Alan Bennett Quotes

A collection of quotes by Alan Bennett.

Alan Bennett is a renowned British playwright, screenwriter, and author, widely recognized for his distinctive voice and insightful works. Born on May 9, 1934, in Leeds, England, Bennett grew up in a working-class family. He attended Oxford University, where he studied history and performed with the university's comedy group, the Oxford Revue.

Bennett gained initial recognition as a comic writer and performer in the 1960s, collaborating with Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller, and Peter Cook on the satirical revue "Beyond the Fringe." This groundbreaking show catapulted him into the public eye and established his reputation for sharp wit and astute social observations.

Throughout his prolific career, Bennett has written numerous successful plays, including "The History Boys," "The Madness of George III," and "The Lady in the Van." Many of his works explore themes of class, sexuality, and the human condition, often laced with acerbic humor and poignant pathos.

In addition to his work for the stage, Bennett has also penned screenplays for critically acclaimed films, such as "The Madness of King George" (1994) and "The History Boys" (2006). He is equally recognized for his talents as an essayist and author, with works like "Writing Home" (1994) and "The Uncommon Reader" (2007) garnering widespread praise.

Over the years, Bennett's contributions to literature and the arts have been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including several Laurence Olivier Awards and a Tony Award. With his distinctive blend of wit, social commentary, and empathetic observation, Alan Bennett has rightfully earned his place as an iconic figure in British cultural and literary history.

Writer: What, above all, I'm primarily concerned with is the

Writer: What, above all, I'm primarily concerned with is the substance of life, the pith of reality. If I had to sum up my work, that's it, really. I'm taking the pith out of reality.

Alan Bennett

Life Work

You don't put your life into your books, you find it there.

You don't put your life into your books, you find it there.

Alan Bennett

Life Books

Kafka could never have written as he did had he lived in a h

Kafka could never have written as he did had he lived in a house. His writing is that of someone whose whole life was spent in apartments, with lifts, stairwells, muffled voices behind closed doors, and sounds through walls. Put him in a nice detached villa and he'd never have written a word.

Alan Bennett

Life Sound Door

Your whole life is on the other side of the glass. And there

Your whole life is on the other side of the glass. And there is nobody watching.

Alan Bennett

Life

I was an only child. I lost both my parents. By the time I w

I was an only child. I lost both my parents. By the time I was twenty I was bald. I'm homosexual. In the way of circumstances and background to transcend I had everything an artist could possibly want. It was practically a blueprint. I was programmed to be a novelist or a playwright. But I'm not.

Alan Bennett

Authors & Writing

Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have

Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have read and often thinks they have.

Alan Bennett

Books

Those who have known the famous are publicly debriefed of th

Those who have known the famous are publicly debriefed of their memories, knowing as their own dusk falls that they will only be remembered for remembering someone else.

Alan Bennett

Famous