Do you know what a playwright is? A playwright is someone who lets his guts hang out on the stage.
Edward AlbeeRead
When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he is no longer a critic; he is a censor.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Criticism should focus on the quality of the work rather than impose moral judgments.
Edward Albee's quote emphasizes the distinction between a true critic and a censor. A critic evaluates the merits of a piece of work based on its artistic value and execution, while a censor seeks to impose moral standards and personal biases, thus losing objectivity. Albee warns against allowing subjective moral views to dictate the appreciation or evaluation of creative expression.
Themes
CriticismMoralityArtCensorshipEvaluationSubjectivity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about artistic freedom, this quote can emphasize the importance of true criticism.
More from Edward Albee
All quotes βI am convinced that no one is fully educated without a full grounding in the arts.
Edward AlbeeRead
Good writers define reality; bad ones merely restate it.
Edward AlbeeRead
Remember one thing about democracy. We can have anything we want and at the same time, we always end up with exactly what we deserve.
Edward AlbeeRead
Your source material is the people you know, not those you don't know, but every character is an extension of the author's own personality.
Edward AlbeeRead
I think we should all live on the precipe of life, as fully and as dangerously as possible. Everyone should make the assumption that they're going through life only once. Tomorrow we die. Why not take chances, extend yourself? How awful it is when a person comes to the end of life full of regret.
Edward AlbeeRead
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In one dancing saloon I saw the only rational method of art criticism I have ever come across. Over the piano was printed a notice: 'Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.'
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