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99 Inspiring Quotes By Tennessee Williams That Will Fill Your Life With New Gusto

Famous As: One of the Finest American Playwrights of the 20th-Century Best Known for His Work ‘The Glass Menagerie’
Born On: March 26, 1911
Died On: February 25, 1983
Born In: Columbus, Mississippi, United States
Died At Age: 71
Tennessee Williams was an acclaimed American playwright known as the best playwrights of the 20th century. His childhood was very disturbed as a result of his dysfunctional family and this is where writing came to his rescue. These experiences were a great influence for majority of his works. He joined the University of Missouri to study journalism but was compelled by his father to become a sales clerk against his will. All this caused a nervous breakdown. After recovering, he completed his studies and moved to New Orleans to start a new life away from his family. During the initial years, he traveled to various places doing petty jobs to survive. He debuted on theater with his play titled ‘The Glass Menagerie’ which brought him instant fame as it was honored with ‘New York Critics Circle Awards’. His next play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ further upped his success barometer. It was honored with various awards including the most renowned ‘Pulitzer Prize’. The next two decades marked the most successful time of his career as he gave consecutive hits. His promising career, unfortunately, came on a downfall as he got into alcohol and drugs. Here is a compilation of quotes and thoughts by the legendary playwright which have been extracted from his writings, plays, books, work and life. Go through these quotes sayings by Tennessee Williams which tends to have a lesson of life hidden behind them.
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If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.

If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.

Tennessee Williams
Time is the longest distance between two places.

Time is the longest distance between two places.

Tennessee Williams
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.

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.

Tennessee Williams
Time doesn't take away from friendship, nor does separation.

Time doesn't take away from friendship, nor does separation.

Tennessee Williams
A prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages.

A prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages.

Tennessee Williams
How beautiful it is and how easily it can be broken.

How beautiful it is and how easily it can be broken.

Tennessee Williams
Don't you just love those long rainy afternoons in New Orleans when an hour isn't just an hour - but a little piece of eternity dropped into your hands - and who knows what to do with it?

Don't you just love those long rainy afternoons in New Orleans when an hour isn't just an hour - but a little piece of eternity dropped into your hands - and who knows what to do with it?

Tennessee Williams
When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone.

When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone.

Tennessee Williams
Why did I write? Because I found life unsatisfactory.

Why did I write? Because I found life unsatisfactory.

Tennessee Williams
There's a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.

There's a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.

Tennessee Williams
I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

Tennessee Williams
All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.

All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.

Tennessee Williams
In memory, everything seems to happen to music.

In memory, everything seems to happen to music.

Tennessee Williams
We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.

We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.

Tennessee Williams
Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else.

Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else.

Tennessee Williams
You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it.

You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it.

Tennessee Williams
Deliberate cruelty is unforgivable.

--Blanche Dubois

Deliberate cruelty is unforgivable. --Blanche Dubois

Tennessee Williams
Some things are not forgiveable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgiveable. It is the most unforgiveable thing in my opinion, and the one thing in which I have never, ever been guilty.

Some things are not forgiveable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgiveable. It is the most unforgiveable thing in my opinion, and the one thing in which I have never, ever been guilty.

Tennessee Williams
I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding.

I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding.

Tennessee Williams
The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.

The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.

Tennessee Williams
We're all sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life.

We're all sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life.

Tennessee Williams
I don't want realism. I want magic!

I don't want realism. I want magic!

Tennessee Williams
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!

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!

Tennessee Williams
I didn't go to the moon, I went much further—for time is the longest distance between two places

I didn't go to the moon, I went much further—for time is the longest distance between two places

Tennessee Williams
What is the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?—I wish I knew... Just staying on it, I guess, as long as she can...

What is the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?—I wish I knew... Just staying on it, I guess, as long as she can...

Tennessee Williams
Every time you come in yelling that God damn

Every time you come in yelling that God damn "Rise and Shine!" "Rise and Shine!" I say to myself, "How lucky dead people are!

Tennessee Williams
Oh, you can't describe someone you're in love with!

Oh, you can't describe someone you're in love with!

Tennessee Williams
America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. 
Everywhere else is Cleveland.

America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.

Tennessee Williams
Show me a person who hasn´t known any sorrow and I´ll show you a superficial.

Show me a person who hasn´t known any sorrow and I´ll show you a superficial.

Tennessee Williams
You are the only young man that I know of who ignores the fact that the future becomes the present, the present the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don't plan for it.

You are the only young man that I know of who ignores the fact that the future becomes the present, the present the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don't plan for it.

Tennessee Williams