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
In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the bittersweet nature of progress, where we feel nostalgia for the past while also yearning for the future.
Tony Kushner's quote captures the duality of human experience in relation to progress. It suggests that as we move forward in life, we often experience pain due to the things we leave behind, such as relationships, memories, or familiar places, while simultaneously harboring dreams and aspirations for what lies ahead. This tension between nostalgia and hope illustrates the complexities of growth and change in our lives.
Themes
ProgressNostalgiaDreamsChangeGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech emphasizing the importance of growth and change.
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
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
The theater requires an essential gullibility that you can't get through life without having. If all you can feel is skepticism-well , you meet people like this. Run away from them. They're not good people.
Tony KushnerRead
Similar quotes
The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.
Havelock EllisRead
If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another, I, for my part, own myself willing to part with my share of it, whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law and shall chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the privilege of not being abused myself.
Benjamin FranklinRead
Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is to the heart as water is to a fish; see what happens to a fish when it is taken out of water
Ibn TaymiyyahRead
Only seven years ago we made a treaty by which we were assured that the buffalo country should be left to us forever. Now they threaten to take that from us also.
Sitting BullRead
Man is a marvelous curiosity...he thinks he is the Creator's pet...he even believes the Creator loves him; has passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks he listens. Isn't it a quaint idea.
Mark TwainRead
It seemed so illogical to punish some poor criminal for doing something that civilization taught him how to do so he could have something that civilization taught him how to want. It seemed to him as wrong as if they had hung the gun that shot the man.
Chester HimesRead