25 Tennessee Williams Quotes For a Better Understanding of Human Emotion
Tennessee Williams is considered one of America's most important dramatists. Here are 25 Tennessee Williams quotes on life and human emotion.
Tennessee Williams (born Thomas Lanier
Williams), was an American playwright whose work earned him two Pulitzer Prizes.
He is best known for penning iconic plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Williams’ childhood wasn’t a happy one since his parents were resentful of each other most of the time, and his father loved to gamble and drink. His home became a tense place to live in, so young Williams would often escape into the world of reading and writing.
Before having a chance to earn a degree in journalism at the University of Missouri, the writer was forced by his father to take a job as a sales clerk. He later described the time spent there as the most miserable two years of his life that had a major impact on his mental health.
In his plays, Williams used his personal experience as fuel to inspire his creativity, and tackled issues such as human frustration, sexuality and addiction. His work was considered controversial back then, but it established him as one of America's most important dramatists.
Here are 25 Tennessee Williams quotes on life and human emotion:
If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.
WHAT IS STRAIGHT? A LINE CAN BE STRAIGHT, OR A STREET, BUT THE HUMAN HEART, OH, NO, IT'S CURVED LIKE A ROAD THROUGH MOUNTAINS.
I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding.
Time doesn't take away from friendship, nor does separation.
There's a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.
PHYSICAL BEAUTY IS PASSING - A TRANSITORY POSSESSION - BUT BEAUTY OF THE MIND, RICHNESS OF THE SPIRIT, TENDERNESS OF THE HEART - I HAVE ALL THESE THINGS - AREN'T TAKEN AWAY BUT GROW! INCREASE WITH THE YEARS!
All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.
Don't look forward to the day you stop suffering, because when it comes you'll know you're dead.
I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.
I didn't go to the moon, I went much further—for time is the longest distance between two places.
Oh, you can't describe someone you're in love with!
Show me a person who hasn’t known any sorrow and I’ll show you a superficial.
Being disappointed is one thing and being discouraged is something else. I am disappointed but I am not discouraged.
Life is an unanswered question, but let's still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.
A high station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace.
Hell is yourself and the only redemption is when a person puts himself aside to feel deeply for another person.
The future is called "perhaps", which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you.
Never inside, I didn't lie in my heart...
I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic. I try to give that to people.
The trouble with this world is that everybody has to compromise and conform.
Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long for.
The name of a person you love is more than language.
I'll be all right in a minute, I'm just bewildered - by life...
In memory, everything seems to happen to music.
My only point, the only point that I’m making, is life has got to be allowed to continue even after the dream of life is all over…
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.