--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I became frustrated early on as a…" description: "\"I became frustrated early on as a playwright by a kind of smug smallness in modern drama. There was a lack of what I now understand as courage in the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/ellen-mclaughlin-35648_amused_i-became-frustrated-early-on-as-a-playwr_686524.jpg" --- # I became frustrated early on as a playwright by a kind of… ![“I became frustrated early on as a playwright by a kind of smug smallness in modern drama. There was a lack of what I now understand as courage in the work of others as well as in my own work, and I found I was mildly amused or interested by such plays but not deeply engaged or enlightened.” quote by Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/ellen-mclaughlin-35648_amused_i-became-frustrated-early-on-as-a-playwr_686524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/ellen-mclaughlin-35648_amused_i-became-frustrated-early-on-as-a-playwr_686524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/ellen-mclaughlin-35648_amused_i-became-frustrated-early-on-as-a-playwr_686524.jpg) > “I became frustrated early on as a playwright by a kind of smug smallness in modern drama. There was a lack of what I now understand as courage in the work of others as well as in my own work, and I found I was mildly amused or interested by such plays but not deeply engaged or enlightened.” [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She critiques modern drama for lacking boldness and depth, leading to superficial engagement. **In simple terms:** Modern drama often lacks courage and depth. Key Takeaway Seek bold, meaningful storytelling. Themes theatre art authenticity Mood critical thoughtful Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - playwriting workshops - script analysis - audience feedback Key Concepts courage depth engagement Questions to Reflect On - What makes a play truly courageous? - How can playwrights balance boldness with accessibility? A Different Perspective Risk-taking can alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Frustrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Playwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwright/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, man, you know what they say." No, I don't. I don't know what they say. I don't even know who they are. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/well-man-you-know-what-they-say-no-i-don-t-i-don-t-know-what-they-say/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“Being bigheaded can be as irritating and as dangerous as being small-minded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/being-bigheaded-can-be-as-irritating-and-as-dangerous-as-being-small/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I've always wanted to live really high up, and this is the only flat in the building with a balcony, so I feel quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miquita-oliver/i-ve-always-wanted-to-live-really-high-up-and-this-is-the-only-flat/) [Miquita Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miquita-oliver/) > [“Mitch studied me with a questioning, smug smile. Men did it so easily, that immediate parceling of value. And how they seemed to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-cline/mitch-studied-me-with-a-questioning-smug-smile-men-did-it-so-easily/) [Emma Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-cline/) > [For me, faith is more about aspiration than complacency - the smug satisfaction that other people find distasteful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hollander/for-me-faith-is-more-about-aspiration-than-complacency-the-smug/) [Tom Hollander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hollander/) > [I never feel like a smug or a smart-alec film director, and there are plenty of those around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-never-feel-like-a-smug-or-a-smart-alec-film-director-and-there-are/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [“Am I to spend the next twenty years in the high-minded company of a smug Philistine who doesn’t so much as make me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/am-i-to-spend-the-next-twenty-years-in-the-high-minded-company-of-a/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [I'm a very smug show-off at heart. I'm altogether too pleased with myself. The big boost for me is to be able to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-m-a-very-smug-show-off-at-heart-i-m-altogether-too-pleased-with/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT! Sometimes, smug times When I’m talking about God When I’m praying about God When I’m working for God, Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-savage/that-s-not-what-i-meant-sometimes-smug-times-when-i-m-talking-about/) John Savage > [I know it's considered smug to even mention that you've left a social media platform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-demetriou/i-know-it-s-considered-smug-to-even-mention-that-you-ve-left-a-social/) [Jamie Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-demetriou/) > [“Occasionally I am smitten with an acute case of Smug. It can happen to anyone, but it happens most often to people who think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/occasionally-i-am-smitten-with-an-acute-case-of-smug-it-can-happen-to/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“The look of a smug teacher is priceless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/the-look-of-a-smug-teacher-is-priceless/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [Thinking I'm a moron gives people something to feel smug about," Charles Wallace said. "Why should I disillusion them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/thinking-i-m-a-moron-gives-people-something-to-feel-smug-about/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You're pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/you-re-pretty-smug-lord-ares-for-a-guy-who-runs-from-cupid-statues/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“smug smile splaying on his lips”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-walker/smug-smile-splaying-on-his-lips/) [J.M. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-walker/) ## More by Ellen McLaughlin > [In 'Angels in America,' I got to fulfill a lifelong dream. I was in the air eight nights a week for two years, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/in-angels-in-america-i-got-to-fulfill-a-lifelong-dream-i-was-in-the/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [The sensation of flying is incredible, and it's such a miraculous notion to go into the air and see the world without delineation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/the-sensation-of-flying-is-incredible-and-it-s-such-a-miraculous/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I don't do my best work while I'm in therapy. I'm too onto myself immediately seeing meanings in things and more likely to censor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-don-t-do-my-best-work-while-i-m-in-therapy-i-m-too-onto-myself/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I write in order to understand the images. Being what my agent . . . somewhat ruefully calls a language playwright, is problematic because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-write-in-order-to-understand-the-images-being-what-my-agent/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [Not just my parents, but teachers, friends, mentors - a host of people are to be thanked for any success I have had, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/not-just-my-parents-but-teachers-friends-mentors-a-host-of-people-are/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I'm very comfortable in the air. And if you're really in love with flight, you're in love to a certain extent with being outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-m-very-comfortable-in-the-air-and-if-you-re-really-in-love-with/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [One of the reasons I admire David Lindsay-Abaire's work is that he, like the Greeks I've spent so much of my professional life contemplating,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/one-of-the-reasons-i-admire-david-lindsay-abaire-s-work-is-that-he/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I'm an actor and a playwright, and I don't earn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-m-an-actor-and-a-playwright-and-i-don-t-earn-much/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [When I was in high school, I was going to be a painter because I had a facility for painting. I could do it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-going-to-be-a-painter-because-i-had-a/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [The more you head into the maelstrom, the more vulnerable you are, of course. But it's what you owe to whatever gift you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/the-more-you-head-into-the-maelstrom-the-more-vulnerable-you-are-of/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I just realized at some point that I was hopelessly in love with the theater. I fought it for a long time because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-just-realized-at-some-point-that-i-was-hopelessly-in-love-with-the/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I go to the theater because I need help dealing with my life; I want to see the greatest questions addressed. I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-go-to-the-theater-because-i-need-help-dealing-with-my-life-i-want/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 13 Ellen McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) ## More Amused quotes > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [The writer's Queen Victoria is his public, and he would do well to keep a bust of the old Queen on his desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-watson-fowler/the-writer-s-queen-victoria-is-his-public-and-he-would-do-well-to/) [Henry Watson Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-watson-fowler/) > [I have been much amused at ye singular phenomena resulting from bringing of a needle into contact with a piece of amber or resin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-been-much-amused-at-ye-singular-phenomena-resulting-from/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I have found that the key to being happy — well, one of the keys, anyway — is to be easily amused,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-wheaton/i-have-found-that-the-key-to-being-happy-well-one-of-the-keys-anyway/) [Wil Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-wheaton/) > [Global warming ... may be a plaintiff lawyer's dream. And it's interesting, in a perverse way, to imagine how a jury in 2050 might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/global-warming-may-be-a-plaintiff-lawyer-s-dream-and-it-s-interesting/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I am too old to have ever been very worried about what "genre" any given book of mine might be. I read everything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-am-too-old-to-have-ever-been-very-worried-about-what-genre-any/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [ \[The doctrine of air\] I was led into in consequence of inhabiting a house adjoining to a public brewery, where I at first amused… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/the-doctrine-of-air-i-was-led-into-in-consequence-of-inhabiting-a/) [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) > [“Well at least your awake," he sighs "You had me worried." "Get your hands away from me." He waves sheathed fingers in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/well-at-least-your-awake-he-sighs-you-had-me-worried-get-your-hands/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“You." I gasped. "Me," he agreed, amused.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/you-i-gasped-me-he-agreed-amused/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) > [“From the corner of her eyes, Arima could see Leyla putting a hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles, and Myddrin had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beerden/from-the-corner-of-her-eyes-arima-could-see-leyla-putting-a-hand-over/) [Stephanie Beerden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beerden/) > [A tattered copy of Johnson's large Dictionary was a great delight to me, on account of the specimens of English versifications which I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-larcom/a-tattered-copy-of-johnson-s-large-dictionary-was-a-great-delight-to/) [Lucy Larcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-larcom/) > [“I can but just recollect having been amused at the Theatres, and the Opera, and the Pantheon, and Ranelagh, and all those places, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/i-can-but-just-recollect-having-been-amused-at-the-theatres-and-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) Browse all 237 Amused quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I became frustrated early on as a playwright by a kind of smug smallness in modern drama. 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