--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The composition of a tragedy requires…" description: "\"The composition of a tragedy requires testicles.\" — Voltaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png" --- # The composition of a tragedy requires testicles. ![“The composition of a tragedy requires testicles.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png) > “The composition of a tragedy requires testicles.” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tragedy demands courage and boldness, symbolized by testicles, to confront harsh truths. **In simple terms:** Tragedy needs bravery and boldness. Key Takeaway Embrace courage in dark narratives. Themes courage tragedy masculinity art Mood thoughtful philosophical Type literary analytical When to use this quote - theatre - literature - personal crisis Key Concepts heroic resolve existential risk Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking? - When does bravery become folly? A Different Perspective Boldness can be reckless if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Composition Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition-tragedy-3028179/) [Requires Testicles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires-testicles-3028178/) [Testicles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testicles/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragedy Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-requires-1719666/) ## Related quotes > [You see tragedy requires persons of heroic stature. It works on the principle of people being more than humansuper-humanand also being only too human.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/you-see-tragedy-requires-persons-of-heroic-stature-it-works-on-the/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Above all else, tragedy requires the finest appreciation by the writer of cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/above-all-else-tragedy-requires-the-finest-appreciation-by-the-writer/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [I know that deep inside you there's a humongous set of testicles just waiting to pop out. Let 'em pop, bro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/i-know-that-deep-inside-you-there-s-a-humongous-set-of-testicles-just/) [Danny Mcbride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [If it has tires or testicles, you're going to have trouble with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-j-furney/if-it-has-tires-or-testicles-you-re-going-to-have-trouble-with-it/) [Linda J. Furney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-j-furney/) > [I gave my father a heart attack. It was a practical joke. Come on, you push a guy's face in a cake he's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-gave-my-father-a-heart-attack-it-was-a-practical-joke-come-on-you/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“If a UFO did land, and invite me onboard, I'd love to have the balls to go in. So, I search the skies for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-jae-baeli/if-a-ufo-did-land-and-invite-me-onboard-i-d-love-to-have-the-balls-to/) [Kelli Jae Baeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-jae-baeli/) > [Most directors make films with their eyes; I make films with my testicles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/most-directors-make-films-with-their-eyes-i-make-films-with-my/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [What's up? I'm Harris. I'm 33 years young. I have my cousin Jason's truck for two more weeks. I have one testicle-whack a mole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-wittels/what-s-up-i-m-harris-i-m-33-years-young-i-have-my-cousin-jason-s/) [Harris Wittels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-wittels/) > [“Touch her, and I'll freeze your testicles off and put them in a jar. Understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/touch-her-and-i-ll-freeze-your-testicles-off-and-put-them-in-a-jar/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I hang onto my prejudices, they are the testicles of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/i-hang-onto-my-prejudices-they-are-the-testicles-of-my-mind/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-noticed-that-all-the-prayers-i-used-to-offer-to-god-and-all-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Who knew, that a man with 24 inch pythons would have half inch testicles!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rock/who-knew-that-a-man-with-24-inch-pythons-would-have-half-inch/) [The Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-rock/) > [My writing routine is everyday I put a record on, the same one since 20 years. Then I burn a stick of incense, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/my-writing-routine-is-everyday-i-put-a-record-on-the-same-one-since/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I take offense to that. (Pandora) And I take offense to my sudden need for a testicle retrieval. You know, I would have liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-take-offense-to-that-pandora-and-i-take-offense-to-my-sudden-need/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [If you lay a hand on me I'll ram your testicles so far up inside your abdomen it'll take a heart surgeon to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/if-you-lay-a-hand-on-me-i-ll-ram-your-testicles-so-far-up-inside-your/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Composition quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [At the risk of some oversimplification, if the skill composition of our work force meshed fully with the needs of our increasingly complex capital-stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/at-the-risk-of-some-oversimplification-if-the-skill-composition-of/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Writers and musicians know well the importance of extensive reading for successful writing or extensive listening for musical composition. Likewise, visual artists... understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laseau/writers-and-musicians-know-well-the-importance-of-extensive-reading/) [Paul Laseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laseau/) > [A composition is always more than the sum of its parts. In other words, a really good piece of music is more than itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/a-composition-is-always-more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts-in-other-words/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [When I start writing a new imaginary future, I have no idea what it is. The characters arrive first. They help me figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/when-i-start-writing-a-new-imaginary-future-i-have-no-idea-what-it-is/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Though I cannot claim to be a Christian in the sectarian sense, the example of Jesus suffering is a factor in the composition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/though-i-cannot-claim-to-be-a-christian-in-the-sectarian-sense-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as an element in the composition. You can't ignore it, but you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-always-look-at-money-not-as-a-motivating-factor-but-as-an-element/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [The unary Photograph has every reason to be banal, 'unity' of composition being the first rule of vulgar (and notably, of academic) rhetoric: 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/the-unary-photograph-has-every-reason-to-be-banal-unity-of/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Musical compositions, it should be remembered, do not inhabit certain countries, certain museums, like paintings and statues. The Mozart Quintet is not shut up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rabaud/musical-compositions-it-should-be-remembered-do-not-inhabit-certain/) [Henri Rabaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rabaud/) > [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/) [Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If you really want to be a good archaeologist, you have to understand ancient DNA; you have to understand chemical analysis to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-good-archaeologist-you-have-to-understand/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [Oil companies are radical because they're willing to alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/oil-companies-are-radical-because-they-re-willing-to-alter-the/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Composition is definitely what I'm born to do, and it came last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-friedman/composition-is-definitely-what-i-m-born-to-do-and-it-came-last/) [David Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-friedman/) [Browse all 766 Composition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The composition of a tragedy requires testicles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Voltaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-testicles/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Composition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-testicles/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/voltaire-173_composition_the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-te_1931962.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The composition of a tragedy requires testicles.” — Voltaire", "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": "Voltaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The composition of a tragedy requires...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-testicles/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-composition-of-a-tragedy-requires-testicles/#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 } } ] } ```