--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The nervous system of any age or nation…" description: "\"The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. And if that nervous system is profoundly disturbed by its environment, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tennessee-williams-745_age_the-nervous-system-of-any-age-or-nation_242180.png" --- # The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative… ![“The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. And if that nervous system is profoundly disturbed by its environment, the work it produces will inescapably reflect the disturbances, sometimes obliquely and sometimes with violent directness.” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tennessee-williams-745_age_the-nervous-system-of-any-age-or-nation_242180.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tennessee-williams-745_age_the-nervous-system-of-any-age-or-nation_242180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tennessee-williams-745_age_the-nervous-system-of-any-age-or-nation_242180.png) > “The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. And if that nervous system is profoundly disturbed by its environment, the work it produces will inescapably reflect the disturbances, sometimes obliquely and sometimes with violent directness.” [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative people reflect the health of their society; environmental disturbances shape artistic output, sometimes subtly, sometimes violently. **In simple terms:** Art shows society’s condition. Key Takeaway Observe how environment influences creativity. Themes art society environment psychology expression Mood thoughtful critical Type theatrical philosophical When to use this quote - urban planning - education policy - media analysis - mental health initiatives Key Concepts cultural impact creative expression social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment affect your work? - Can art change the environment? A Different Perspective Art may be constrained by oppression, limiting honest expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists-nervous-2425057/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-work/) [Disturbance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbance/) [Disturbances Obliquely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbances-obliquely-2425056/) [Disturbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed/) [Disturbed Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed-environment-2425053/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-age-2425054/) [Nervous system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-system/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent Directness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-directness-2425055/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/) ## Related quotes > [Some artists are nervous - most of them are, to tell you the truth, and they have different ways of exhibiting that. 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Without hindrances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyongho/so-an-ancient-once-said-accept-the-anxieties-and-difficulties-of-this/) [Kyongho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyongho/) > [If you see the fury and hear the howling of the tempest, or read of shipwrecks, think of the storm of human passions causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/if-you-see-the-fury-and-hear-the-howling-of-the-tempest-or-read-of/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Too much clutter is a disturbance to the energy of a space for me. It's big no-no for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/too-much-clutter-is-a-disturbance-to-the-energy-of-a-space-for-me-it/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) > [The wealth of any ecosystem is its perennials. The primal herbivore-predator-disturbance-rest dance is literally the breath and pulse of the earth. 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It is a self-trust which slights the restraints of prudence, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-this-military-attitude-of-the-soul-we-give-the-name-of-heroism-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [As soon as I began to talk to Dalai Lama, I realized that Chinese and Tibetans from his point of view are mostly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/as-soon-as-i-began-to-talk-to-dalai-lama-i-realized-that-chinese-and/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Perfume is like a parenthesis, a moment of freedom, peace, love and sensuality in between the disturbances of modern living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rykiel/perfume-is-like-a-parenthesis-a-moment-of-freedom-peace-love-and/) [Sonia Rykiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rykiel/) > [My tears will keep no channel, know no laws to guide their streams, but like the waves, their cause, run with disturbance till they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleveland/my-tears-will-keep-no-channel-know-no-laws-to-guide-their-streams-but/) [John Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleveland/) > [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) ## More by Tennessee Williams > [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [People go to the movies instead of moving. 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It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. 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But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. 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