“I've always been interested in photographing traditions and customs - ...” — Mary Ellen Mark Quote

“I've always been interested in photographing traditions and customs - especially in America. The prom is an American tradition, a rite of passage that has always been one of the most important rituals of American youth. It is a day in our lives that we never forget - a day full of hopes and dreams for our future.”

“The obsessions we have are pretty much the same our whole lives. Mine are people, the human condition, life.”

“I think the prom is very serious also. It's an American ritual, it's a rite of passage, and it's very much a part of this country.”

“When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness.”

“When you have selfless goals and dreams in your eyes, you need a path. If that path is denied, you will not sit idle.”

“I never ask a man what his business is, for it never interests me. What I ask him about are his thoughts and dreams.”