Quotes by Dramatists

In Mozart and Salieri we see the contrast between the genius which does what it must and the talent which does what it can. Maurice Baring

Genius Must See Between Talent Does Contrast Which Mozart

At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed 10,000 men to guard the past. Maurice Maeterlinck

Future Path Men Past Every Guard Crossroads Leads Tradition Placed

An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it. Maurice Maeterlinck

Happiness Reward Goodness Sweet Coming Itself After Act Compare Event

Happiness is rarely absent; it is we that know not of its presence. Maurice Maeterlinck

Happiness Rarely Absent Know Presence

No great inner event befalls those who summon it not. Maurice Maeterlinck

Great Summon Those Who Event Inner

They believe that nothing will happen because they have closed their doors. Maurice Maeterlinck

Will Closed Doors Nothing Believe Because Happen

We are never the same with others as when we are alone. We are different, even when we are in the dark with them. Maurice Maeterlinck

Alone Dark Others Never Same Different Them Even

Our reason may prove what it will: our reason is only a feeble ray that has issued from Nature. Maurice Maeterlinck

Nature Will Our Only Feeble Ray Prove May Reason

It is not from reason that justice springs, but goodness is born of wisdom. Maurice Maeterlinck

Wisdom Justice Goodness Born Springs Reason

Say, the next time I see you, remind me not to talk to you, will you? Morrie Ryskind

Time Me You Will Say See Remind Talk Next Next Time

Let us have no machine-made ornament at all; it is all bad and worthless and ugly. Oscar Wilde

Ugly Worthless Bad Us Let Us Ornament

Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives. Oscar Wilde

Man Stupid Thoroughly Noblest Stupid Thing Does Always Motives Whenever Thing

Charity creates a multitude of sins. Oscar Wilde

Charity Sins Creates Multitude

In designing the scenery and costumes for any of Shakespeare's plays, the first thing the artist has to settle is the best date for the drama. This should be determined by the general spirit of the play more than by any actual historical references which may occur in it. Oscar Wilde

Best First Drama Settle Spirit Determined General Shakespeare More Date Scenery Costumes First Thing Occur References Historical Than Any Artist May The First Thing Which Should Actual Play Thing Designing Plays

I would have a workshop attached to every school, and one hour a day given up to the teaching of simple decorative arts. It would be a golden hour to the children. Oscar Wilde

Day Simple School Every Would Would-Be Given Attached Hour Up Arts Golden Children Decorative Teaching Workshop

'The Lady's World' should be made the recognized organ for the expression of women's opinions on all subjects of literature, art and modern life, and yet it should be a magazine that men could read with pleasure. Oscar Wilde

It is only by not paying one's bills that one can hope to live in the memory of the commercial classes. Oscar Wilde

Hope Memory Live Classes Only Commercial Paying Bills

The moment you think you understand a great work of art, it's dead for you. Oscar Wilde

Work Art Great You Think Dead Great Work Understand Moment

No woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating. Oscar Wilde

Woman Age About Calculating Looks Accurate Quite Should Ever Her

If there was less sympathy in the world, there would be less trouble in the world. Oscar Wilde

World Trouble Sympathy Would Would-Be Less

The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates. Oscar Wilde

Imagination Imitates Critical Spirit Creates