--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At dramatic rehearsals, the only author…" description: "\"At dramatic rehearsals, the only author that's better than an absent one is a dead one.\" — George S. Kaufman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/george-s-kaufman-29397_absent_at-dramatic-rehearsals-the-only-author-t_1482805.jpg" --- # At dramatic rehearsals, the only author that's better than… ![“At dramatic rehearsals, the only author that's better than an absent one is a dead one.” quote by George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/george-s-kaufman-29397_absent_at-dramatic-rehearsals-the-only-author-t_1482805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/george-s-kaufman-29397_absent_at-dramatic-rehearsals-the-only-author-t_1482805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/george-s-kaufman-29397_absent_at-dramatic-rehearsals-the-only-author-t_1482805.jpg) > “At dramatic rehearsals, the only author that's better than an absent one is a dead one.” [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The best writing comes from those who are no longer alive to edit it, highlighting the value of posthumous insight. **In simple terms:** Dead writers can be more honest than living ones. Key Takeaway Respect the legacy of past creators. Themes creativity legacy authorship Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - historical analysis Key Concepts posthumous perspective artistic honesty Questions to Reflect On - How does death change the perception of a writer’s work? - Can we learn from the silence of the departed? A Different Perspective Living authors can revise and improve their work, unlike the dead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent/) [Absent Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent-dead-454099/) [Better Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-absent-5407631/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Dramatic Rehearsals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic-rehearsals-5407630/) [Rehearsals Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearsals-author-5407629/) ## Related quotes > [Absent or dead, still let a friend be dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/absent-or-dead-still-let-a-friend-be-dear/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [It is his absence that is part of me and has been for years. This is who I am, perhaps who we all are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-gibb/it-is-his-absence-that-is-part-of-me-and-has-been-for-years-this-is/) [Camilla Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-gibb/) > [For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-my-own-part-i-would-rather-be-in-company-with-a-dead-man-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Religion has always been a matter of community building; a matter of building precisely those relations of compassion, fellow feeling and - I dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/religion-has-always-been-a-matter-of-community-building-a-matter-of/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [It's Simon, he's missing." Ahh." said Magnus delicately "Missing what exactly?" Missing!" Jace repeated "As in gone, absent, notable for his lack of presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-simon-he-s-missing-ahh-said-magnus-delicately-missing-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [... if we are ashamed to imitate our Lord's sufferings, which He endured for us, and to suffer as He suffered, it is obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/symeon-the-new-theologian/if-we-are-ashamed-to-imitate-our-lord-s-sufferings-which-he-endured/) [Symeon the New Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/symeon-the-new-theologian/) > [“You may not appreciate the presence of good health, but you will definitely regret the absence of good health, because health is happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-may-not-appreciate-the-presence-of-good-health-but-you-will/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The interesting thing about an absent father is, for a child, you don't know he's absent. You just think he's... tardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-interesting-thing-about-an-absent-father-is-for-a-child-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by George S. Kaufman > [There was laughter in the back of the theater, leading to the belief that someone was telling jokes back there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/there-was-laughter-in-the-back-of-the-theater-leading-to-the-belief/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [“I didn’t like the play, but than I saw it under adverse conditions – the curtain was up. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/i-didn-t-like-the-play-but-than-i-saw-it-under-adverse-conditions-the/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [“Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff: Penny, why don't you write a play about Ism-Mania? Penny Sycamore: Ism-Mania? Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff: Yeah, sure, you know, Communism, Faschism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/grandpa-martin-vanderhoff-penny-why-don-t-you-write-a-play-about-ism/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [Office hours are from 12 to 1 with an hour off for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/office-hours-are-from-12-to-1-with-an-hour-off-for-lunch/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [Lawyers-they get together all day and say to each other, "What can we postpone next?" The only thing they don't postpone, of course, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/lawyers-they-get-together-all-day-and-say-to-each-other-what-can-we/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [You can't fool me. There ain't no Sanity Clause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/you-can-t-fool-me-there-ain-t-no-sanity-clause/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [I like terra firma; the more firma, the less terra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/i-like-terra-firma-the-more-firma-the-less-terra/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [Epitaph for a dead waiter - God finally caught his eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/epitaph-for-a-dead-waiter-god-finally-caught-his-eye/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [The kind of doctor I want is one who when he's not examining me is home studying medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/the-kind-of-doctor-i-want-is-one-who-when-he-s-not-examining-me-is/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [“(Popular singer Eddie Fisher, appearing on This is Show Business, told Kaufman that women refused to date him because he looked so young.) Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/popular-singer-eddie-fisher-appearing-on-this-is-show-business-told/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [God finally caught his eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/god-finally-caught-his-eye/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [I understand your new play is full of single entendres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/i-understand-your-new-play-is-full-of-single-entendres/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [“KIRBY: A man can't give up his business. GRANDPA: Why not? You've got all the money you need. You can't take it with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/kirby-a-man-can-t-give-up-his-business-grandpa-why-not-you-ve-got-all/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [When I was born I owed twelve dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/when-i-was-born-i-owed-twelve-dollars/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [You've heard of people living in a fool's paradise? Well, Leonora has a duplex there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/you-ve-heard-of-people-living-in-a-fool-s-paradise-well-leonora-has-a/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) [Explore all 18 George S. Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) ## More Absent quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [The interesting thing about an absent father is, for a child, you don't know he's absent. You just think he's... tardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-interesting-thing-about-an-absent-father-is-for-a-child-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-my-own-part-i-would-rather-be-in-company-with-a-dead-man-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“You may not appreciate the presence of good health, but you will definitely regret the absence of good health, because health is happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-may-not-appreciate-the-presence-of-good-health-but-you-will/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [... if we are ashamed to imitate our Lord's sufferings, which He endured for us, and to suffer as He suffered, it is obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/symeon-the-new-theologian/if-we-are-ashamed-to-imitate-our-lord-s-sufferings-which-he-endured/) [Symeon the New Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/symeon-the-new-theologian/) > [It's Simon, he's missing." Ahh." said Magnus delicately "Missing what exactly?" Missing!" Jace repeated "As in gone, absent, notable for his lack of presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-simon-he-s-missing-ahh-said-magnus-delicately-missing-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Religion has always been a matter of community building; a matter of building precisely those relations of compassion, fellow feeling and - I dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/religion-has-always-been-a-matter-of-community-building-a-matter-of/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [A FRIEND IS A PERSON . . . With whom you can be sincere. . . . To whom you never need to defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/a-friend-is-a-person-with-whom-you-can-be-sincere-to-whom-you-never/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-very-serpents-bite-their-tails-the-bees-forget-to-sting-for-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) [Browse all 490 Absent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At dramatic rehearsals, the only author that's better than an absent one is a dead one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George S. 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