"I was not a collective person or a bohemian; I was an elitist"

Elia Kazan's quote speaks to his individualistic nature and his belief in the value of individual excellence. He was not an individual who was content to mix in with the crowd or to be part of a bigger group. Rather, he was an elitist, somebody who thought in the significance of striving for quality and accomplishing success through hard work and devotion. He was not thinking about the idea of collective action or the bohemian way of life, however rather in the pursuit of private excellence. He believed that the only method to truly achieve success was to pursue quality in one's own life and to be the very best variation of oneself. He was not interested in the concept of conformity or mediocrity, however rather in the pursuit of excellence and achievement.