Lillian Hellman Quotes about Writing

Nowadays people write English as if a rat were caught in the typewriter and they were trying to hit the keys which wouldn't disturb it.

Nowadays people write English as if a rat were caught in the typewriter and they were trying to hit the keys which wouldn't disturb it.

Lillian Hellman

Writing, Keys, Typewriters

Lillian Hellman (1971). “The collected plays”, Little Brown and Company

If you believe, as the Greeks did, that man is at the mercy of the gods, then you write tragedy. The end is inevitable from the beginning. But if you believe that man can solve his own problems and is at nobody's mercy, then you will probably write melodrama.

Lillian Hellman

Believe, Writing, Men

"Biography/Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves.

Lillian Hellman

Inspirational, Writing, Talking

The writer's intention hasn't anything to do with what he achieves. The intent to earn money or the intent to be famous or the intent to be great doesn't matter in the end. Just what comes out.

Lillian Hellman

Writing, Matter, Intention

Lillian Hellman, Jackson R. Bryer (1986). “Conversations with Lillian Hellman”, p.71, Univ. Press of Mississippi

I've always had great satisfaction out of writing the plays. I've not always had great satisfaction out of seeing them produced-although often I've had satisfaction there. When things go well in production, on opening there's no nicer feeling in the world-what could be nicer than watching an audience respond? You can't that from a book. It's a fine feeling to walk into the theater and see living people respond to something you've done.

Lillian Hellman

Book, Writing, Play

Lillian Hellman, Jackson R. Bryer (1986). “Conversations with Lillian Hellman”, p.125, Univ. Press of Mississippi