"What we face may reflect us, but what we do defines us."
This quote by Robert Wilson suggests that our experiences or challenges (what we face) can reveal certain aspects about our character or personality, but it's our actions, specifically how we respond to those situations (what we do), that truly defines who we are as individuals. In other words, while circumstances may reflect something about us, it is the choices and behavior that follow that ultimately shape our identity.
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."
This quote suggests that the most effective way to bring about change is by constructively focusing our efforts on building something new, rather than expending our energies in futile attempts to eradicate or fight against the old status quo. In essence, it encourages a proactive approach towards transformation, highlighting the power of positive action and creativity.
"To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization."
This quote by Robert Wilson suggests that one key measure of a civilized society is its ability to engage in intelligent activities during free time, or leisure. In other words, it's not just about having spare time but rather how we use it to further develop ourselves and our understanding of the world. This interpretation emphasizes the importance of continued learning, intellectual pursuits, and personal growth as part of a mature and cultured society.
"He who knows when he is unable is a wise man; his repairer will find him already half mended."
The quote signifies wisdom in acknowledging one's limitations. It suggests that recognizing your own incapability or need for help makes you wise, as it allows others to step in and assist, thus making the problem-solving process easier. In essence, being aware of when to seek assistance is a strength rather than a weakness.
"The better we learn to understand one another, the less we have to tolerate each other."
This quote suggests that as our understanding of others deepens, the need for tolerance diminishes because we begin to appreciate and accept their differences rather than viewing them as something to be tolerated. Essentially, it implies that empathy and mutual comprehension foster harmony and respect among individuals, reducing the necessity for tolerance as a negative concession.
I had dinner with Marlene Dietrich in the early 1970s. I went to pick her up and she had someone with her, a dreadful man. He was writing a book about her, and he said to her, 'You're so cold when you perform,' and she said, 'You didn't listen to the voice.' She said the difficulty was to place the voice with the face.
- Robert Wilson
Some years ago, I was invited to speak in Houston, Texas. They said I was a founder of 'postmodern theatre'. So I said to my office, 'This is ridiculous for me to go and speak about postmodern theatre when I don't know what it means, but... they're paying me a lot of money, so I'll go.'
- Robert Wilson
At the end of the 1960s, I was part of the downtown theatrical movement in New York that was making work in alleyways, garages, gyms, churches, non-traditional spaces. The idea was to get away from the illusion of the conventional theatre. But then I thought, what's wrong with illusion?
- Robert Wilson
Usually in theater, the visual repeats the verbal. The visual dwindles into decoration. But I think with my eyes. For me, the visual is not an afterthought, not an illustration of the text. If it says the same thing as the words, why look? The visual must be so compelling that a deaf man would sit though the performance fascinated.
- Robert Wilson
When I was 12 years old, I went to Natchitoches, La.; it was summer vacation with my family. We visited a plantation, Melrose. And I met an Afro-American woman who was a painter. I already had some idea of what I wanted to do in life, and one of the things that interested me was painting.
- Robert Wilson
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