Alexandre Dumas fils

I realize that the prime requisites of a play are laughter, tears, passion, emotion, interest, curiosity - to leave life in the cloakroom. But I maintain that, if by means of all these ingredients I can exercise some influence over society - if, for example, while I satirize and describe and dramatize adultery I can find means to force people to discuss the problem, and the lawmakers to revise the law - I shall have done more than my part as a poet. I shall have done my duty as a man. Show less «