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.'
Tony KushnerRead
You have to have hope. It's irresponsible to give false hope, which I think a lot of playwrights are guilty of. But I also think it's irresponsible to simply be a nihilist, which quite a lot of playwrights, especially playwrights younger than me, have become guilty of.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Hope is essential, but it's important to be honest about it rather than offering false optimism or embracing despair.
In this quote, Tony Kushner emphasizes the importance of hope as a guiding principle, particularly in the context of playwrights and their work. He critiques the tendency to either provide false hope or adopt a nihilistic perspective, suggesting that both extremes can be detrimental. Instead, he advocates for a balanced approach that acknowledges reality while still striving for optimism and purpose in storytelling.
Themes
HopeNihilismPlaywrightsOptimismDespair
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during discussions about the role of hope in literature or theater.
More from Tony Kushner
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In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead.
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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.
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Gay TV has been immensely important in transforming American culture in a more gay-positive direction.
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