I'm aware of my old plays and occasionally think about them, but I'm much more anxious about finding the next play.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of future creativity over past achievements.
Tom Stoppard expresses a sentiment common among artists and creators: while reflecting on past works can be valuable, the greater concern is always about moving forward and creating new, innovative work. This highlights the anxiety and drive that comes with the pursuit of continuous growth and creativity in one’s craft.
In practice
This quote could be used at a theater workshop to inspire aspiring playwrights.
Love is - OK, it's 20 things, but it isn't 19. And I think that love reaches for something which is very, very deep in us and is very easily obscured, and is also very easily denied, which is the instinct towards the other person, other than toward the self.
A movie camera is like having someone you have a crush on watching you from afar - you pretend it's not there.
I once did a radio program with a famous materialist, that is to say a scientist who believed that absolutely everything was physical and that all emotions were reductive to little electrical impulses in your neurons. And I found that I didn't believe that. But what the emotions really are, I don't have an alternative theory.
One of the reasons why there are so many versions of Chekhov is that translations date in a way that the original doesn't; translations seem to be of their time.
A Chinaman of the T'ang Dynasty—and, by which definition, a philosopher—dreamed he was a butterfly, and from that moment he was never quite sure that he was not a butterfly dreaming it was a Chinese philosopher. Envy him; in his two-fold security.
Chekhov directors and Chekhov actors love working on his plays because there seems to be no end to what you can find out about the micro-narrative when you're investigating a text.
The people of Africa have learned the lessons of patience and endurance in their long struggle for freedom._x000D_ In a cynical world we have become an inspiration to many. We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to belief in the goodness of people.
Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.
You never know when one act, or one word of encouragement can change a life forever.
When kids want a picture or autograph, you reflect later on and realize you did something good. Then you see them come back five years later, they're all grown up, have their own lives and they tell you how much you inspired them. You're like, 'Whoa.'
Free, only want to be free, we huddle close, hang on to a dream.
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best - that is inspiration.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.