As a kid, I loved 'Godot' because of the poetry and the humor and the strangeness, but then as you get older, it's much more resonant.

In this quote, Nathan Lane reflects on his evolving relationship with the play "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett. As a child, Lane was drawn to the play for its poetry, humor, and strangeness, highlighting the more surface-level aspects that could captivate a younger audience. The absurdity and the seemingly bizarre dialogue appealed to him as a source of entertainment and curiosity, making it an engaging experience during his younger years.

However, Lane notes that as he got older, the play became much more resonant. This shift in understanding signifies how the themes of existentialism, loneliness, and the human condition in "Godot" deepen as one matures. What might initially appear as strange or comical becomes more layered, as the play’s reflections on the absurdity of life and the waiting for meaning become clearer and more impactful with age and experience.

The mention of poetry and humor points to how Beckett’s writing is multifaceted, with moments of lightness amidst the darkness and existential despair. As Lane grew older, he was able to appreciate these qualities not just for their entertainment value but for how they express complex human emotions and the struggle for meaning in life. The humor, which may have once seemed merely absurd, is now seen as a profound part of the existential experience.

Ultimately, Lane’s quote reveals how the perspective on literature and art changes with age. While a young person might be drawn to the surface-level elements like humor and strangeness, a more mature view uncovers the deeper emotional and philosophical layers that make a work like "Godot" resonate on a much more profound level.