Quotes by Lillian Hellman

Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth. (Lillian Hellman)

Failure in the theater is more dramatic and uglier than any other form of writing. It costs so much, you feel so guilty. (Lillian Hellman)

God forgives those who invent what they need. (Lillian Hellman)

I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this years fashion. (Lillian Hellman)

I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this years fashions. (Lillian Hellman)

I like people who refuse to speak until they are ready to speak. (Lillian Hellman)

If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves. (Lillian Hellman)

If you believe, as the Greeks did, that man is at the mercy of the gods, then you write tragedy. The end is inevitable from the beginning. But if you believe that man can solve his own problems and is at nobodys mercy, then you will probably write melodrama. (Lillian Hellman)

It is a mark of many famous people that they cannot part with their brightest hour. (Lillian Hellman)

It it not good to see people who have been pretending strength all their lives lose it even for a minute. (Lillian Hellman)