Wallace Shawn Quotes

A collection of quotes by Wallace Shawn.

Wallace Shawn is an American actor, playwright, and essayist, best known for his distinctive voice and his roles in film and television. He was born on November 12, 1943, in New York City, USA.

Shawn comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts. His father, William Shawn, was the longtime editor of The New Yorker, and his mother, Cecille Shawn, was a journalist and playwright. After graduating from Harvard University, Shawn pursued a career in theater, establishing himself as a talented actor and writer.

In the realm of theater, Shawn is renowned for his provocative and thought-provoking plays. Some of his notable works include "The Designated Mourner," "Marie and Bruce," and "Evening at the Talk House." These plays often tackle social and political issues with a darkly humorous and intellectually stimulating approach.

Beyond theater, Shawn has also made significant contributions to film and television. He has appeared in numerous movies, including notable roles in films such as "My Dinner with Andre," "The Princess Bride," and "Clueless." Additionally, his voice acting talents can be heard in animated films like "Toy Story" and "The Incredibles."

In addition to his acting career, Shawn is a prolific essayist and political commentator. His writings often explore topics such as class struggle, capitalism, and the role of intellectuals in society.

With his distinct voice and a career spanning over several decades, Wallace Shawn has established himself as a highly respected figure in both the entertainment industry and the world of theater and literature.

But because we've all been readers, we know what the experie

But because we've all been readers, we know what the experience is like, and we hope that what certain writers have given to us, we will give to someone.

You can go to a play that is enjoyable because it's funny, a

You can go to a play that is enjoyable because it's funny, and then on the next night you can go to a play that's enjoyable because it's 'disturbing.'

We're in an emergency situation. The United States has becom

We're in an emergency situation. The United States has become an absolutely terrifying country, and I would hope that I could participate in some way in stopping the horror and the brutality.

In my early 20s, I studied history and politics, and I reall

In my early 20s, I studied history and politics, and I really thought that perhaps I would devote my life to that.

For some reason, people find me funny. It's quite hard to de

For some reason, people find me funny. It's quite hard to define why a thought is funny. It's even harder to define why a person would be funny. It's a word that I can't define at all. But whether I know quite what it is or not, I seem to be it.

I don't happen to have a sense of humor personally, so I don

I don't happen to have a sense of humor personally, so I don't know what's funny about a character... This happens to be a feature of my life generally.

Patriotism is considered to be an emotion a person ought to

Patriotism is considered to be an emotion a person ought to feel. But why? Why is it nobler to love your own country than to love someone else's?

I think the whole system of education would change if I were

I think the whole system of education would change if I were in charge and had the ability to make changes. I don't think I would keep Princeton exactly being Princeton.

I led the life of an intellectual up until a certain age. I

I led the life of an intellectual up until a certain age. I remember Freud's 'Interpretation of Dreams' was a big favorite when I was 11. It sounded so interesting. And it really was!

In terms of number of movies, I've been in an extraordinary

In terms of number of movies, I've been in an extraordinary amount. If you count only the minutes I'm onscreen, it's not so long.

I was making my living from a joke about my appearance that

I was making my living from a joke about my appearance that I didn't understand, and in a way still don't, because when I look in a mirror it doesn't seem funny to me.