--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I admit there's an element of brutality…" description: "\"I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work - it's part of the truth about human existence I always want to explore - but the last thing I'm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg" --- # I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work… ![“I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work - it's part of the truth about human existence I always want to explore - but the last thing I'm trying to do is put on some kind of freak show, inviting people to get off on other people's pain and humiliation.” quote by Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg) > “I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work - it's part of the truth about human existence I always want to explore - but the last thing I'm trying to do is put on some kind of freak show, inviting people to get off on other people's pain and humiliation.” [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator acknowledges harsh truths in humanity but rejects sensationalizing suffering for entertainment. **In simple terms:** He wants to show reality without exploiting pain. Key Takeaway Present truth responsibly. Themes human nature artistic integrity ethics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical critical. When to use this quote - documentary filmmaking - theatre - visual arts - social commentary Key Concepts existentialism media criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can art expose cruelty without exploiting it? - What responsibilities do creators have to their viewers? A Different Perspective Balancing honesty with respect for audience dignity can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Brutality Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality-work-3959362/) [Element Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/element-brutality-3959363/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Inviting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inviting/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-humiliation-1884252/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/) ## Related quotes > [“Emily, thus dashed to earth, moved back to her seat in a daze. Her smitten cheek was crimson, but the wound was in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/emily-thus-dashed-to-earth-moved-back-to-her-seat-in-a-daze-her/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/power-is-in-inflicting-pain-and-humiliation/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [As the Ebola virus continued to consume my patients, I witnessed the horror this disease visits upon its victims, the intense pain and humiliation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-brantly/as-the-ebola-virus-continued-to-consume-my-patients-i-witnessed-the/) [Kent Brantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-brantly/) > [“Pain and humiliation is always amusing when it happens to someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/pain-and-humiliation-is-always-amusing-when-it-happens-to-someone-else/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I gave you justice, it said, as I was taught it. And I gave you mercy , too, so far as I could. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-gave-you-justice-it-said-as-i-was-taught-it-and-i-gave-you-mercy/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I would love to be able to swim in the ocean in Malibu. But that is asking for a bikini shot. That's inviting something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/i-would-love-to-be-able-to-swim-in-the-ocean-in-malibu-but-that-is/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [“Extend Invitations "How many times have you sat at home alone feeling jealous or sad that you were not invited to a party or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/extend-invitations-how-many-times-have-you-sat-at-home-alone-feeling/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Mission means inviting all the peoples of the earth to hear the music of God's future and dance to it today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-j-h-wright/mission-means-inviting-all-the-peoples-of-the-earth-to-hear-the-music/) [Christopher J. H. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-j-h-wright/) > [I'm inviting the spirits into my photography. It's an act of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-m-inviting-the-spirits-into-my-photography-it-s-an-act-of-god/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [“Going to the extreme of inviting and welcoming people into your church in order to hear you condemn them or to know from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/going-to-the-extreme-of-inviting-and-welcoming-people-into-your/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Now every idiot from high school's like, 'I'm back!' We weren't supposed to meet again. Stop poking me and inviting me to your weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/now-every-idiot-from-high-school-s-like-i-m-back-we-weren-t-supposed/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [“The world is alive, blinking and clicking, winking at us slyly, inviting us to get up and dance to the music that’s been playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/the-world-is-alive-blinking-and-clicking-winking-at-us-slyly-inviting/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“Be the Inviter “When I began my speaking career, I designed and delivered motivational programs for children teaching them success skills for life. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/be-the-inviter-when-i-began-my-speaking-career-i-designed-and/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [By saying Make in India, we are not only inviting companies for cost-effective manufacturing, but also giving them an opportunity of a large market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/by-saying-make-in-india-we-are-not-only-inviting-companies-for-cost/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [If I could ever be on a Missy Elliott record, I could then die. Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige - I love hearing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/if-i-could-ever-be-on-a-missy-elliott-record-i-could-then-die-missy/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) ## More by Todd Solondz > [Some directors hardly talk to the actors at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/some-directors-hardly-talk-to-the-actors-at-all/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [The funny thing is, strangers still seem to feel comfortable coming up to me and saying things, but now usually it's because they recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/the-funny-thing-is-strangers-still-seem-to-feel-comfortable-coming-up/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [When part of what you're trying to get at is the truth hidden under a taboo, or when you want to nail a hypocrisy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/when-part-of-what-you-re-trying-to-get-at-is-the-truth-hidden-under-a/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [For me, New Jersey is kind of a mythical place. It's emblematic of a certain aspect of American life. Florida is the same way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/for-me-new-jersey-is-kind-of-a-mythical-place-it-s-emblematic-of-a/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [I always have to presume that each movie is my last movie because I never know if I'll get money again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-always-have-to-presume-that-each-movie-is-my-last-movie-because-i/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [When I want to show the kind of meanness people are capable of, to make it believable I find I have to tone it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/when-i-want-to-show-the-kind-of-meanness-people-are-capable-of-to/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [I love working with actors. If you cast the right person in the right part at the right time, they make you look like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-love-working-with-actors-if-you-cast-the-right-person-in-the-right/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [I don't make movies with the idea that people are going to walk out of them feeling comfortable or better about themselves or more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-don-t-make-movies-with-the-idea-that-people-are-going-to-walk-out/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [Usually the audience has no idea that the censored version of whatever movie they're watching isn't the original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/usually-the-audience-has-no-idea-that-the-censored-version-of/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [What's most insidious about MTV is that it commodifies precisely those things that young people believe are subversive. In other words, subversity itself has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/what-s-most-insidious-about-mtv-is-that-it-commodifies-precisely/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [When I'm asked who my audience is, I say someone with an open mind, which is not a vacant one and sometimes a liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/when-i-m-asked-who-my-audience-is-i-say-someone-with-an-open-mind/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [So much of what a pet is about for us is that it becomes a vessel for yearnings, dreams, illusions, hopes and so forth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/so-much-of-what-a-pet-is-about-for-us-is-that-it-becomes-a-vessel-for/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [Like everything, what compels one to put pen to paper is a great question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/like-everything-what-compels-one-to-put-pen-to-paper-is-a-great/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [It's one of the great gifts of having so little money that you are able to make these kinds of radical conceits that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/it-s-one-of-the-great-gifts-of-having-so-little-money-that-you-are/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [The ability to take pleasure in one's life is a skill and is a kind of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/the-ability-to-take-pleasure-in-one-s-life-is-a-skill-and-is-a-kind/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) [Explore all 68 Todd Solondz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) ## More Brutality quotes > [All women love semi-rape. They love to be taken.It was his sweet brutality against my bruised body that made his act of love so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/all-women-love-semi-rape-they-love-to-be-taken-it-was-his-sweet/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“The hunger for power has made them cruel They shed humanity and shed every rule They bow to the devil, deny what is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/the-hunger-for-power-has-made-them-cruel-they-shed-humanity-and-shed/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers, they were his enforcers, they were his thugs. And Hitler discovered that he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/hitler-recruited-around-him-homosexuals-to-make-up-his-stormtroopers/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [The greatest reward of this constant interrogation, confrontation with the brutality of my country, is that it has freed me from hosts and myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-greatest-reward-of-this-constant-interrogation-confrontation-with/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The African tribesman, with his complete contempt for truth and his emphasis on brutality and savagery for others but not for himself, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-african-tribesman-with-his-complete-contempt-for-truth-and-his/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Never mind a world that can't see past brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/never-mind-a-world-that-can-t-see-past-brutality/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-not-unmindful-that-some-of-you-have-come-here-out-of-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-horse-laugh-indicates-brutality-of-character/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The Negroes of America had taken the President, the press and the pulpit at their word when they spoke in broad terms of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negroes-of-america-had-taken-the-president-the-press-and-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I see myself capable of arrogance and brutality... That's a fierce thing, to discover within yourself that which you despise the most in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stevens/i-see-myself-capable-of-arrogance-and-brutality-that-s-a-fierce-thing/) [George Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stevens/) > [The very opposite of freedom is cliche, and nothing is less free, more inert with convention and hollow brutality, than a row of four-letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/the-very-opposite-of-freedom-is-cliche-and-nothing-is-less-free-more/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [I can tell you countless instances of this country's history of brutality, of inequity, of heartlessness. But if I do that without also talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-can-tell-you-countless-instances-of-this-country-s-history-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [What draws men and women together is stronger than the brutality and tyranny which drive them apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fawcett/what-draws-men-and-women-together-is-stronger-than-the-brutality-and/) [Millicent Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fawcett/) > [Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/whether-it-comes-from-a-despotic-sovereign-or-an-elected-president/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) [Browse all 427 Brutality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work - it's part of the truth about human existence I always want to explore - but the last thing I'm trying to do is put on some kind of freak show, inviting people to get off on other people's pain and humiliation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Todd Solondz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality-in-all-my-work-it-s-part-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brutality" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality-in-all-my-work-it-s-part-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/todd-solondz-10108_brutality_i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality_1253524.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work - it's part of the truth about human existence I…” — Todd Solondz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Todd Solondz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I admit there's an element of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality-in-all-my-work-it-s-part-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-admit-there-s-an-element-of-brutality-in-all-my-work-it-s-part-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```