You'll be surprised how infinitely merciful they [these tablets] are. The prescription number is 96814. I think of it as the telephone number of God! Tennessee Williams More Quotes by Tennessee Williams More Quotes From Tennessee Williams Success and failure are equally disastrous. Tennessee Williams congratulations failure success It's hard enough for me to write what I want to write without me trying to write what you say they want me to write which I don't want to write. Tennessee Williams theatre writing trying Not facing a fire doesn't put it out. Tennessee Williams fire I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge upon hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person. But these seemingly fragile people are the strong people really. Tennessee Williams hysteria strong character 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! Tennessee Williams hawthorne reverence bunch I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night, before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success. Tennessee Williams failure typewriters night I don't believe anyone ever suspects how completely unsure I am of my work and myself and what tortures of self-doubting the doubt of others has always given me. Tennessee Williams self doubt believe Youth must be wanton, youth must be quick, Dance to the candle while lasteth the wick. Tennessee Williams wanton candle youth If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it. Tennessee Williams teaching writing men Openings come quickly, sometimes, like blue space in running clouds. A complete overcast, then a blaze of light. Tennessee Williams light clouds running The theatre is a place where one has time for the problems of people to whom one would show the door if they came to one's office for a job. Tennessee Williams doors jobs people Take by surprise and the world gives up resistance. Tennessee Williams resistance giving-up world I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding. Tennessee Williams hate hatred thinking People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in America sits in a dark room and watches them have them. Tennessee Williams adventure character moving William Saroyan wrote a great play on this theme, that purity of heart is the one success worth having. "In the time of your life--live!" That time is short and it doesn't return again. It is slipping away while I write this and while you read it, and the monosyllable of the clock is Loss, loss, loss, unless you devote your heart to its opposition. Tennessee Williams loss heart writing 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. Tennessee Williams kitchen stronger light Jim lights a cigarette and leans indolently back on his elbow smiling at Laura with a warmth and charm which lights her inwardly with altar candles. Tennessee Williams cigarette elbows light The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. And if that nervous system is profoundly disturbed by its environment, the work it produces will inescapably reflect the disturbances, sometimes obliquely and sometimes with violent directness. Tennessee Williams creative artist age We have to distrust each other. It is our only defense against betrayal. Tennessee Williams betrayal defense truth For nowadays the world is lit by lightning! Blow out your candles, Laura -- and so goodbye. . . . Tennessee Williams lightning blow goodbye
