I think all of my writing life led up to the writing of 'The Train Driver' because it deals with my own inherited blindness and guilt and all of what being a white South African in South Africa during those apartheid years meant. Athol Fugard africaafricanapartheid share on social
For most of my writing life, I've refused to allow myself to believe that writing was a significant form of action. I always felt very uneasy about the fact that all I did was write in a situation as desperate as apartheid South Africa. Whether I was correct or not is a different issue. Athol Fugard actionafricaapartheid share on social
My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't really have a function as a useful artist in that anymore. Athol Fugard anymoreapartheidartist Change image and share on social
I've always sensed for myself an obligation to bear witness to my time. Athol Fugard bearhaveobligation Change image and share on social
With so many young playwrights, the true craft of writing for living voices is not what it used to be. They write for attention spans of 10 minutes between adverts. Athol Fugard advertattentioncraft Change image and share on social
In South Africa, success never presented the problems that it presents in New York. In New York, if you happen to be the flavor of the month, a lot of nonsense comes with it into your life. Athol Fugard africaflavorhappen Change image and share on social
You can't legislate into existence an act of forgiveness and a true confession; those are mysteries of the human heart, and they occur between one individual and another individual, not a panel of judges sitting asking questions, trying to test your truth. Athol Fugard actconfessionexistence share on social
For you in the West to hear the phrase 'All men are created equal' is to draw a yawn. For us, it's a miracle. We're starting out at rock bottom, man. But South Africa does have soul. Athol Fugard africabottomcreate Change image and share on social
Night-time is when I brainstorm; last thing, when the family's asleep and I'm alone, I think about the next day's writing and plan a strategy for my assault on the blank page. Athol Fugard asleepassaultblank Change image and share on social
Every boy needs a role model that he can be proud of and talk about to the other kids in the playground. Athol Fugard boykidmodel Change image and share on social