---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to have hope. It's irresponsible…"
description: "\"You have to have hope. It's irresponsible to give false hope, which I think a lot of playwrights are guilty of. But I also think it's irresponsible to ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/tony-kushner-2204_actor_you-have-to-have-hope-it-s-irresponsible_637509.jpg"
---

#  You have to have hope. It's irresponsible to give false…

![“You have to have hope. It's irresponsible to give false hope, which I think a lot of playwrights are guilty of. But I also think it's irresponsible to simply be a nihilist, which quite a lot of playwrights, especially playwrights younger than me, have become guilty of.” quote by Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/tony-kushner-2204_actor_you-have-to-have-hope-it-s-irresponsible_637509.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/tony-kushner-2204_actor_you-have-to-have-hope-it-s-irresponsible_637509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/tony-kushner-2204_actor_you-have-to-have-hope-it-s-irresponsible_637509.jpg)

> “You have to have hope. It's irresponsible to give false hope, which I think a lot of playwrights are guilty of. But I also think it's irresponsible to simply be a nihilist, which quite a lot of playwrights, especially playwrights younger than me, have become guilty of.”

[Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hope is essential, but false hope is harmful; nihilism is equally irresponsible for playwrights.

**In simple terms:** Balance hope and realism in art.

Key Takeaway

Offer honest hope.

Themes

hope responsibility nihilism theatre ethics

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

theatrical ethical

When to use this quote

- playwriting
- audience engagement
- creative integrity

Key Concepts

authenticity moral duty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you portray hope responsibly?
- When is nihilism appropriate in drama?

A Different Perspective

Hope without truth can mislead audiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [False hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-hope/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Having hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-hope/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Nihilist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nihilist/) [Playwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwright/) [Playwrights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwrights/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

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