Jez Butterworth Quotes

Powerful Jez Butterworth for Daily Growth

About Jez Butterworth

Jez Butterworth, renowned British playwright and screenwriter, was born on February 3, 1969, in Bromley, London. Growing up in a family of educators, Butterworth developed an early interest in literature and the arts, fostered by his grandmother who nurtured his creative spirit. Butterworth's professional writing career began in the 1990s when he co-wrote "The London Cuckolds" with his brother, Tom Butterworth. However, it was his next work, "Mojo," that catapulted him into the limelight. The play, set in a 1950s Soho club, won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 1996 and established Butterworth as a promising talent in British theatre. In 2000, Butterworth wrote "The Night Heron," a play that explores themes of family, loyalty, and betrayal. It was followed by the critically acclaimed "Jerusalem" in 2009, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play and the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play. The play centers around Johnny 'Rooster' Byron, a nomadic, hedonistic character who lives on an ancient, crumbling sacred site. Butterworth's work in film includes co-writing the screenplay for "Fair Game" (2010) and "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014). His adaptations of his own plays for the screen, such as "Mojo" (1997) and "Jerusalem" (2015), have also been well-received. Butterworth's unique storytelling style, characterized by vivid language and a richly drawn cast of eccentric characters, has earned him a reputation as one of the most original voices in contemporary British theatre. His works continue to captivate audiences with their raw energy, dark humor, and exploration of the human condition.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a mystery and we are all just trying to solve it in our own way."

This quote emphasizes that life, with its complexities and unknowns, is an enigma that requires each individual to find their unique solution or interpretation. The "mystery" refers to the unexplained aspects of existence, love, death, and everything in between. We're all on a personal journey to unravel this mystery through our experiences, beliefs, and choices. The quote encourages us to embrace that process, recognize our own approach, and appreciate the diversity in how humanity seeks understanding.


"The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times."

This quote emphasizes resilience and determination. It suggests that setbacks, failures, or challenges (falling seven times) are an inevitable part of life. However, it also encourages us not to be deterred by these adversities but instead to rise above them eight times, signifying the importance of getting up, moving forward, and trying again. In essence, the quote underscores that perseverance is crucial for personal growth and success in life.


"Truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution."

Jez Butterworth's quote emphasizes the profound and complex nature of truth. It suggests that while truth can be a source of beauty, it also carries an inherent power that requires careful handling due to its potential for both positive and negative consequences. In other words, one should approach truth with respect, understanding, and discretion to avoid causing harm or disrupting harmony.


"You can't have everything in life, where would you put it?"

This quote suggests that our lives are limited in capacity, much like a physical space. We cannot possess every desirable thing or experience without compromise. Choices must be made and priorities set to create balance and meaning in our lives. The beauty lies in the journey of discovery and the wisdom we gain along the way as we navigate through life's complexities.


"In the vastness of the universe, one man alone on his path, carrying nothing but his dreams and the clothes he stands up in, is a force to be reckoned with."

This quote emphasizes the inherent power and potential within each individual, regardless of their circumstances or resources. The solitary figure, armed only with dreams and personal belongings, symbolizes the indomitable human spirit that can shape its destiny even amidst the vastness of the universe. It underscores the notion that one person, driven by ambition and perseverance, can make a significant impact on their own journey through life.


I understood very little about the significance of the Tony before, but I've learned that it makes a huge significance to whether or not your show is going to run.

- Jez Butterworth

Before, Very, Learned, Significance

My father got a trade union scholarship to Oxford; he lived and breathed politics; he was always watching current-affairs programmes. But I have a five-year-old child's attitude towards the news. Mainly, that it absolutely turns me off.

- Jez Butterworth

Father, Politics, Got, Five-Year-Old

I grew up in a household that was very left wing.

- Jez Butterworth

Left, Very, Household, Left Wing

Writing for 'Rooster' was a strange experience. It's funny, once you tap into a voice, words just start to flow. You know when you've hit a spirit or captured something.

- Jez Butterworth

Voice, Rooster, Tap, Flow

Looking back, I spent a lot of time sitting in pubs when I should have been perfecting my playwriting.

- Jez Butterworth

Looking Back, Been, Pubs, Perfecting

I do notice that I spend a lot of all my time steeped in different forms of myth, such as English folk music, for example, not really studying it necessarily, but just trying to experience it so I can recall it later.

- Jez Butterworth

Experience, Necessarily, Forms

When you have kids, you can choose to make them like you, or become like them, and if you've got something that's going to change every six days or six minutes, you can decide to be as awake and alive and learning as they are.

- Jez Butterworth

Alive, Like, Six, Six Days

If you can write a character who is attractive but morally reprehensible, then you've got a character. It's got to feel like people I know and it doesn't just become a bag of tricks.

- Jez Butterworth

Feel, Attractive, Like, Reprehensible

I actually have blissfully romantic views of marriage, because that has been my experience of it.

- Jez Butterworth

Romantic, Been, Actually, Views

I love Stewart Lee's 'Comedy Vehicle' on BBC2. The guy is a genius.

- Jez Butterworth

Love, Genius, I Love, Vehicle

I don't think that writers have any responsibility to be good neighbors to the audience.

- Jez Butterworth

Think, Audience, Neighbors

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