chose

Don't be in denial. Police misconduct is nothing new, but the technology we have to capture it is. Nearly everyone is now equipped with a smartphone with a camera, so these incidents are more readily caught on film.

- Seph Lawless

New, Denial, Caught, Misconduct

I remember Geauga Lake. I remember Six Flags. I remember going to the mall. I hung out there. These big, grand places that served as pinnacles of the community were not only institutions or places of commerce. They were communal spaces where a lot of people went and shared good memories. These are very nostalgic places.

- Seph Lawless

Big, Very, Shared, Communal

Shopping malls across the county are dying fast, and my images of them are very nostalgic for most people that grew up attending these malls. These malls were communal spaces. These were gigantic chat rooms before the Internet existed. You went to the mall to meet and communicate with others, not just to shop.

- Seph Lawless

Communicate, Very, Rooms, Communal

I grew up listening to the alternative rock music from the '90s. Some of my favorite bands included Dinosaur Jr, Guided By Voices, and Cobra Verde.

- Seph Lawless

Listening, Some, Alternative, Guided

I'm sick of watching 'Blue Lives Matter' supporters idly stand by any police officer simply because he wears blue, ignoring the facts that should make them cringe in disbelief and horror. Police brutality is systemic, not anecdotal.

- Seph Lawless

Sick, Systemic, Officer, Disbelief

I want people to see the fact that we've lost millions of manufacturing jobs to outsourcing and globalization. Sometimes images can convey that better.

- Seph Lawless

Fact, Globalization, Images, Manufacturing

My fellow liberals need to open their minds and realize that not all Trump supporters are racist, sexist, or deplorable individuals.

- Seph Lawless

Need, Sexist, Trump, Supporters

My city is not only losing jobs. We're losing people, and it's frightening. During my recent art curation at the City Club, I spent most of that time urging Cleveland residents and city officials to adopt a plan to merge East Cleveland with Cleveland so we can maintain our population, because doing nothing is no longer an option.

- Seph Lawless

City, Doing, Maintain, Cleveland

Strangely enough, as I explored these abandoned malls, I found myself acting like a kid all over again. At times jumping up on to nearby fountain ledges trying to balance myself as I became mesmerized all over again by the futuristic skylights that dangled fearlessly over my head.

- Seph Lawless

Fountain, Jumping, Became, Malls

I like to try to capture places that a lot of people went to or have a deep emotional connection to. Malls, abandoned speedways, abandoned theme parks. To me, those are most interesting kinds of things to capture.

- Seph Lawless

Deep, Emotional, Like, Malls

Police are supposed to protect and serve, but sadly, they protect their self-interest first and foremost.

- Seph Lawless

Police, Sadly, Supposed, Self-Interest

It's funny; people in Europe seem more interested in decay in America than Americans.

- Seph Lawless

More, Funny People, Than, Decay

To find beauty in the most grotesque things is a gift.

- Seph Lawless

Beauty, Gift, Most, Grotesque

I've always wanted Americans to see what's happening to their country from the comfort of their suburban homes and their smart phones. I want people to see the beginning of the end of the greatest economic machine that the world has ever seen: America.

- Seph Lawless

Beginning, Country, Phones, Homes

There are usually three sections of people who like my work. There are those who like them aesthetically. They see beauty in the images. Second, there are those who like the horror aspect, which is by design, and I like that. Third, there are those who are moved by the historical or political nature of them. They want to talk about them.

- Seph Lawless

Beauty, Aesthetically, Moved, Sections

To be inside an abandoned mall is surreal. Often times I feel like I'm the last person alive on the planet.

- Seph Lawless

Alive, Last, Surreal, Mall

There are conservatives who say, 'Why would you show the country in a weak way?' And there are liberals who say I'm exploitative.

- Seph Lawless

Country, Why, Show, Exploitative

Art isn't complete until it's shared.

- Seph Lawless

Art, Complete, Until, Shared

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