--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been alienating my public since I…" description: "\"I've been alienating my public since I was 20 years old. When 'American Buffalo' came out on Broadway, people would storm out and say, 'How dare he use..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-mamet-1178_american_i-ve-been-alienating-my-public-since-i-w_2435735.jpg" --- # I've been alienating my public since I was 20 years old… ![“I've been alienating my public since I was 20 years old. When 'American Buffalo' came out on Broadway, people would storm out and say, 'How dare he use that kind of language!' Of course I'm alienating the public! That's what they pay me for.” quote by David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-mamet-1178_american_i-ve-been-alienating-my-public-since-i-w_2435735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-mamet-1178_american_i-ve-been-alienating-my-public-since-i-w_2435735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-mamet-1178_american_i-ve-been-alienating-my-public-since-i-w_2435735.jpg) > “I've been alienating my public since I was 20 years old. When 'American Buffalo' came out on Broadway, people would storm out and say, 'How dare he use that kind of language!' Of course I'm alienating the public! That's what they pay me for.” [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Alienating audiences with provocative language is intentional; it provokes reaction and defines a playwright’s edge. **In simple terms:** Provoking language alienates but defines artistic edge. Key Takeaway Use bold language to challenge and engage viewers. Themes art provocation audience engagement Mood ed provocative Type dramatic controversial When to use this quote - theatre productions - public speaking - media commentary - creative writing Key Concepts theatre communication psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does provocation become counterproductive? - How can you gauge audience tolerance without diluting intent? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating too many may limit reach and impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alienating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alienating-337748/) [Alienating Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alienating-public-337747/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Buffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-buffalo-337751/) [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Buffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buffalo/) [Course Alienating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-alienating-337750/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storm/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Ve Alienating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-alienating-337749/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I've been alienating my public since I was 20 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/i-ve-been-alienating-my-public-since-i-was-20-years-old/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > ['American Buffalo' is special. I can't wait to fight to make an audience feel about it as I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/american-buffalo-is-special-i-can-t-wait-to-fight-to-make-an-audience/) [Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/) > [When I was developing St. Lucia - around 2008, 2009, at the peak of Pitchfork culture - what was considered cool was being as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-was-developing-st-lucia-around-2008-2009-at-the-peak-of/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [Trying to be really dark and alienating just felt exhausting to me, so I started going back to the music that I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/trying-to-be-really-dark-and-alienating-just-felt-exhausting-to-me-so/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [“Anger is a result of life-alienating thinking that is disconnected from needs. It indicates that we have moved up to our head to analyze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/anger-is-a-result-of-life-alienating-thinking-that-is-disconnected/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Kubrick has a divining rod for the concealed, alienating secrets of characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-miller/kubrick-has-a-divining-rod-for-the-concealed-alienating-secrets-of/) [Bennett Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-miller/) > [I didn't realise how much I was alienating people. I would constantly refuse to go out when friends would call. At one point, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ileana-d-cruz/i-didn-t-realise-how-much-i-was-alienating-people-i-would-constantly/) [Ileana D'Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ileana-d-cruz/) > [I've come to realize that most of my intellectual postures and a lot of my intellectualism is super defensive and really symptomatic of basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/how-to-dress-well/i-ve-come-to-realize-that-most-of-my-intellectual-postures-and-a-lot/) [How to Dress Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/how-to-dress-well/) > [I realized that there's this fine line between being personal and being general and being alienating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-realized-that-there-s-this-fine-line-between-being-personal-and/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [I thought I had a talent for alienating people, but I have no idea what it is that doesn't go over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-mckay/i-thought-i-had-a-talent-for-alienating-people-but-i-have-no-idea/) [Nellie McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-mckay/) > [I think it's really hard to describe music without alienating somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-think-it-s-really-hard-to-describe-music-without-alienating-somebody/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [There's nowhere in the country that I can't go or won't go. I think it's because I've worked on making my show where everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/there-s-nowhere-in-the-country-that-i-can-t-go-or-won-t-go-i-think-it/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [I find filmmaking to be a super lonely, alienating experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reichardt/i-find-filmmaking-to-be-a-super-lonely-alienating-experience/) [Kelly Reichardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reichardt/) > [People treating you differently, when you don't feel any different, is really alienating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/people-treating-you-differently-when-you-don-t-feel-any-different-is/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [Depression: the healthy suspicion that modern life has no meaning and that modern society is absurd and alienating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/depression-the-healthy-suspicion-that-modern-life-has-no-meaning-and/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) ## More by David Mamet > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Culture exists and evolves to relegate to habit categories of interactions the constant conscious reference to which would make human interaction impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/culture-exists-and-evolves-to-relegate-to-habit-categories-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [When I started out I was a failed actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/when-i-started-out-i-was-a-failed-actor/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/we-must-have-a-pie-stress-cannot-exist-in-the-presence-of-a-pie/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“We cannot live in peace without Law. And though law cannot be perfect, it may be just if it is written in ignorance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/we-cannot-live-in-peace-without-law-and-though-law-cannot-be-perfect/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/films-have-degenerated-to-their-original-operation-as-carnival/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [The Oscars demonstrate the will of the people to control and judge those they have elected to stand above them (much, perhaps, as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/the-oscars-demonstrate-the-will-of-the-people-to-control-and-judge/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [I know very well what it is to be out of work and to be cheated by employers and I know what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/i-know-very-well-what-it-is-to-be-out-of-work-and-to-be-cheated-by/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Hitchcock denigrated American films, saying they were all 'pictures of people talking' - as, indeed, most of them are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/hitchcock-denigrated-american-films-saying-they-were-all-pictures-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“Life in the movie business is like the beginning of a new love affair: it's full of surprises, and you're constantly getting fucked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/life-in-the-movie-business-is-like-the-beginning-of-a-new-love-affair/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“How was her crumbcake? oh.. from the store... …”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/how-was-her-crumbcake-oh-from-the-store/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [A dramatic experience concerned with the mundane may inform but it cannot release; and one concerned essentially with the aesthetic politics of its creators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/a-dramatic-experience-concerned-with-the-mundane-may-inform-but-it/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [The product of the artist has become less important than the fact of the artist. We wish to absorb this person. We wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/the-product-of-the-artist-has-become-less-important-than-the-fact-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [In a world we find terrifying, we ratify that which doesn't threaten us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/in-a-world-we-find-terrifying-we-ratify-that-which-doesn-t-threaten-us/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“As a youth I enjoyed — indeed, like most of my contemporaries, revered — the agitprop plays of Brecht, and his indictments of Capitalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/as-a-youth-i-enjoyed-indeed-like-most-of-my-contemporaries-revered/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) [Explore all 278 David Mamet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been alienating my public since I was 20 years old. When 'American Buffalo' came out on Broadway, people would storm out and say, 'How dare he use that kind of language!' Of course I'm alienating the public! 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