Actor Quote by Voltaire
““The scholar explained, very neatly, that a play might well have something interesting about it, but no literary value. He demonstrated, without wasting words, that a playwright had to do more than throw in some of the complications found in all novels, and perpetually attractive to theater audiences. Playwrights had to be novel without being bizarre, frequently sublime but never unnatural; they had to understand the human heart had let it speak for itself; they had to be great poets but never let any of their characters sound like poets; they had to perfectly understand language and use it purely, with continuous harmony, never disjointing it with forced rhyme.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On the Art of Drama, 1763
Voltaire argues drama must be original yet natural, poetic yet not overt, and must convey human truth without forced literary devices.
In simple terms: Plays need originality, naturalness, and true human feeling.
Key Takeaway
Balance novelty with authenticity.
Themes
literature
theatre
art
creativity
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- playwriting workshops
- theatre productions
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
dramatic structure
humanism
poetics
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a play both fresh and relatable?
- How to avoid forced poetic language?
A Different Perspective
Too much emphasis on novelty can alienate audiences.
