--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do have a side as a citizen, and I've…" description: "\"I do have a side as a citizen, and I've always expressed it, and that's where I've gotten into misunderstandings, because some people see me as a lefti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/oliver-stone-1812_citizen_i-do-have-a-side-as-a-citizen-and-i-ve-a_2661849.jpg" --- # I do have a side as a citizen, and I've always expressed… ![“I do have a side as a citizen, and I've always expressed it, and that's where I've gotten into misunderstandings, because some people see me as a leftist nut or whatever. A conspiracy nut. All that stuff. These are definitions that don't really apply to a dramatist, because a dramatist is working…” quote by Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/oliver-stone-1812_citizen_i-do-have-a-side-as-a-citizen-and-i-ve-a_2661849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/oliver-stone-1812_citizen_i-do-have-a-side-as-a-citizen-and-i-ve-a_2661849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/oliver-stone-1812_citizen_i-do-have-a-side-as-a-citizen-and-i-ve-a_2661849.jpg) > “I do have a side as a citizen, and I've always expressed it, and that's where I've gotten into misunderstandings, because some people see me as a leftist nut or whatever. A conspiracy nut. All that stuff. These are definitions that don't really apply to a dramatist, because a dramatist is working from empathy.” [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stone argues that labeling him as a leftist or conspiracy theorist misrepresents his work, which is rooted in empathy rather than ideology. **In simple terms:** He says he’s misunderstood, focusing on empathy not politics. Key Takeaway Separate artistic intent from political labels. Themes misunderstanding empathy politics art identity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - film criticism - public discourse - personal branding - media analysis Key Concepts narrative perspective humanism Questions to Reflect On - How does empathy shape storytelling? - What risks arise from politicizing art? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex viewpoints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Conspiracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conspiracy/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Leftists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leftists/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [As a dramatist, I don't have politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/as-a-dramatist-i-don-t-have-politics/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I'm a dramatist. Dramatists have a right to look at history and interpret it the way they see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-m-a-dramatist-dramatists-have-a-right-to-look-at-history-and/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Conspiracy nut, leftist, madman. These are terms of dismissal so you don't have to listen to the argument. It would be healthier and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/conspiracy-nut-leftist-madman-these-are-terms-of-dismissal-so-you-don/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [The cat is, above all things, a dramatist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-benson/the-cat-is-above-all-things-a-dramatist/) [Margaret Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-benson/) > [It's insulting to ask a dramatist what his view of his play is. I have no opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bond/it-s-insulting-to-ask-a-dramatist-what-his-view-of-his-play-is-i-have/) [Edward Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bond/) > [The Russian dramatist is one who, walking through a cemetery, does not see the flowers on the graves. The American dramatist . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/the-russian-dramatist-is-one-who-walking-through-a-cemetery-does-not/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [Shakespeare was a dramatist of note who lived by writing things to quote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-c-bunner/shakespeare-was-a-dramatist-of-note-who-lived-by-writing-things-to/) H. C. Bunner > [Shake was a dramatist of note; He lived by writing things to quote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-c-bunner/shake-was-a-dramatist-of-note-he-lived-by-writing-things-to-quote/) H. C. Bunner > [I'm a dramatist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-m-a-dramatist/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [The art of the dramatist is very like the art of the architect. A plot has to be built up just as a house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brander-matthews/the-art-of-the-dramatist-is-very-like-the-art-of-the-architect-a-plot/) [Brander Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brander-matthews/) > [The history of screenwriting - of what we do - is more than 100 years old. It's thousands of years old, going back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-logan/the-history-of-screenwriting-of-what-we-do-is-more-than-100-years-old/) [John Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-logan/) > [I can't really define myself as a dramatist or as an actor or as someone who is interested in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/i-can-t-really-define-myself-as-a-dramatist-or-as-an-actor-or-as/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [“Holmes laughed. "Watson insists that I am the dramatist in real life," said he. "Some touch of the artist wells up within me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/holmes-laughed-watson-insists-that-i-am-the-dramatist-in-real-life/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I am, it seems, an avant-garde dramatist. It would even seem obvious since I am present here at discussions on the avant-garde theatre. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-am-it-seems-an-avant-garde-dramatist-it-would-even-seem-obvious/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [I had never thought of myself as a dramatist, and, for really good technical results, the thought came too late: a man of letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/i-had-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-dramatist-and-for-really-good/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) ## More by Oliver Stone > [“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion (to which few members of other religions were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/the-west-won-the-world-not-by-the-superiority-of-its-ideas-or-values/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I'm a dramatist. Dramatists have a right to look at history and interpret it the way they see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-m-a-dramatist-dramatists-have-a-right-to-look-at-history-and/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Christianity did take a lot of Greek concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/christianity-did-take-a-lot-of-greek-concepts/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I've liked different women at different times in my life. I've been attracted to white women. I've been attracted to black women. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-ve-liked-different-women-at-different-times-in-my-life-i-ve-been/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [By creating false environment of a war on drugs, and cruel and unusual punishment with these crimes, 50% of our U.S. population is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/by-creating-false-environment-of-a-war-on-drugs-and-cruel-and-unusual/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Everyone in the world is impacted by the United States' Big Brother attitude toward the world. We need countries to say no to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/everyone-in-the-world-is-impacted-by-the-united-states-big-brother/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I might as well be myself. Everyone else is taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-might-as-well-be-myself-everyone-else-is-taken/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I didn't like my classmates at Yale. George W.Bush was in my class. I didn't know it then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-didn-t-like-my-classmates-at-yale-george-w-bush-was-in-my-class-i/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [There is this thing about time that you can't see at the time you're at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/there-is-this-thing-about-time-that-you-can-t-see-at-the-time-you-re/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I'm trying to understand my life. The one that I've experienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-m-trying-to-understand-my-life-the-one-that-i-ve-experienced/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Obama is now fighting for his life. He's fighting for a federal government. I believe in a federal government. I hope it sticks around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/obama-is-now-fighting-for-his-life-he-s-fighting-for-a-federal/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Anybody who's been through a divorce will tell you that at one point. they've thought murder. The line between thinking murder and doing murder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/anybody-who-s-been-through-a-divorce-will-tell-you-that-at-one-point/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [The worst nightmare I ever had about Vietnam was that I had to go back. I woke up in a sweat, in total terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/the-worst-nightmare-i-ever-had-about-vietnam-was-that-i-had-to-go/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [There are a few versions of the Alexander movie on video, only two that matter. One is from 2007, and then the one from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/there-are-a-few-versions-of-the-alexander-movie-on-video-only-two/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I gave up on America. I read the Times just to find out what they're thinking. I read blogs. I get most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-gave-up-on-america-i-read-the-times-just-to-find-out-what-they-re/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) [Explore all 207 Oliver Stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) ## More Citizen quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Up until the point that you're a citizen, we wanna continue to make sure we understand who you are and why you're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstjen-nielsen/up-until-the-point-that-you-re-a-citizen-we-wanna-continue-to-make/) [Kirstjen Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstjen-nielsen/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“In a country of ideas, consciousness is its' citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-a-country-of-ideas-consciousness-is-its-citizen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Browse all 464 Citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do have a side as a citizen, and I've always expressed it, and that's where I've gotten into misunderstandings, because some people see me as a leftist nut or whatever. A conspiracy nut. All that stuff. 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