A handful of works in history have had a direct impact on social policy: one or two works of Dickens, some of Zola, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and, in modern drama, Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart.'
Tony KushnerRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Participating in civic activism is essential, even amid personal commitments.
In this quote, Tony Kushner expresses the internal conflict between personal responsibilities and the desire to engage actively in societal issues. He acknowledges the importance of being a good family member and friend but reinforces that civic engagement is also a crucial responsibility, showing a commitment to contributing meaningfully to society despite potential distractions.
Themes
ActivismCitizenshipParticipationResponsibilityWriting
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting, I shared this quote to encourage others to take action.
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