Actor Quote by Edward Albee
“I know playwrights who like to kid themselves into saying that their characters are so well formed that they just take over. They determine the structure of the play. By which is meant, I suspect, only that the unconscious mind has done its work so thoroughly that the play just has to be filtered through the conscious mind. But there's work to be done - and discovery to be made.”
About This Quote
Playwrights often attribute a play’s structure to the unconscious, but conscious effort is still required to shape and refine the material.
In simple terms: Unconscious ideas need conscious editing.
Key Takeaway
Both unconscious inspiration and conscious work shape art.
Themes
creativity
psychology
writing process
artistic discovery
Mood
introspective
analytical
Type
creative insight
process commentary
When to use this quote
- drafting a screenplay
- brainstorming a novel outline
Key Concepts
cognitive theory
creative process
Practical Applications
- allow free writing then edit deliberately
- use reflective pauses to uncover hidden patterns
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance intuition with technique?
- What methods help you surface unconscious material?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on the unconscious may excuse lack of disciplined craftsmanship.
![“I've taken [acting] class with Larry Moss, who's more kind of in the theater world, so he's really educated me about playwrights.” quote by Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ee/eva-mendes-3656_acting_i-ve-taken-acting-class-with-larry-moss_602955.jpg)
