1897-1975, American Novelist, Playwright
A dramatist is one who believes that the pure event, an action involving human beings, is more arresting than any comment that can be made upon it.
Thornton Wilder – [Theater]
A play visibly represents pure existing.
Thornton Wilder – [Plays]
Every writer is necessarily a critic — that is, each sentence is a skeleton accompanied by enormous activity of rejection; and each selection is governed by general principles concerning truth, force, beauty, and so on. The critic that is in every fabulist is like the iceberg — nine-tenths of him is under water.
Thornton Wilder – [Critics and Criticism]
For what human ill does dawn not seem to be alternative?
Thornton Wilder – [Choice]
I am convinced that, except in a few extraordinary cases, one form or another of an unhappy childhood is essential to the formation of exceptional gifts.
Thornton Wilder – [Childhood]
I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.
Thornton Wilder – [Acting and Actors]
I rose by sheer military ability to the rank of corporal.
Thornton Wilder – [Soldier]
I've never forgotten for long at a time that living is struggle. I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for — whether it's a field, or a home, or a country.
Thornton Wilder – [Struggle]
It is only in appearance that time is a river. It is a vast landscape and it is the eye of the beholder that moves.
Thornton Wilder – [Time and Time Management]
It's when you're safe at home that you wish you were having an adventure. When you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.
Thornton Wilder – [Conflict]
Literature is the orchestration of platitudes.
Thornton Wilder – [Literature]
Many great writers have been extraordinarily awkward in daily exchange, but the greatest give the impression that their style was nursed by the closest attention to colloquial speech.
Thornton Wilder – [Speech]
Many plays, are like blank checks. The actors and directors put their own signatures on them.
Thornton Wilder – [Plays]
Marriage is a bribe to make a housekeeper think she's a householder.
Thornton Wilder – [Marriage]
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate — that's my philosophy.
Thornton Wilder – [Enjoyment]
Never support two weaknesses at the same time. It's your combination sinners — your lecherous liars and your miserly drunkards — who dishonor the vices and bring them into bad repute.
Thornton Wilder – [Vice]
The best part of married life is the fights. The rests is merely so.
Thornton Wilder – [Marriage]
The best thing about animals is they don't talk much.
Thornton Wilder – [Animals]
The comic spirit is given to us in order that we may analyze, weigh, and clarify things in us which nettle us, or which we are outgrowing, or trying to reshape.
Thornton Wilder – [Comedy and Comedians]
The future author is one who discovers that language, the exploration and manipulation of the resources of language, will serve him in winning through to his way.
Thornton Wilder – [Writers and Writing]