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.
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