--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero." description: "\"Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero.\" — Akira Kurosawa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png" --- # Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero. ![“Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero.” quote by Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png) > “Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero.” [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without cinema, the speaker feels empty, implying that movies are essential to their identity or purpose. **In simple terms:** No movies, no self. Key Takeaway Art defines self. Themes art identity purpose Mood passionate melancholic Type self‑reflective artistic When to use this quote - creative professions - fan culture - personal branding Key Concepts existentialism cultural dependence Practical Applications - integrate artistic practice - reflect on non‑artistic sources of meaning Questions to Reflect On - What other passions could fill the void? - How does reliance on art affect resilience? A Different Perspective Identity can be broader than a single medium; overreliance may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Subtract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtract/) ## Related quotes > [If I were to write anything at all, it would turn out to be nothing but talk about movies. In other words, take 'myself,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/if-i-were-to-write-anything-at-all-it-would-turn-out-to-be-nothing/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [I have no hesitation doing children's movies. Zero. And I don't even have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-have-no-hesitation-doing-children-s-movies-zero-and-i-don-t-even/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [First women subtract from their age, then they divide it, and then they extract its square root.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-women-subtract-from-their-age-then-they-divide-it-and-then-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always use given and simple elements, I don't want to add or subtract anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-always-use-given-and-simple-elements-i-don-t-want-to-add-or/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [“Once you have learned how to subtract the gross form of ‘my’, subtract the subtle form of ‘my’. Thereafter, subtract the subtler and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/once-you-have-learned-how-to-subtract-the-gross-form-of-my-subtract/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Every time you subtract negative from your life, you make room for more positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-you-subtract-negative-from-your-life-you-make-room-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lets do math...add the bed subtract the clothes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lets-do-math-add-the-bed-subtract-the-clothes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I use to count the days with you, but now I just subtract them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/i-use-to-count-the-days-with-you-but-now-i-just-subtract-them/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [The more you subtract, the more you add,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kilbourne/the-more-you-subtract-the-more-you-add/) [Jean Kilbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kilbourne/) > [When I - when I was going to school, I knew how to read, write, add and subtract and I - I basically said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/when-i-when-i-was-going-to-school-i-knew-how-to-read-write-add-and/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [OK think of a number. Add 12 to the number. Subtract 2. Divide that number by 5. Add 20. Did you get 12? Neither did I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-carter/ok-think-of-a-number-add-12-to-the-number-subtract-2-divide-that/) Paige Carter > [These are big trade-offs for a simple piece of cake - add five hundred calories, subtract well-being, allure, and self-esteem - and the feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/these-are-big-trade-offs-for-a-simple-piece-of-cake-add-five-hundred/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [If you try to add to God's salvation you subtract. If you try to add to God's salvation you subtract. If you try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-try-to-add-to-god-s-salvation-you-subtract-if-you-try-to-add/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Sex is like math: You add the bed, subtract the clothes, divide the legs and pray you don't multiply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sex-is-like-math-you-add-the-bed-subtract-the-clothes-divide-the-legs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) ## More by Akira Kurosawa > [The truth is in the mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/the-truth-is-in-the-mystery/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [The Japanese see self-assertion as immoral and self- sacrifice as the sensible course to take in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/the-japanese-see-self-assertion-as-immoral-and-self-sacrifice-as-the/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [“IT IS QUITE ENOUGH IF A HUMAN BEING HAS BUT ONE FIELD WHERE HE OR SHE IS STRONG. IF A HUMAN BEING WERE STRONG…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/it-is-quite-enough-if-a-human-being-has-but-one-field-where-he-or-she/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [I like unformed characters. This may be because, no matter how old I get, I am still unformed myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/i-like-unformed-characters-this-may-be-because-no-matter-how-old-i/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/human-beings-are-unable-to-be-honest-with-themselves-about-themselves/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [If you look at everything straight on, there is nothing to be afraid of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/if-you-look-at-everything-straight-on-there-is-nothing-to-be-afraid-of/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [It is the power of memory that gives rise to the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/it-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [I suppose all of my films have a common theme. If I think about it, though, the only theme I can think of is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/i-suppose-all-of-my-films-have-a-common-theme-if-i-think-about-it/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [During the shooting of a scene the director’s eye has to catch even the minutest detail. But this does not mean glaring concentratedly at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/during-the-shooting-of-a-scene-the-director-s-eye-has-to-catch-even/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Of all my films, people wrote to me most about this one... ...I had wanted to make The Idiot long before Rashomon. 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There’s nothing complicated about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/a-truly-good-movie-is-enjoyable-too-there-s-nothing-complicated-about/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Man is a genius when he is dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/man-is-a-genius-when-he-is-dreaming/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [ “There is nothing that says more about its creator than the work itself. \[Pg.189\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/there-is-nothing-that-says-more-about-its-creator-than-the-work/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) [Explore all 45 Akira Kurosawa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. 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I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Akira Kurosawa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/akira-kurosawa-14889_cinema_take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero_124764.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero.” — Akira Kurosawa", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Akira Kurosawa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Take me, subtract movies, and you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```