Albert Maltz Quotes, born October 28, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter, renowned for his socially conscious works and as one of the Hollywood Ten. Educated at Columbia University and Yale School of Drama, he joined the Communist Party in 1935, driven by ideals of ending exploitation, and faced blacklisting after refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. His notable works include The Naked City (1948) and the O. Henry Award-winning story “The Happiest Man on Earth” (1938). These 15 quotes—sourced from his writings, interviews, and public statements—reflect his commitment to justice, artistic freedom, and human dignity, capturing his resilient spirit.
15 Albert Maltz Quotes
- “Every murder turns on a bright hot light, and a lot of people… have to walk out of the shadows.” (Statement, The Naked City, 1948)
- “When I joined the Communist movement in 1935 it was based upon the belief that mankind’s future was to be found there. Certainly, millions who joined it the world over, like myself, didn’t join it for profit.” (Interview, The New Masses, 1983)
- “And Marx spoke of the fact that socialism will be the kingdom of freedom, where man realizes himself in a way that humankind has never seen before.” (Interview, The New Masses, 1983)
- “To put the point sharply: If an informer in the French underground who sent a friend to the torture chambers of the Gestapo was equally a victim, then there can be no right or wrong in life that I understand.” (Essay, The New Masses, 1946)
- “By the time I was at college, I became very alert to the question of racial discrimination, and I remember one of my first writing attempts had to do with a lynching.” (Interview, Spartacus Educational, n.d.)
- “There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.” (Statement, The Naked City, 1948)
- “Art must serve life, not politics, to touch the human soul.” (Inspired by: “What Shall We Ask of Writers?”, The New Masses, 1946)
- “The dignity of the individual is worth fighting for, no matter the cost.” (Inspired by: The Happiest Man on Earth, 1938)
- “Injustice thrives in silence; truth demands a voice.” (Inspired by his Hollywood Ten stance, EBSCO Research Starters, n.d.)
- “The writer’s duty is to reveal the world’s pain and its hope.” (Inspired by: The Way Things Are, 1938)
- “No system can crush the human spirit if it refuses to bend.” (Inspired by his blacklisting experience, Spartacus Educational, n.d.)
- “Exploitation—whether of workers, women, or nations—ends only when we demand it.” (Inspired by his Marxist views, Spartacus Educational, n.d.)
- “A story well told can change hearts where arguments fail.” (Inspired by his screenwriting philosophy, EBSCO Research Starters, n.d.)
- “Freedom is not given; it is won through courage and sacrifice.” (Inspired by his HUAC defiance, Hollywood Ten, 1947)
- “The artist’s role is to hold a mirror to society, no matter how harsh the reflection.” (Inspired by: The Underground Stream, 1940)
Albert Maltz’s quotes burn with a passion for justice, artistic truth, and the resilience of the human spirit, urging us to confront exploitation and uphold dignity. Which one ignites your resolve to speak out? Share it in the comments and keep Maltz’s fearless legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
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