Christopher Hampton > Quotes

“The only unbearable thing is that nothing is unbearable.”
― Christopher Hampton, Total Eclipse

“What is friendship, if not a chance to indulge in mutual self-pity?”
― Christopher Hampton, Christopher Hampton Plays 1: Total Eclipse; The Philanthropist; Savages; Treats

“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs.”
― Christopher Hampton

“Rimbaud: Well, as you know, I started life as a self-appointed visionary, and creator of a new literature. But as time wore on, and it took me longer and longer to write less and less, and I looked back at some of the absurdities of my earlier work, at some of the things I thought were so good when I wrote them, I saw it was pointless to go on. The world is too old, there’s nothing new, it’s all been said.”
― Christopher Hampton, Total Eclipse

“Sigmund Freud: You know your paper led to one of the more stimulating discussions we’ve ever had at our psychoanalysis society. Do you really think the sexual drive is a demonic and destructive force?
Sabina Spielrein: Yes, at the same time as being a creative force. In the sense that it can produce out of the destruction of two individualities a new being, but the individual must always overcome resistance because of the self annihilating nature of the sexual act.”
― Christopher Hampton

“Man seeks oblivion .”
― Christopher Hampton

“Men enjoy the happiness they feel. We can only enjoy the happiness we give.”
― Christopher Hampton, Les Liaisons Dangereuses

“Rimbaud Do you love her?
Verlaine Yes, I suppose so.
Rimbaud Have you got anything in common with her?
Verlaine No.
Rimbaud Is she intelligent?
Verlaine No.
Rimbaud Does she understand you?
Verlaine No.
Rimbaud So the only thing she can give you is sex?”
― Christopher Hampton, Total Eclipse

“I’m a man of no convictions. At least, I think I am.”
― Christopher Hampton