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Thornton Wilder Quotes

Playwright

American playwright, renowned for his works 'Our Town' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'. His works are characterized by deep insight and a unique style, profoundly influencing 20th-century American theater.

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Famous Thornton Wilder Quotes

“I was an old man when I was 12; and now I am an old man, AND IT'S SPLENDID!”

Men Old Man Splendid

Author:Thornton Wilder

“How terrifying and glorious the role of man if, indeed, without guidance and without consolation he must create from his own vitals the meaning for his existence and write the rules whereby he lives.”

Ifs Men Writing Existence Roles Guidance Glorious Consolation

Book:The ides of March

Source: The ides of March

“Without your wounds where would your power be? It is your melancholy that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men and women. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In Love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve. Physician, draw back.”

Men Humans Heart Children Earth Voice Human Beings Broken Lows Draws Men And Women Angel Soldier Wounds Wheels Melancholy Physicians Wounded Wretched Being Broken Wounded Soldier

Author:Thornton Wilder

“If a man has no vices, he is in great danger of making vices about his virtues, and there's a spectacle.”

Ifs Men Virtue Danger Vices

Book:Conversations with Thornton Wilder

Source: Conversations with Thornton Wilder

“Man is not an end but a beginning. We are at the beginning of the second week. We are children of the eighth day”

Men Children Ends Week Aspiration

Book:The Eighth Day: A Novel

Source: The Eighth Day: A Novel

“A man looks pretty small at a wedding, George. All those good women standing shoulder to shoulder, making sure that the knot's tied in a mighty public way.”

Men Way Looks Standing Shoulders Tied Knots Good Woman

Book:Our town: a play in three acts

Source: Our town: a play in three acts

“I have inherited this burden of superstition and nonsense. I govern innumerable men but must acknowledge that I am governed by birds and thunderclaps”

Men Bird Burden Acknowledge Nonsense Superstitions

Book:The Ides of March: A Novel

Source: The Ides of March: A Novel

“There's nothing like mixing with women to bring out all the foolishness in a man of sense.”

Men Men And Women Foolishness Mixing

Author:Thornton Wilder

About the Author

Born: April 17, 1897
Died: December 7, 1975
Known for: Playwright
Quotes: 174

Books & Sources

The Bridge of San Luis ReyRelated source material

The ides of MarchRelated source material

Conversations with Thornton WilderRelated source material

The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Other Novels, 1926-1948Related source material

Three Plays: Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth, The MatchmakerRelated source material

The Bridge of San Luis Rey: A NovelRelated source material

Our TownRelated source material

Our town: a play in three actsRelated source material

A Thornton Wilder Trio: The Cabala, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, The Woman of AndrosRelated source material

The Collected Short Plays of Thornton Wilder, Volume TRelated source material

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