I've never really worked out this thought, and I don't know if I'm really conscious of it, but I can see there's an attraction about writing about a period that's over and isn't going to change colour while you look at it. Tom Stoppard attractionchangecolour share on social
Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had, not on rewriting but simply on staging. Tom Stoppard directorgoodidea Change image and share on social
Very often in Chekhov, where he exhibits a little bit of human behavior that you recognize as true, you give a little laugh. It's like a reflex. Tom Stoppard behaviorbitechekhov Change image and share on social
In the period before the arrival of Mrs. Thatcher, politics had been in such low esteem. Everything was so hedged, so mealy-mouthed. Then along came this woman who seemed to have no manners at all and said exactly what she thought. Everyone's eyes were popping and their jaws were dropping, and I really enjoyed that. Tom Stoppard arrivaldropenjoy share on social
After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line. Tom Stoppard ashtrayassociateeye Change image and share on social
Beauty is desired in order that it may be befouled; not for its own sake, but for the joy brought by the certainty of profaning it. Tom Stoppard beautybefoulbring Change image and share on social
A movie camera is like having someone you have a crush on watching you from afar - you pretend it's not there. Tom Stoppard afarcameracrush Change image and share on social
I never had any frustration about writing uncredited. I always felt that the satisfaction of doing it was in the doing of it, really, and getting recognised by the small number of people that know what you did. Tom Stoppard feltfrustrationnumb share on social
We give advice by the bucket, but take it by the grain. Tom Stoppard advicebucketgive Change image and share on social
The idea that anybody might be allowed to use their common sense when clearly no harm is being done is part of history now. Tom Stoppard allowcommonharm Change image and share on social