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Tony Kushner

Tony Kushner Quotes

Playwright

Tony Kushner is an American playwright known for his profound social and political commentary and complex character development. His works often explore historical, moral, and identity issues, reflecting the diversity and complexity of American society. His most famous works include 'Angels in America' and 'Homebody/Kabul.' Kushner has received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to theater, including the Pulitzer Prize.

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Famous Tony Kushner Quotes

“That it should be the questions and shape of a life, its total complexity gathered, arranged, and considered, which matters in the end, not some stamp of salvation or damnation that disperses all the complexity into some unsatisfying little decision - the balancing of scales.”

Should Littles Ends Matter Decision Shapes Salvation Scales Complexity Stamps Damnation

Book:Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition

Source: Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition

“In a sense, I feel like the job of the artist at all times is essentially the same, which is simply to tell the truth. I mean, I'm nervous about any prescriptions for what a writer should or shouldn't do.”

Feels Should Mean Jobs Artist Nervous All Time Telling The Truth Prescriptions

Author:Tony Kushner

“There are certainly people for whom politics is not a category that helps you understand human existence. In fact, it's kind of a detour into superficiality, and although I disagree with those people, I don't think it's the case that everyone who writes has to write politically or has to write in opposition to the really horrendous things that are going on on a political level in the world today. There are some writers who simply aren't any good at that and really should stay away from it.”

People Thinking World Should Writing Humans Kind Facts Helping Today Political Levels Existence Cases Opposition Categories Disagree World Today Human Existence Superficiality Detours

Author:Tony Kushner

“A play should have barely been rescued from the mess it might just as easily have been.”

Should Has Beens Play Might Should Have Mess

Book:Thinking About the Longstanding Problems of Virtue and Happiness: Essays, A Play, Two Poems and a Prayer

Source: Thinking About the Longstanding Problems of Virtue and Happiness: Essays, A Play, Two Poems and a Prayer

“I think I'll always be a better playwright than a pundit, but I believe that writers should be public intellectuals and that theater, even more than film, is a place of public debate.”

Thinking Should Believe Film I Believe Theater Debate Playwright Pundits

Author:Tony Kushner

“If you're gay and you can't hold hands, or you're black and you can't catch a taxi, or you're a woman and you can't go into the park, you are aware there's a menace. That's costly on a psychic level. The world should be striving to make all its members secure.”

Ifs World Should Hands Black Levels Gay Members Strive Secure Parks Psychics Taxi Menace Holding Hands

Author:Tony Kushner

“I don't understand why I'm not dead. When your heart breaks, you should die”

Should Heart Dies Break Heart Break Angels In America

Book:Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition

Source: Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition

“The primary thing I should do, apart from being a good husband, brother, son, and friend, is to be a citizen activist. But I'm afraid it takes away from the writing. Not that anything depends on whether I put an essay in 'The Nation' or not. But you want to participate.”

Want Should Writing Nations Son Brother Depends Citizens Husband Primaries Activist Essays Good Husband

Author:Tony Kushner

“When I teach writing, I always tell my students you should assume that the audience you're writing for is smarter than you. You can't write if you don't think they're on your side, because then you start to yell at them or preach down to them.”

Ifs Thinking Should Writing Sides Teach Audience Students Assuming Smarter Your Side

Author:Tony Kushner

About the Author

Born: July 16, 1956
Known for: Playwright
Quotes: 148

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Writing People Thinking Ifs Play Angels In America Kind Theater Way Knows Playwright World Artist Feels Should Drama Film Mean Tony Kushner America

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Books & Sources

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete EditionRelated source material

Angels in AmericaRelated source material

Millennium ApproachesRelated source material

A Bright Room Called DayRelated source material

PerestroikaRelated source material

Angels in America: a gay fantasia on national themesRelated source material

Thinking About the Longstanding Problems of Virtue and Happiness: Essays, A Play, Two Poems and a PrayerRelated source material

ANGELS IN AMERICA LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND CD SAMPLER FROM HBO FILMSRelated source material

Angels in America, Part Two: PerestroikaRelated source material

Homebody/Kabul: Final Revised VersionRelated source material

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