Tennessee Williams: "Don Quixote is the true American.… You do..."

About Tennessee Williams

Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983) was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the three foremost playwrights of 20th-century American drama.

More quotations from Tennessee Williams

Make voyages!—Attempt them!—there's nothing else…

—Tennessee Williams

Back of the sun and way deep under our feet, at the earth's center, are not a couple of noble mysteries but a couple of joke books.

—Tennessee Williams

You said, "They're harmless dreamers and they're loved by the people." "What," I asked you, "is harmless about a dreamer, and what," I asked you, "is harmless about the love of the people? Revolution only needs good dreamers who remember their dreams.

—Tennessee Williams

The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities.

—Tennessee Williams

security

It's amazing how quickly nature consumes human places after we turn our backs on them. Life is a hungry thing.

—Tennessee Williams

nature

More quotations tagged with “America”

What a pity, when Christopher Colombus discovered America, that he ever mentioned it.

—Margot Asquith

history discovery America irony

America is so vast that almost everything said about it is likely to be true, and the opposite is probably equally true.

—James T. Farrell

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The Americans have none of the irony of the English, none of their cool poise, none of their manner. But they do have friendliness. Where an Englishman would give you his card, an American would very likely give you his shirt.

—Raymond Chandler

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Although the desire of acquiring the good things of this world is the prevailing passion of the American people, certain momentary outbreaks occur when their souls seem suddenly to burst the bonds of matter by which they are restrained and to soar impetuously toward heaven.

—Alexis de Tocqueville

USA America materialism

America, thou half brother of the world, with something good and bad of every land.

—Philip James Bailey

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History

23 Nov 2014 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

Don Quixote is the true American. . . . You do not have to look in many American eyes to suddenly meet somewhere the beautiful grave lunacy of his gaze.

Don Quixote is the true American.… You do not have to look in many American eyes to suddenly meet somewhere the beautiful grave lunacy of his gaze.

About Tennessee Williams

More quotations from Tennessee Williams

More quotations tagged with “America”

History