Quote #192582
I believe there’s too little patience and context to many of the investigations I read or see on television.
Bob Woodward
About This Quote
This quote needs no introduction—at least for now. We're working on adding more context soon.
Interpretation
Woodward’s remark criticizes a tendency in contemporary investigative reporting—especially in fast-paced television formats—to rush toward conclusions without sufficient time, documentation, or narrative framing. By calling for “patience,” he emphasizes the slow, methodical work of corroboration: cultivating sources, checking records, and letting a story’s significance emerge over time. “Context” points to the need to situate revelations within institutional history, motives, and consequences rather than presenting isolated “gotcha” moments. The statement reflects a traditional, evidence-heavy ideal of investigative journalism in which depth and verification are valued over speed, spectacle, or partisan framing.




