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Tom Stoppard

Tom Stoppard Quotes

Playwright

Tom Stoppard is a renowned British playwright, born on July 3, 1937. His works are known for their witty dialogue and complex structure, with notable plays including 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' and 'The Real Thing'. Stoppard has received multiple Tony Awards and Olivier Awards for his contributions to theatre.

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Famous Tom Stoppard Quotes

“Most British playwrights of my generation, as well as younger folks, apparently feel somewhat obliged to Russian literature - and not only those writing for theatres. Russian literature is part of the basic background knowledge for any writer. So there is nothing exceptional in the interest I had towards Russian literature and theatre. Frankly, I couldn't image what a culture would be like without sympathy towards Russian literature and Russia, whether we'd be talking about drama or Djagilev.”

“I smoke too much whether it's going well or badly. After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.”

Years Wells Hands Eye Lines Too Much Smoke Pens Associates Ashtrays

Author:Tom Stoppard

“Act first! The ideas will follow, and if not - well, it's progress”

Ifs Firsts Wells Ideas Progress

Book:Shipwreck: The Coast of Utopia

Source: Shipwreck: The Coast of Utopia

“Wars are fought for oil wells and coaling stations; for control of the Dardanelles or the Suez Canal; for colonial pickings to buy cheap in and conquered markets to sell dear in. War is capitalism with the gloves off.”

Wells War Capitalism Sells Dear Oil Stations Gloves Canals

Author:Tom Stoppard

“A play that works well and is done quite a lot - I've never done the math - but it's probably more remunerative than a movie.”

Wells Done Play Math

Author:Tom Stoppard

“You can't but know that if you can capture the emotions of the audience as well as their minds, the play will work better, because it's a narrative art form.”

Ifs Knows Mind Wells Art Play Form Emotion Audience Narrative Capture Narrative Art

Author:Tom Stoppard

“Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You'd have a chance at least. You could lie there thinking: Well, at least I'm not dead.”

Thinking Life Wells Lying Chance Boxes Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Book:Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead

Source: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead

“We're more of the love, blood, and rhetoric school. Well, we can do you blood and love without the rhetoric, and we can do you blood and rhetoric without the love, and we can do you all three concurrent or consecutive. But we can't give you love and rhetoric without the blood. Blood is compulsory. They're all blood, you see.”

Giving Wells School Three Can Do Blood And Love Rhetoric Compulsory Consecutive Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Author:Tom Stoppard

“Rosencrantz: We might as well be dead. Do you think death could possibly be a boat? Guildenstern: No, no, no... Death is...not. Death isn't. You take my meaning. Death is the ultimate negative. Not-being. You can't not-be on a boat. Rosencrantz: I've frequently not been on boats. Guildenstern: No, no, no--what you've been is not on boats.”

Thinking Wells Might Negative Ultimate Boat Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Author:Tom Stoppard

“Well, we'll know better next time.”

Knows Wells Next Next Time Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Book:Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Source: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

“Well I believe in the desirability of an optimal society.”

Believe Wells I Believe I Believe In Optimal Desirability

Author:Tom Stoppard

About the Author

Born: July 3, 1937
Known for: Playwright
Quotes: 312

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Books & Sources

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are DeadRelated source material

ArcadiaRelated source material

The Invention of LoveRelated source material

Tom Stoppard in ConversationRelated source material

JumpersRelated source material

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are DeadRelated source material

The Real ThingRelated source material

Tom Stoppard: PlaysRelated source material

Lord Malquist and Mr. Moon: A NovelRelated source material

Tom Stoppard Plays 5: The Real Thing; Night & Day; Hapgood; Indian Ink; ArcadiaRelated source material

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