--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great writers like Chekhov know that…" description: "\"The great writers like Chekhov know that tragedy and laughter are just a few steps from each other ... but it took me a long time as an actress to lear..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/vanessa-redgrave-12176_actresses_the-great-writers-like-chekhov-know-that_1541325.jpg" --- # The great writers like Chekhov know that tragedy and… ![“The great writers like Chekhov know that tragedy and laughter are just a few steps from each other ... but it took me a long time as an actress to learn that. Actually Arthur Miller taught me in the Seventies. We were making a CBS TV drama of his play Playing for Time about Auschwitz but the…” quote by Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/vanessa-redgrave-12176_actresses_the-great-writers-like-chekhov-know-that_1541325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/vanessa-redgrave-12176_actresses_the-great-writers-like-chekhov-know-that_1541325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/vanessa-redgrave-12176_actresses_the-great-writers-like-chekhov-know-that_1541325.jpg) > “The great writers like Chekhov know that tragedy and laughter are just a few steps from each other ... but it took me a long time as an actress to learn that. Actually Arthur Miller taught me in the Seventies. We were making a CBS TV drama of his play Playing for Time about Auschwitz but the characters were laughing. It was a big insight for me to realise that that was what's called gallows humour, in this case worse than the gallows, that humans need to laugh and make jokes in order to survive.” [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tragedy and humor are closely linked; humor serves as a coping mechanism in extreme suffering. **In simple terms:** Laughter helps survive hardship. Key Takeaway Use humor to cope with adversity. Themes humor tragedy survival artistic insight Mood empathetic thoughtful Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - war trauma - theatre - personal loss - stress relief Key Concepts gallows humor psychology catharsis Questions to Reflect On - When is humor appropriate in suffering? - How does laughter change perception of trauma? A Different Perspective Humor may trivialize serious pain if misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Auschwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writers/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Seventies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventies/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I come from the theatre where there are no boundaries to the style you're doing; you're doing Molière, then you're doing Chekhov and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/i-come-from-the-theatre-where-there-are-no-boundaries-to-the-style/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“These people know the reality and laugh at it. Such laughter has little concern with what is funny. It is often bitter and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elenore-smith-bowen/these-people-know-the-reality-and-laugh-at-it-such-laughter-has/) Elenore Smith Bowen > [“Even amidst tragedy there is laughter, sometimes farce. The degree of farce depends on who is running the tragedy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-prokop/even-amidst-tragedy-there-is-laughter-sometimes-farce-the-degree-of/) [Daniel Prokop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-prokop/) > [Beyond the deepest tragedy there is laughter; even in the midst of tragedy there is always the possibility for laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-close/beyond-the-deepest-tragedy-there-is-laughter-even-in-the-midst-of/) [Del Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-close/) > [And then, all of a sudden, you're like, all that's great and fun, but Arthur Miller's in my dressing room. This is the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/and-then-all-of-a-sudden-you-re-like-all-that-s-great-and-fun-but/) [Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/) > [1 - 2 A child's spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after it; you must stand still, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/1-2-a-child-s-spirit-is-like-a-child-you-can-never-catch-it-by/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“IT HAS TO DO WITH ALL OF US,” said Owen Meany, when I called him that night. “SHE WAS JUST LIKE OUR WHOLE COUNTRY—NOT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-has-to-do-with-all-of-us-said-owen-meany-when-i-called-him-that/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Arthur Miller said one of my favorite lines ever, that he had the mother say to her two sons about a very unstable father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/arthur-miller-said-one-of-my-favorite-lines-ever-that-he-had-the/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I take pictures, and they are there for the taking. I'll tell you a quote that I have always thought about. Arthur Miller said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/i-take-pictures-and-they-are-there-for-the-taking-i-ll-tell-you-a/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [“So I close this long reflection on what I hope is a not-too-quaveringly semi-Semitic note. When I am at home, I will only enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/so-i-close-this-long-reflection-on-what-i-hope-is-a-not-too/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [1 - 2 If I see an ending, I can work backward. Arthur Miller In the theater, while you recognized that you were looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/1-2-if-i-see-an-ending-i-can-work-backward-arthur-miller-in-the/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [What does Macbeth want? What does Shakespeare want? What does Othello want? What does James want? What does Arthur Miller want when he wrote?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/what-does-macbeth-want-what-does-shakespeare-want-what-does-othello/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [Some playwrights are obvious influences on younger writers. Arthur Miller (realistic, politically engaged dramas) and Christopher Durang (satirical dark comedies) are examples. But August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-sullivan/some-playwrights-are-obvious-influences-on-younger-writers-arthur/) Daniel J. Sullivan > [Now that Marilyn Monroe is kosher, Arthur Miller can eat her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/now-that-marilyn-monroe-is-kosher-arthur-miller-can-eat-her/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [Arthur Miller once payed me a great compliment saying that my plays were 'necessary.' I will go one step further and say that Arthur's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/arthur-miller-once-payed-me-a-great-compliment-saying-that-my-plays/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## More by Vanessa Redgrave > [An awful lot of filmmaking and playmaking is taken over by marketers and publicists, who set about to tell people what to think. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/an-awful-lot-of-filmmaking-and-playmaking-is-taken-over-by-marketers/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Theater and poetry were what helped people stay alive and want to go on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/theater-and-poetry-were-what-helped-people-stay-alive-and-want-to-go/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [I thought my story, my experiences as a 2-year-old 'evacuee' from London at the outset of the war, could be important. What happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-thought-my-story-my-experiences-as-a-2-year-old-evacuee-from-london/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Principles aren't something you hear much from politicians these days. Have you noticed? Right across the board, leaders, whatever the political coloring, avoid talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/principles-aren-t-something-you-hear-much-from-politicians-these-days/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Shakespeare lets us see real people undergoing real processes, with real feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/shakespeare-lets-us-see-real-people-undergoing-real-processes-with/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [The stage is actor's country. You have to get your passport stamped every so often or they take away your citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/the-stage-is-actor-s-country-you-have-to-get-your-passport-stamped/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Ask the right questions if you're to find the right answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/ask-the-right-questions-if-you-re-to-find-the-right-answers/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Ask the right questions if you're going to find the right answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/ask-the-right-questions-if-you-re-going-to-find-the-right-answers/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [I think the theatre is as essential to civilization as safe, pure water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-think-the-theatre-is-as-essential-to-civilization-as-safe-pure-water/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [We are child-bearers primarily, and we are the weaker sex, and once we've given birth to our children, our life is by necessity bound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/we-are-child-bearers-primarily-and-we-are-the-weaker-sex-and-once-we/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [I give myself to my parts as to a lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-give-myself-to-my-parts-as-to-a-lover/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [The notion of 'building a career' had never been heard or dreamed of when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/the-notion-of-building-a-career-had-never-been-heard-or-dreamed-of/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [I've identified all my life with refugees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-ve-identified-all-my-life-with-refugees/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [I got my first film break because the director Karel Reisz saw me at a small theater party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-got-my-first-film-break-because-the-director-karel-reisz-saw-me-at/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [A deeper truth the camera can see can be more surprising than even the director imagined it could be. That's a wonderful thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/a-deeper-truth-the-camera-can-see-can-be-more-surprising-than-even/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) [Explore all 56 Vanessa Redgrave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) ## More Actresses quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. 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