Do you know what a playwright is? A playwright is someone who lets his guts hang out on the stage.
Edward AlbeeRead
That's all that counts. People being sorry. Makes you feel better; gives you a sense of dignity, and that's all that's important; a sense of dignity. And it doesn't matter if you don't care or not, either. You got to have a sense of dignity, even if you don't care, 'cause, if you don't have that, civilization's doomed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining dignity in society, regardless of personal feelings.
Edward Albee's quote highlights the vital role of dignity within civilization. He suggests that feeling remorse or understanding others' sorrow is secondary to the fundamental need for dignity. Without this sense of self-worth and respect for oneself, Albee warns that civilization risks falling into despair and chaos. Therefore, dignity is presented as a critical element for both individual and societal well-being.
Themes
DignitySocietyCivilizationImportanceSelf-Worth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on ethics and human rights, one might invoke this quote to emphasize the necessity of dignity in society.
More from Edward Albee
All quotes →When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he is no longer a critic; he is a censor.
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I am convinced that no one is fully educated without a full grounding in the arts.
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Good writers define reality; bad ones merely restate it.
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Remember one thing about democracy. We can have anything we want and at the same time, we always end up with exactly what we deserve.
Edward AlbeeRead
Your source material is the people you know, not those you don't know, but every character is an extension of the author's own personality.
Edward AlbeeRead
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