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The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. And if that nervous system is profoundly disturbed by its environment, the work it produces will inescapably reflect the disturbances, sometimes obliquely and sometimes with violent directness.
Tennessee Williams
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Creative individuals reflect the disturbances of their environment in their work.

Tennessee Williams emphasizes the crucial role of artists and creative workers in society, suggesting that their creations are deeply influenced by the societal and environmental factors surrounding them. When the environment is troubled, the art that emerges can manifest this turmoil, illustrating the profound connection between an artist's work and the state of the world.

Themes

CreativityArtEnvironmentSocietyInfluence

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in an art class to discuss how societal issues influence artistic expression.

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Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.
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