Another bar

You have been called an "idealistic romantic". How do you react to that description?
I don't know what that means. The people who usually call me a romantic are so frustrated and cynical in their own lives that they don't believe in anything. And when I continue to believe, they call this romanticism.

What is it you actually believe in?
I believe every human being is capable of bad and good. But I believe that if the right influences can be there in sufficient number and if a man can believe in them, there is a possibility for humanity to actually make a step forward. I don't think we've made many steps forward. Therefore, I am a compassionate cynic.
This is where I put myself, but I really don't think I'm all that romantic. If you try to stir people's feelings, they call it romanticism. I believe in human emotions very much. I believe that if you stir human emotions, much can come out of it. I don't believe you stand a chance of changing many of the important wrongs in this world unless you reach through the emotions that stir the brain.
W. Eugene Smith

Dialogue with Photography, Paul Hill & Thomas Cooper

You can see some of his works here.