Who said “Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.”?

Verified

Norman Mailer. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceNewsweek (22 October 1984)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Newsweek (22 October 1984).

APA

Mailer, N. (n.d.). Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2089-giving-a-camera-to-diane-arbus-is-like/

MLA

Mailer, Norman. “Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2089-giving-a-camera-to-diane-arbus-is-like/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Mailer, Norman. “Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2089-giving-a-camera-to-diane-arbus-is-like/.