Beautiful Quote by Eugene O'Neill
“Why can’t you remember your Shakespeare and forget the third-raters. You’ll find what you’re trying to say in him- as you’ll find everything else worth saying. 'We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with sleep.'' - 'Fine! That’s beautiful. But I wasn’t trying to say that. We are such stuff as manure is made on, so let’s drink up and forget it. That’s more my idea.”
About This Quote
Source Play: "The Iceman Cometh", 1946
One should not ignore foundational influences while seeking new expression; all elements matter.
In simple terms: Don’t forget basics while seeking new ideas.
Key Takeaway
Balance tradition and innovation.
Themes
literature
creativity
identity
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- artistic collaboration
- academic study
Key Concepts
intertextuality
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- Which “third‑rater” influences you?
- How do you honor past influences?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on novelty can erase valuable roots.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
