--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True, I don't begin with an idea for a…" description: "\"True, I don't begin with an idea for a play - a thesis, in other words, to construct the play around. But I know a good deal about the nature of the ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/edward-albee-1684_actor_true-i-don-t-begin-with-an-idea-for-a-pl_3046065.jpg" --- # True, I don't begin with an idea for a play - a thesis, in… ![“True, I don't begin with an idea for a play - a thesis, in other words, to construct the play around. But I know a good deal about the nature of the characters. I know a great deal about their environment. And I more or less know what is going to happen in the play.” quote by Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/edward-albee-1684_actor_true-i-don-t-begin-with-an-idea-for-a-pl_3046065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/edward-albee-1684_actor_true-i-don-t-begin-with-an-idea-for-a-pl_3046065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/edward-albee-1684_actor_true-i-don-t-begin-with-an-idea-for-a-pl_3046065.jpg) > “True, I don't begin with an idea for a play - a thesis, in other words, to construct the play around. But I know a good deal about the nature of the characters. I know a great deal about their environment. And I more or less know what is going to happen in the play.” [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. A playwright can rely on deep character insight and setting without a formal thesis, letting the story emerge organically. **In simple terms:** Characters and setting can drive a story without a preset plan. Key Takeaway Trust intuition and observation in storytelling. Themes creativity character development improvisation Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing a play - developing a screenplay - improvisational workshops - character-driven narratives Key Concepts theatre organic storytelling character study Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance intuition with narrative structure? - What techniques ensure cohesion without a formal thesis? A Different Perspective May lack structural coherence, risking a disjointed plot. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [My idea is to play with the people who you know want to get it right. Then it's fun and easy to record, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/my-idea-is-to-play-with-the-people-who-you-know-want-to-get-it-right/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [I had no idea of who could play it, no notion really. Then Richard came to see us but I don't think it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/i-had-no-idea-of-who-could-play-it-no-notion-really-then-richard-came/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [The process by which the idea for a play comes to me has always been something I really couldn't pinpoint. A play just seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-process-by-which-the-idea-for-a-play-comes-to-me-has-always-been/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [And it was the idea that you can do a play - like a Shakespeare play, or any well-written play, Arthur Miller, whatever -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-earl-jones/and-it-was-the-idea-that-you-can-do-a-play-like-a-shakespeare-play-or/) [James Earl Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-earl-jones/) > [But I can't find anybody. That's the problem. I don't know where they are. I mean, I've got an idea that there must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-barrett/but-i-can-t-find-anybody-that-s-the-problem-i-don-t-know-where-they/) [Syd Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-barrett/) > [When I grew up, I always had the idea that I would play for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dier/when-i-grew-up-i-always-had-the-idea-that-i-would-play-for-england/) [Eric Dier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dier/) > [There is this idea that you have to play heroines or women who succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/there-is-this-idea-that-you-have-to-play-heroines-or-women-who-succeed/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [I don't have an idea for a play until after I've finished writing it. I write first, and come up with what it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-don-t-have-an-idea-for-a-play-until-after-i-ve-finished-writing-it/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [The whole idea of play is in finding, acknowledging, and then working with the natural constraints and limitations that you find in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bogost/the-whole-idea-of-play-is-in-finding-acknowledging-and-then-working/) [Ian Bogost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bogost/) > [Also, from a technical point of view, as you're standing in front of a microphone all day, it's quite a good idea that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-darrow/also-from-a-technical-point-of-view-as-you-re-standing-in-front-of-a/) [Paul Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-darrow/) > [I think there's this idea that if we put up a play with all African-Americans or all Latinas, or even if we mix it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-c-moore/i-think-there-s-this-idea-that-if-we-put-up-a-play-with-all-african/) [Adrienne C. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-c-moore/) > [I never want to write something until I know every scene in the movie. I don't want someone hiring me and then me not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sommers/i-never-want-to-write-something-until-i-know-every-scene-in-the-movie/) [Stephen Sommers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sommers/) > [I make extensive outlines before I write a book. I usually know what will happen. I know the characters, and I know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/i-make-extensive-outlines-before-i-write-a-book-i-usually-know-what/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [Plot springs from character... I've always sort of believed that these people inside me- these characters- know who they are and what they're about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/plot-springs-from-character-i-ve-always-sort-of-believed-that-these/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I probably read 100 times more than I write, but that way when I move my characters through it, I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-probably-read-100-times-more-than-i-write-but-that-way-when-i-move/) [Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/) ## 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 Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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