--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Audiences and, to a large extent, critics…" description: "\"Audiences and, to a large extent, critics who want less from theater than it is possible for it to give. If everybody's encouraged to want less, you'll..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/edward-albee-1684_audience_audiences-and-to-a-large-extent-critics_480058.png" --- # Audiences and, to a large extent, critics who want less… ![“Audiences and, to a large extent, critics who want less from theater than it is possible for it to give. If everybody's encouraged to want less, you'll end up with less.” quote by Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/edward-albee-1684_audience_audiences-and-to-a-large-extent-critics_480058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/edward-albee-1684_audience_audiences-and-to-a-large-extent-critics_480058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/edward-albee-1684_audience_audiences-and-to-a-large-extent-critics_480058.png) > “Audiences and, to a large extent, critics who want less from theater than it is possible for it to give. If everybody's encouraged to want less, you'll end up with less.” [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that audiences and critics often demand less from theater, leading to a decline in artistic ambition. **In simple terms:** Low expectations cause theater to decline. Key Takeaway Raise expectations for theater. Themes artistic standards audience expectations theater criticism creativity Mood reflective critical Type theatrical philosophical When to use this quote - theater reviews - educational curricula - public arts funding - creative workshops Key Concepts cultural consumption critical discourse artistic ambition Questions to Reflect On - What can audiences do to support more ambitious theater? - How does criticism shape artistic production? A Different Perspective Artists may struggle to meet higher expectations without sufficient resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audiences/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [If you're looking at the people who head the institutions, there are very few African Americans or people of colour. I'm talking about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/if-you-re-looking-at-the-people-who-head-the-institutions-there-are/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [What people really want in the theater is fantasy involvement and not reality involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/what-people-really-want-in-the-theater-is-fantasy-involvement-and-not/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Honey, I am the chief of my train. If critics want to hop on board, fantastic. There's plenty of room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/honey-i-am-the-chief-of-my-train-if-critics-want-to-hop-on-board/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I'm praying for Barack Obama to stay on the tightrope because I want to fight his right-wing critics. I want to down I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-m-praying-for-barack-obama-to-stay-on-the-tightrope-because-i-want/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I think sometimes the critics want me to beat people down, and that's not in me. I want to lift people up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-think-sometimes-the-critics-want-me-to-beat-people-down-and-that-s/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [No government intent on persecuting its critics will want to leave the outcome of a trial to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/no-government-intent-on-persecuting-its-critics-will-want-to-leave/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [If critics want to help me, let them come sit next to me while I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/if-critics-want-to-help-me-let-them-come-sit-next-to-me-while-i-m/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [And that's what people want to see when they go to the theater. I believe at the end of the day, they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/and-that-s-what-people-want-to-see-when-they-go-to-the-theater-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want to do theater and I am looking forward to doing more Television and Movies. I also want to direct some plays in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-burke/i-want-to-do-theater-and-i-am-looking-forward-to-doing-more/) [Chris Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-burke/) > [In the '80s, 'Dreamgirls' was our 'Hamilton.' It was cutting-edge, and it was what made me want to do theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-robinson/in-the-80s-dreamgirls-was-our-hamilton-it-was-cutting-edge-and-it-was/) [Angela Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-robinson/) > [I think it takes an introspective person to want to go into the theater and see the dark side of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/i-think-it-takes-an-introspective-person-to-want-to-go-into-the/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [I really did always want to do theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ambrose/i-really-did-always-want-to-do-theater/) [Lauren Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ambrose/) > [I want to get into the theater. I really wanted to be a theater director, but I turned out to be a movie director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-oz/i-want-to-get-into-the-theater-i-really-wanted-to-be-a-theater/) [Frank Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-oz/) > [Technology can't eliminate the need for people going to want to go out and see theater and standup comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/technology-can-t-eliminate-the-need-for-people-going-to-want-to-go/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [the theater should be free to the people just as the Public Library is free, just as the museum is free. ... I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/the-theater-should-be-free-to-the-people-just-as-the-public-library/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) ## More by Edward Albee > [School curricula that ignore the arts produce highly educated Barbarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/school-curricula-that-ignore-the-arts-produce-highly-educated/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When people don't like the way a play ends, they're likely to blame the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-people-don-t-like-the-way-a-play-ends-they-re-likely-to-blame/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [In a democracy you cannot stop public access to that art that will most misinform the people. You cannot stop people from being misinformed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/in-a-democracy-you-cannot-stop-public-access-to-that-art-that-will/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Creativity is magic. Don't examine it too closely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/creativity-is-magic-don-t-examine-it-too-closely/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When people can't abide things as they are, when they can't abide the present, they do one of two things ... either they ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-people-can-t-abide-things-as-they-are-when-they-can-t-abide-the/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [“Lady, you can’t fuck a metaphor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/lady-you-can-t-fuck-a-metaphor/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I write to find out what I'm talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-write-to-find-out-what-i-m-talking-about/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-know-playwrights-who-like-to-kid-themselves-into-saying-that-their/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [The greatest problem with Irish Wolfhounds, though, is that they don't live very long: their great hearts give out. A good deal of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/the-greatest-problem-with-irish-wolfhounds-though-is-that-they-don-t/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/dashed-hopes-and-good-intentions-good-better-best-bested/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Writing has got to be an act of discovery…I write to find out what I'm thinking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/writing-has-got-to-be-an-act-of-discovery-i-write-to-find-out-what-i/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I'm back in fashion again for a while now. But I imagine that three or four years from now I'll be out again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-m-back-in-fashion-again-for-a-while-now-but-i-imagine-that-three-or/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [What people really want in the theater is fantasy involvement and not reality involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/what-people-really-want-in-the-theater-is-fantasy-involvement-and-not/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Art should never try to be popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/art-should-never-try-to-be-popular/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) [Explore all 216 Edward Albee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Audiences and, to a large extent, critics who want less from theater than it is possible for it to give. 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