Tragedy massages the human ego even as comedy deflates it. ... Tragedy pits us against large foes and the trip wire is our own character. ... In comedy we fall afoul of one another. Comedy depends on social life, on our behavior in groups. In tragedy you can observe one human against the gods. In comedy it's one human versus other humans and often one man (or woman if I'm writing it) against her own worst impulses.
Rita Mae BrownIt really doesn't take brains to be a politician as much as it takes stomach. Both would be nice, but in America we have accepted diminishing returns in this arena.
Rita Mae BrownIn art as in politics we must deal with people as they are not as we wish them to be. Only by working with the real can you get closer to the ideal.
Rita Mae BrownMothers have a habit of proving right except you don't find that out until you're the age your mother was when she gave you the advice.
Rita Mae Brown