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
The smallest indivisible human unit is two people, not one; one is a fiction. From such nets of souls societies, the social world, human life springs.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human existence and society are fundamentally built on relationships between people rather than individual isolation.
In this quote, Tony Kushner emphasizes that humans are inherently social beings and that the basic unit of humanity is the connection between individuals. The idea of a single person as a complete entity is a fiction; true existence and social fabric arise from the interplay of relationships. This perspective underlines the importance of community and mutual support in cultivating a fulfilling life.
Themes
RelationshipsSocietyHuman ConnectionCommunityLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the importance of teamwork, one might reference this quote to highlight the need for cooperation.
More from Tony Kushner
All quotes βArtists know that diligence counts as much, if not more, as inspiration; in art, as in politics, patience counts as much as revolution.
Tony KushnerRead
I don't understand why I'm not dead. When your heart breaks, you should die
Tony KushnerRead
In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead.
Tony KushnerRead
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.
Tony KushnerRead
Gay TV has been immensely important in transforming American culture in a more gay-positive direction.
Tony KushnerRead
Similar quotes
Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mate and their pack. Yet both have been hounded, harassed and falsely imputed to be devouring and devious, overly aggressive, of less value than those who are their detractors.
Clarissa Pinkola EstesRead
Do you like me?β No answer. Silence bounced, fell off his tongue and sat between us and clogged my throat. It slaughtered my trust. It tore cigarettes out of my mouth. We exchanged blind words, and I did not cry, I did not beg, but blackness filled my ears, blackness lunged in my heart, and something that had been good, a sort of kindly oxygen, turned into a gas oven.
Anne SextonRead
Will you, or will you not, quit me? I now demanded in a sudden passion, advancing close to him. "I would prefer not to quit you", he replied, gently emphasizing the not.
Herman MelvilleRead
I like people with their own opinions, and I like people who argue with me. It's very exhausting to be in a room full of people who just nod and smile.
Shonda RhimesRead
We do right enough darling, if we go wrong together.
George SantayanaRead
Spend time with those you love. One of these days you will say either, 'I wish I had', or 'I'm glad I did.'
Zig ZiglarRead