76 Quotes by John Osborne

In truth, there was no systematic policy except that which engaged the various personalities that grew around the original nucleus assembled by George Devine and Tony Richardson. Most of these were, in the mild climate of the time, left of centre, though they would now be regarded as soft-meringue-liberals by the drowsy commissars who have long since taken over.

The gratitude of playwrights for actors is almost as rare as the reverse. Golden eggs have little time for the mucky feathers that cling to them.

There is no real communication with those we love most

Most playwrights should observe the same constitutional rights as the Queen: to be consulted, to advise and to warn.

She must have achieved almost exactly what she wanted: a nice Early Night, a nice Early Life. It was certainly easy, easy and empty of spirit. She personified the terrible sin of sloth at its most paltry. Not the sloth of despair in the face of God. Despair would be like staying up spiritually too late.

It's no good fooling about with love you know. You can't fall into it like a soft job without dirtying up your hands. It takes muscle and guts. If you can't bear the thought of messing up your nice, tidy soul, you better give up the whole idea of life and become a saint, because you'll never make it as a human being. It's either this world... or the next.

I may be a lost cause, but I thought if you loved me, it needn't matter.

[my father] usually concealed his rages with unconvincing politeness to contain his sparse energy, an instinct I may have inherited

Why do I do this every Sunday? Even the book reviews seem to be the same as last week's. Different books same reviews.