John Osborne Quotes

A collection of quotes by John Osborne.

John Osborne (1929-1994) was an influential British playwright and screenwriter. He rose to prominence with his groundbreaking play "Look Back in Anger" (1956), which revolutionized British theater and marked the beginning of the "Angry Young Men" movement. Known for his gritty realism and social criticism, Osborne's works explored themes of class, disillusionment, and the decline of traditional values. He continued to write plays, screenplays, and novels throughout his career, earning numerous awards and accolades, including an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of "Tom Jones" (1963). Osborne's works remain highly regarded for their incisive social commentary and dramatic intensity.

Heaven be thanked, we live in such an age when no man dies f

Heaven be thanked, we live in such an age when no man dies for love except upon the stage.

Age Love Man

There's no such thing as failure - just waiting for success.

There's no such thing as failure - just waiting for success.

Failure

Here we are, we're alone in the universe, there's no God, it

Here we are, we're alone in the universe, there's no God, it just seems that it all began by something as simple as sunlight striking on a piece of rock. And here we are. We've only got ourselves. Somehow, we've just got to make a go of it. We've only ourselves.

Atheism

What are we hoping to get out of it, what's it all in aid of

What are we hoping to get out of it, what's it all in aid of -- is it really just for the sake of a gloved hand waving at you from a golden coach?

Results

The whole point of a sacrifice is that you give up something

The whole point of a sacrifice is that you give up something you never really wanted in the first place. People are doing it around you all the time. They give up their careers, say -- or their beliefs -- or sex.

Sacrifice

They spend their time looking forward to the past.

They spend their time looking forward to the past.

Past

Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.

Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.

Architecture

We all of us waited for him to die. The family sent him a ch

We all of us waited for him to die. The family sent him a check every month, and hoped he'd get on with it quietly, without too much vulgar fuss.

Death