Artists know that diligence counts as much, if not more, as inspiration; in art, as in politics, patience counts as much as revolution.
Tony KushnerRead
A handful of works in history have had a direct impact on social policy: one or two works of Dickens, some of Zola, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and, in modern drama, Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart.'
Interpretation
Certain literary works have profoundly shaped societal views and policies.
In this quote, Tony Kushner emphasizes the significant role that literature and drama can play in influencing social policies and perceptions. He cites notable works and authors whose writings have sparked critical conversations and changes regarding social issues, illustrating the power of storytelling in effecting real-world change.
In practice
In a speech advocating for change, one might use this quote to illustrate how literature can shape society.
Artists know that diligence counts as much, if not more, as inspiration; in art, as in politics, patience counts as much as revolution.
I don't understand why I'm not dead. When your heart breaks, you should die
In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead.
The way that same-sex marriage should reach the federal level is that it absolutely should be decided by the Supreme Court as quickly as possible. It's a 14th Amendment issue. There's no argument about it.
Gay TV has been immensely important in transforming American culture in a more gay-positive direction.
The theater requires an essential gullibility that you can't get through life without having. If all you can feel is skepticism-well , you meet people like this. Run away from them. They're not good people.
You can't intellectually purge yourself of who you are. Whatever that is, it's going to come out in the wash, the film wash. What you are is going to be relevant, if not to yourself, to the movies you make.
Movies are not about the weekend that they're released, and in the grand scheme of things, that's probably the most unimportant time of a film's life.
The language that photography has is a formal language. Any photographer is doing something formal. If it's formal, then it must be an aesthetic way to communicate.
Poetry is either something that lives like fire inside you -- like music to the musician or Marxism to the Communist -- or else it is nothing, an empty, formalized bore around which pedants can endlessly drone their notes and explanations.
Music from my fourth year began to be the first of my youthful occupations. Thus early acquainted with the gracious muse who tuned my soul to pure harmonies, I became fond of her, and, as it often seemed to me, she of me.
When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn't acting. It's following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that. So the director's task is just that – to direct, to point the way. Then the actor takes over. And he must be allowed the space, the freedom to express himself in the role. Without that space, an actor is no more than an unthinking robot with a chest-full of push-buttons.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.