Clifford Odets > Quotes

“If they tell you that she died of sleeping pills you must know that she died of a wasting grief, of a slow bleeding at the soul.”
― Clifford Odets

“Any idiot can face a crisis—it’s day to day living that wears you out.”
― Clifford Odets

“It seems to happen sudden—a fighter gets good. He gets easy and graceful. He learns how to save himself—no energy wasted... he slips and slides— he travels with the punch. . . . Oh, sure, I like the way you're shaping up.”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy

“No, there's more to life than this. . .That was the past, but there is a future.

Now we know. We dare to understand. Truly. Truly, the past was a dream. But this, this is real. To know from this that something must be done, that is real.

We searched. We were confused, but we searched. And now the search has ended, for the truth has found us. For the first time in our lives, for the first time, our house has a real foundation . . .


Everywhere now, men are rising from their sleep. Men-- men are understanding the bitter, black total of their lives. Their whispers are growing to shouts. They become an ocean of understanding. No man fights alone.

Oh, if you could see with me the greatness of men. I tremble like a bride to see the time when they'll use it. No, my dear, we must have one regret-- that life is so short, that we must die so soon.

Yes, I-- I want to see that new world. I want to kiss all those future men and women. What's all this talk about bankruptcies, failures, hatreds? They won't know what that means.

I tell you, the whole world is for men to possess. Heartbreak and terror are not the heritage of mankind. The world is beautiful. No fruit tree wears a lock and key. Men will sing at their work, men will love. Oh, darling, the world is in its morning. And no man fights alone.

Let's have air. Open the windows.

--From Paradise Lost”
― Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty and Other Plays

“You 're too sufficient by yourself...too inside yourself”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy

“You make me feel too human, Joe. All I want is peace and quiet, not love. I'm a tired old lady, Joe, and I don't mind being what you call "half dead." In fact it's what I like. The twice I was in love I took an awful beating and I don't want it again! I want you to stop it! Don't devil me, Joe. I beg you, don't devil me...”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy

“Christ, cut us up to little pieces. We'll die for what is right! Put fruit trees where our ashes are!”
― Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty

“But I did it! That's the thing—I did it! What will my father say when he hears I murdered a man? Lorna, I see what I did. I murdered myself, too! I've been running around in circles. Now I'm smashed!”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy

“You are only lost if you knew where you were going.”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy

“What do you want from me? Revenge? Sorry—we're all out of revenge today!”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy

“You make me feel too human, Joe. All I want is peace and quiet, not love. I'm a tired old lady, Joe, and I don't mind being what you call "half dead." In fact it's what I like. The twice I was in love I took an awful beating and I don't want it again! I want you to stop it Don't devil me, Joe. I beg you, don't devil me...”
― Clifford Odets

“I feel like the wrath of God. You like that boy, don't you? I love him, Tom.”
― Clifford Odets, Golden Boy