John Osborne - Look Back in Anger (1956)

12 Sourced Quotes

View all John Osborne Quotes
Reason and Progress, the old firm, is selling out! Everyone get out while the going's good. Those forgotten shares you had in the old traditions, the old beliefs are going up—up and up and up.

John Osborne
The whole point of a sacrifice is that you give up something you never really wanted in the first place... People are doing it around you all the time. They give up their careers, say – or their beliefs – or sex.

John Osborne
I must say it's pretty dreary living in the American Age—unless you're an American, of course.

John Osborne
Oh heavens, how I long for a little ordinary human enthusiasm. Just enthusiasm—that's all. I want to hear a warm, thrilling voice cry out Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I'm alive!

John Osborne
I don't think one 'comes down' from Jimmy's university. According to him, it's not even red brick, but white tile.

John Osborne
Anyone who's never watched somebody die is suffering from a pretty bad case of virginity.

John Osborne
It's no good trying to fool yourself about love. You can't fall into it like a soft job, without dirtying up your hands. It takes muscle and guts. And if you can't bear the thought of messing up your nice, clean soul, you'd better give up the whole idea of life and become a saint.

John Osborne
Why do I do this every Sunday? Even the book reviews seem to be the same as last week's. Different books – same reviews.

John Osborne
If you can't bear the thought of messing up your nice clean soul, you'd better give up the whole idea of life and become a saint. Because you'll never make it as a human being. It's either this world or the next.

John Osborne
There aren't any good, brave causes left. If the big bang does come, and we all get killed off, it won't be in aid of the old-fashioned, grand design. It'll just be for the Brave New-nothing-very-much-thank-you. About as pointless and inglorious as stepping in front of a bus.

John Osborne
Jimmy Porter: They spend their time mostly looking forward to the past.

John Osborne
We all of us waited for him to die. The family sent him a check every month, and hoped he'd get on with it quietly, without too much vulgar fuss.

John Osborne