--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wrote the show West Wing for the two…" description: "\"I wrote the show West Wing for the two years before and the two years after 9/11. Suddenly everyone in the world had been through something that our ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/aaron-sorkin-2826_changed_i-wrote-the-show-west-wing-for-the-two-y_1706650.jpg" --- # I wrote the show West Wing for the two years before and… ![“I wrote the show West Wing for the two years before and the two years after 9/11. Suddenly everyone in the world had been through something that our characters had not been through; the whole trajectory of the world had changed. Yet our show took place in a parallel universe. I wasn't really sure…” quote by Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/aaron-sorkin-2826_changed_i-wrote-the-show-west-wing-for-the-two-y_1706650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/aaron-sorkin-2826_changed_i-wrote-the-show-west-wing-for-the-two-y_1706650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/aaron-sorkin-2826_changed_i-wrote-the-show-west-wing-for-the-two-y_1706650.jpg) > “I wrote the show West Wing for the two years before and the two years after 9/11. Suddenly everyone in the world had been through something that our characters had not been through; the whole trajectory of the world had changed. Yet our show took place in a parallel universe. I wasn't really sure what to do about this. In no one's wildest dreams did it occur that an event like this could possibly happen.” [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes the challenge of writing a fictional political drama when real world events dramatically shift the audience’s reality, creating a tension between narrative and reality. **In simple terms:** Balancing fiction with sudden real‑world change. Key Takeaway Adapt stories to reflect new realities. Themes storytelling reality adaptation Mood thoughtful serious Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - journalism - public speaking Key Concepts political drama media ethics cultural trauma Questions to Reflect On - How should creators respond to unexpected historical events? - Can fiction remain escapist after trauma? A Different Perspective Balancing artistic vision with audience sensitivity is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Parallel universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parallel-universe/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [West wing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-wing/) [Wildest dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildest-dreams/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I love The West Wing for many reasons. The show has been a fantasy. But we have offered a parallel universe to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-love-the-west-wing-for-many-reasons-the-show-has-been-a-fantasy-but/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [“Timing was everything—that was more and more obvious the older you got, when you finally understood that the universe wasn’t held together in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-straub/timing-was-everything-that-was-more-and-more-obvious-the-older-you/) [Emma Straub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-straub/) > [Dear Sir, poor sir, brave sir." he read, "You are an experiment by the Creator of the Universe. You are the only creature in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/dear-sir-poor-sir-brave-sir-he-read-you-are-an-experiment-by-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I disbelieved what he was saying so hard that I probably created an alternate universe where it wasn't true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-james/i-disbelieved-what-he-was-saying-so-hard-that-i-probably-created-an/) [Elliott James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-james/) > [Don't let your imagination to be crushed by life as a whole. Don't try to pictures everything bad that could possibly happen. Stick with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/don-t-let-your-imagination-to-be-crushed-by-life-as-a-whole-don-t-try/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We have to stop all of the fighting and talking without listening and find a sense of compromise. It's very evident that it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hodge/we-have-to-stop-all-of-the-fighting-and-talking-without-listening-and/) [Edwin Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hodge/) > [A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-standing-army-is-one-of-the-greatest-mischief-that-can-possibly/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“Theresa, remember - you've got nothing to lose. The worst that could possibly happen is that you fly home in a couple of days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/theresa-remember-you-ve-got-nothing-to-lose-the-worst-that-could/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I've always wanted to be mentioned in the same sentence or at the same time that you say Quincy Jones or you say Stevie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-dupri/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-mentioned-in-the-same-sentence-or-at-the/) [Jermaine Dupri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-dupri/) > [I guess there's a song for absolutely everything that could possibly happen to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-guess-there-s-a-song-for-absolutely-everything-that-could-possibly/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [“...I want what can't possibly happen, and that is why we broke up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-want-what-can-t-possibly-happen-and-that-is-why-we-broke-up/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [The worst thing that could possibly happen to anybody would be to not be used for anything by anybody. Thank you for using me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-worst-thing-that-could-possibly-happen-to-anybody-would-be-to-not/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“But I want it anyway, Ed. I want what can't possibly happen, and that is why we broke up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/but-i-want-it-anyway-ed-i-want-what-can-t-possibly-happen-and-that-is/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [I'd been concerned all along that the character of the president in the West Wing pilot would throw the ensemble out of whack, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/i-d-been-concerned-all-along-that-the-character-of-the-president-in/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [The Monica Lewinsky scandal was happening at the very time I was writing the West Wing pilot and it was hard, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/the-monica-lewinsky-scandal-was-happening-at-the-very-time-i-was/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) ## More by Aaron Sorkin > [Conflict, when used as a device, makes for good television and bad journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/conflict-when-used-as-a-device-makes-for-good-television-and-bad/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [Film doesn't have to worry. Movies are awesome. There's no war going on, theaters aren't going to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/film-doesn-t-have-to-worry-movies-are-awesome-there-s-no-war-going-on/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [People don't live their lives in a series of scenes that form a dramatic narrative, they don't speak in dialogue, they're not lit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/people-don-t-live-their-lives-in-a-series-of-scenes-that-form-a/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [One of the biggest challenges in the past for me in working on the networks was that audiences have grown accustomed to television being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/one-of-the-biggest-challenges-in-the-past-for-me-in-working-on-the/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [You're going to fall down, but the world doesn't care how many times you fall down, as long as it's one fewer than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/you-re-going-to-fall-down-but-the-world-doesn-t-care-how-many-times/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [We live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/we-live-in-a-world-that-has-walls-and-those-walls-have-to-be-guarded/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [As an audience member, I like the sound of something that's been written - I like it to sound written. And then, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/as-an-audience-member-i-like-the-sound-of-something-that-s-been/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [She's a person; the doctor pronounces her dead, not the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/she-s-a-person-the-doctor-pronounces-her-dead-not-the-news/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [It's nice that HBO is in business with the audience and not with the advertisers. There's a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/it-s-nice-that-hbo-is-in-business-with-the-audience-and-not-with-the/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [“TOBY: The world can move or not by changing some words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/toby-the-world-can-move-or-not-by-changing-some-words/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [I had never thought of doing television. But my agent wanted me to meet John Wells, who had had a lot of success producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/i-had-never-thought-of-doing-television-but-my-agent-wanted-me-to/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [Government should be a place where people can come together, and no one gets left behind. No one…gets left behind. An instrument of good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/government-should-be-a-place-where-people-can-come-together-and-no/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [Television from its inception had the number one goal to alienate as few people as possible. That's why if you look at 1950s, 1960s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/television-from-its-inception-had-the-number-one-goal-to-alienate-as/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [Josh: So, Toby, it’s election night. What do you say about a country that goes out of its way to protect even those citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/josh-so-toby-it-s-election-night-what-do-you-say-about-a-country-that/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [The hardest thing for me is getting started. If I'm writing a script, really 90 per cent of it would be just walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/the-hardest-thing-for-me-is-getting-started-if-i-m-writing-a-script/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) [Explore all 148 Aaron Sorkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) ## More Changed quotes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You made me hate my own reflection Question every choice I make So I could try to be perfect But I will try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/you-made-me-hate-my-own-reflection-question-every-choice-i-make-so-i/) [Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/) > [Everything has changed and nothing has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lowery/everything-has-changed-and-nothing-has-changed/) [Joseph Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lowery/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-light-changed-from-red-to-green-to-yellow-and-back-to-red/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Working with Rihanna has changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/working-with-rihanna-has-changed-my-life/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [The international game has changed for bidding cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/the-international-game-has-changed-for-bidding-cities/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) > [You changed my life, don't know what you're doing to me with your love. You got me feeling super human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-changed-my-life-don-t-know-what-you-re-doing-to-me-with-your-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) Browse all 6,529 Changed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wrote the show West Wing for the two years before and the two years after 9/11. Suddenly everyone in the world had been through something that our characters had not been through; the whole trajectory of the world had changed. Yet our show took place in a parallel universe. I wasn't really sure what to do about this. 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