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Tennessee Williams Quotes

Playwright

American playwright, renowned for his profound psychological portrayals and unique dramatic style. His notable works include 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'The Glass Menagerie'.

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All Writing People World Ifs Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Knows Menagerie Thinking Way Play Life Men Giving Time Heart Want Love Believe Blanche Humans

Famous Tennessee Williams Quotes

“A woman's charm is fifty percent illusion.”

Women Illusion Percent Charm Fifty Blanche

Book:A Streetcar Named Desire

Source: A Streetcar Named Desire

“I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.”

I Can Light Action Naked Rude Sensitivity Vulgar Remarks Bulbs Light Bulb Blanche

Book:A Streetcar Named Desire

Source: A Streetcar Named Desire

“Deliberate cruelty is unforgivable. --Blanche Dubois”

Cruelty Deliberate Unforgivable Blanche Dubois

Author:Tennessee Williams

“They told me to take a streetcar named Desire and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at - Elysian Fields!”

Desire Fields Six Block Transfers Cemetery Blanche

Author:Tennessee Williams

“I don't want realism. I want magic!”

Want Desire Magic Realism Magical Realism Blanche

Author:Tennessee Williams

“Stella: And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby.. [she smiles to herself] Blanche: I guess that is what is meant by being in love.”

Cry Baby Lap Being In Love Stella Blanche

Book:A Streetcar Named Desire

Source: A Streetcar Named Desire

“Blanche: No, I have the misfortune of being an English instructor. I attempt to instill a bunch of bobby-soxers and drugstore Romeos with a reverence for Hawthorne and Whitman and Poe!”

Bunch Misfortunes Reverence Instill Instructors Blanche Hawthorne

Book:A Streetcar Named Desire: Play in Three Acts

Source: A Streetcar Named Desire: Play in Three Acts

“I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman's charm is fifty per cent illusion, but when a thing is important I tell the truth. - Blanche Scene II”

Knows Important Deals Scene Illusion Charm Fifty Telling The Truth Cents Blanche

Author:Tennessee Williams

“And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this-kitchen-candle.”

World Moments Light Stronger Kitchen Candle Turned Off Blanche

Book:A Streetcar Named Desire

Source: A Streetcar Named Desire

“And funerals are pretty compared to deaths.”

Funeral Blanche

Book:A Streetcar Named Desire

Source: A Streetcar Named Desire

About the Author

Born: March 26, 1911
Died: February 25, 1983
Known for: Playwright
Quotes: 315

Books & Sources

The Glass MenagerieRelated source material

The Theatre of Tennessee WilliamsRelated source material

A Streetcar Named DesireRelated source material

Cat on a Hot Tin RoofRelated source material

New Selected Essays: Where I LiveRelated source material

Camino RealRelated source material

Collected StoriesRelated source material

Conversations with Tennessee WilliamsRelated source material

MemoirsRelated source material

NotebooksRelated source material

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