--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, people see [August: Osage…" description: "\"You know, people see [August: Osage County], and I tell them that it's based on my family, and they assume that I came from some kind of horrible, hyst..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/tracy-letts-12197_assuming_you-know-people-see-august-osage-county_2789355.jpg" --- # You know, people see \[August: Osage County\], and I tell… ![“You know, people see [August: Osage County], and I tell them that it's based on my family, and they assume that I came from some kind of horrible, hysterical circumstances. That's not true. My family, my nuclear family, was actually very close. My mom and dad were great parents and they encouraged…” quote by Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/tracy-letts-12197_assuming_you-know-people-see-august-osage-county_2789355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/tracy-letts-12197_assuming_you-know-people-see-august-osage-county_2789355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/tracy-letts-12197_assuming_you-know-people-see-august-osage-county_2789355.jpg) > “You know, people see \[August: Osage County\], and I tell them that it's based on my family, and they assume that I came from some kind of horrible, hysterical circumstances. That's not true. My family, my nuclear family, was actually very close. My mom and dad were great parents and they encouraged a real rich, creative life for me and my brothers. My extended family, like every family, has some darkness, and some violence of some kind, emotional or otherwise, in their past.” [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The playwright clarifies that his family's public image is not wholly accurate, emphasizing both closeness and hidden struggles. **In simple terms:** Family image is complex, not just drama. Key Takeaway Recognize both strengths and hidden challenges in families. Themes family dynamics public perception truth Mood introspective empathetic Type personal reflective When to use this quote - family counseling - media interviews - personal reflection - storytelling Key Concepts psychology narrative truth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with privacy? - What hidden strengths does your family have? A Different Perspective Public narratives can oversimplify reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/august/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-life/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Extended family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extended-family/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Great parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-parents/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom and dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-and-dad/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-families/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [If I want my family to assume that I will always be there for them and I have always been there for them I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-halter/if-i-want-my-family-to-assume-that-i-will-always-be-there-for-them/) Sue Halter > [Keep ya family close and your based family closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/keep-ya-family-close-and-your-based-family-closer/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [I come from a good family. I come from a faith-based family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-merriman/i-come-from-a-good-family-i-come-from-a-faith-based-family/) [Ryan Merriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-merriman/) > [Over the years I, personally, have had many people come and want me to do reality shows based around the family. That was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tish-cyrus/over-the-years-i-personally-have-had-many-people-come-and-want-me-to/) [Tish Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tish-cyrus/) > [Just based on my own family and background, I would not be in a film that would exploit or sensationalize anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-hearst/just-based-on-my-own-family-and-background-i-would-not-be-in-a-film/) [Lydia Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-hearst/) > [I grew up in a strong faith-based family. I think I have selected to return to those roots for strength, for my family, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-grew-up-in-a-strong-faith-based-family-i-think-i-have-selected-to/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [A lot of my material was based on my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristela-alonzo/a-lot-of-my-material-was-based-on-my-family/) [Cristela Alonzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristela-alonzo/) > [Most seasonings are based on family tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-puck/most-seasonings-are-based-on-family-tradition/) [Wolfgang Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-puck/) > [The Greek side of my family are actually all really fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/the-greek-side-of-my-family-are-actually-all-really-fair/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) > [My priority in life has always been family. I actually think children teach you to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-essex/my-priority-in-life-has-always-been-family-i-actually-think-children/) [David Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-essex/) > [“Family is the most important possession you can ever have, and don’t be mistaken as to what family actually is. Family are those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brent/family-is-the-most-important-possession-you-can-ever-have-and-don-t/) Robert Brent > [I live on the same street as my family, actually. I live across the road. I'm a real family person!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/i-live-on-the-same-street-as-my-family-actually-i-live-across-the/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [“My series characters are like family to me. They actually talk to me, telling me what to write and what not to write. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-kellerman/my-series-characters-are-like-family-to-me-they-actually-talk-to-me/) [Faye Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-kellerman/) > [But more than that, I wanted my wife and my family to see how I can actually play this game. They haven't seen me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duval/but-more-than-that-i-wanted-my-wife-and-my-family-to-see-how-i-can/) [David Duval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duval/) > [When I finally gave up any hope of doing anything representative of the American family, I actually seemed to have tapped into other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/when-i-finally-gave-up-any-hope-of-doing-anything-representative-of/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) ## More by Tracy Letts > ['Killer Joe' provides a lot of red meat for the theater. Pam MacKinnon is the perfect director to shepherd a group of actors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-provides-a-lot-of-red-meat-for-the-theater-pam-mackinnon/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > ['Killer Joe' was originally written in 1991 and first produced in '93 at the Next Theater's Lab - a 40 seat black box theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-was-originally-written-in-1991-and-first-produced-in-93-at/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“VIOLET: Oh, horseshit, horeshit, let's all say horseshit. Say horseshit, Bill. BILL: Horseshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/violet-oh-horseshit-horeshit-let-s-all-say-horseshit-say-horseshit/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [The way we tell our stories on stage is that we use spoken word to convey action, and in movies, we use visual images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/the-way-we-tell-our-stories-on-stage-is-that-we-use-spoken-word-to/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. Even with the success of 'August,' the people in town who come to our theater know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-m-just-a-chicago-actor-who-s-a-playwright-even-with-the-success-of/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I like Shakespeare, but I never know what the hell is going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-like-shakespeare-but-i-never-know-what-the-hell-is-going-on/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I don't know what it says about me that I have a greater affinity with the damaged. Probably nothing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-know-what-it-says-about-me-that-i-have-a-greater-affinity/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“You're thoughtful, Barbara, but you're not open. You're passionate, but you're hard. You're a good, decent, funny, wonderful woman, and I love you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/you-re-thoughtful-barbara-but-you-re-not-open-you-re-passionate-but/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Divorce is an embarrassing public admission of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/divorce-is-an-embarrassing-public-admission-of-defeat/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Time wounds all heals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/time-wounds-all-heals/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [One of the things you hope you've done as a playwright is create roles that can sustain different interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/one-of-the-things-you-hope-you-ve-done-as-a-playwright-is-create/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I never know what the hell I'm writing about, I never know what the next thing I'm writing about is, I never have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-never-know-what-the-hell-i-m-writing-about-i-never-know-what-the/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“We covered this around Year Three, Bill: that you're the Master of Space and Time and I'm a spastic Pomeranian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/we-covered-this-around-year-three-bill-that-you-re-the-master-of/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I grew up in a small town, in a small community, and I would not have had access to great plays when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-a-small-community-and-i-would-not-have/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and it doesn't work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never-pays-off-that-s-always-a-bad/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) [Explore all 56 Tracy Letts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, people see [August: Osage County], and I tell them that it's based on my family, and they assume that I came from some kind of horrible, hysterical circumstances. That's not true. My family, my nuclear family, was actually very close. My mom and dad were great parents and they encouraged a real rich, creative life for me and my brothers. 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