--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether he's doing great acting or not…" description: "\"Whether he's doing great acting or not, you're seeing somebody who is in the tradition of a great actor. What he does with it, that's something else, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/al-pacino-1656_acting_whether-he-s-doing-great-acting-or-not-y_1675354.jpg" --- # Whether he's doing great acting or not, you're seeing… ![“Whether he's doing great acting or not, you're seeing somebody who is in the tradition of a great actor. What he does with it, that's something else, but he's got it all. The talent, the instrument is there, that's why he has endured.” quote by Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/al-pacino-1656_acting_whether-he-s-doing-great-acting-or-not-y_1675354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/al-pacino-1656_acting_whether-he-s-doing-great-acting-or-not-y_1675354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/al-pacino-1656_acting_whether-he-s-doing-great-acting-or-not-y_1675354.jpg) > “Whether he's doing great acting or not, you're seeing somebody who is in the tradition of a great actor. What he does with it, that's something else, but he's got it all. The talent, the instrument is there, that's why he has endured.” [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that innate talent and presence define a great actor, beyond specific performances. **In simple terms:** Talent and presence define greatness. Key Takeaway Cultivate talent and presence. Themes talent presence acting legacy Mood reflective analytical Type commentary observational When to use this quote - acting workshops - career retrospectives - talent scouting Key Concepts Performance art craft mastery career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture your innate talents? - What role does opportunity play in lasting success? A Different Perspective Talent alone may not guarantee success without opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-seeing-902860/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-does-442477/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Great Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-acting-463634/) [Great Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-actor-371354/) [Great actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-actors/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [I do think it's a very good way to describe what a great actor does. You're both acknowledging the authority of the director and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/i-do-think-it-s-a-very-good-way-to-describe-what-a-great-actor-does/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [I want to be a great actor someday, and I've decided there's no use philosophizing; the only way is to work at my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-want-to-be-a-great-actor-someday-and-i-ve-decided-there-s-no-use/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I always go for just really, hopefully, great writing and great acting, being in the company of great actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-malcomson/i-always-go-for-just-really-hopefully-great-writing-and-great-acting/) [Paula Malcomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-malcomson/) > [The essence of acting is seeing the world from another point of view. That's what acting is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/the-essence-of-acting-is-seeing-the-world-from-another-point-of-view/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I knew that my newfound activism and feminism was going to improve my acting, because I was seeing things not just in very narrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-knew-that-my-newfound-activism-and-feminism-was-going-to-improve-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [When they say I'm a great actor, I close my ears because it's not good for you to think that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/when-they-say-i-m-a-great-actor-i-close-my-ears-because-it-s-not-good/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [ Bill \[Condon\] is such a great actor's director. He cares about what you're thinking. And, he's very open. Even though he was pressed for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/bill-condon-is-such-a-great-actor-s-director-he-cares-about-what-you/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [Robert DeNiro, who may be the greatest living actor, usually acts in a way which is very stone-faced, like Steve McQueen. For example, Steve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/robert-deniro-who-may-be-the-greatest-living-actor-usually-acts-in-a/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [The great thing about Eminem is, he's just hysterical. You forget, people like Eminem because he is riotously funny. And he's a great actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/the-great-thing-about-eminem-is-he-s-just-hysterical-you-forget/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I'm happiest when I'm acting, and I've dedicated my life to it. Still, as much as I love acting, at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ealy/i-m-happiest-when-i-m-acting-and-i-ve-dedicated-my-life-to-it-still/) [Michael Ealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ealy/) > [You never know where you're going to find a great actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/you-never-know-where-you-re-going-to-find-a-great-actor/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [What I hope in my ideal world is that with each project, I'll either get to work with a really great script that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/what-i-hope-in-my-ideal-world-is-that-with-each-project-i-ll-either/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [Bob Duvall is a great actor because each time out, he creates a whole, complete character. You have the feeling that you're not seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/bob-duvall-is-a-great-actor-because-each-time-out-he-creates-a-whole/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I watched a film with a very famous, great, great actor, I won't mention his name because everyone loves his memory, but I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-watched-a-film-with-a-very-famous-great-great-actor-i-won-t-mention/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [ I'm a big fan of \[Frank\] Sinatra, he was the best at what he did. The last thing I do is model my career… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-m-a-big-fan-of-frank-sinatra-he-was-the-best-at-what-he-did-the/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) ## More by Al Pacino > [Take a look at Israel's history and you would know who the terrorist is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/take-a-look-at-israel-s-history-and-you-would-know-who-the-terrorist/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Failure's relative. I've always felt, even early on, if I lose the freedom to fail, something's not right about that. It's how you treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/failure-s-relative-i-ve-always-felt-even-early-on-if-i-lose-the/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Who speaks of triumph? To endure is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/who-speaks-of-triumph-to-endure-is-everything/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Opinions I have about anything are in my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/opinions-i-have-about-anything-are-in-my-personal-life/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [The fruit falls off the tree. You don't shake it off before it's ready to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/the-fruit-falls-off-the-tree-you-don-t-shake-it-off-before-it-s-ready/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [“Attica! Attica! Attica!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/attica-attica-attica/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I always had this thing, when I was younger especially, I didn't want to do movies that much. I found they took a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-always-had-this-thing-when-i-was-younger-especially-i-didn-t-want/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [There has been a lot of self-doubt and unwelcome events in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/there-has-been-a-lot-of-self-doubt-and-unwelcome-events-in-my-life/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [ I think what you see \[in Salome the play backstage\] is an artist having this fit of temperament. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-think-what-you-see-in-salome-the-play-backstage-is-an-artist-having/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [ When \[Julia Marie Pacino\] was 5 or 6 years old, we were in an Italian restaurant, and these people came by the table and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/when-julia-marie-pacino-was-5-or-6-years-old-we-were-in-an-italian/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I went to Performing Arts because that was the only school that would accept me. My scholastic level was not very high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-went-to-performing-arts-because-that-was-the-only-school-that-would/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [My first language was shy. Its only by having been thrust into the limelight that I have learned to cope with my shyness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/my-first-language-was-shy-its-only-by-having-been-thrust-into-the/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [When I was younger, there was the sex thing. That's par for the course.When you're a movie star, it went with it. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/when-i-was-younger-there-was-the-sex-thing-that-s-par-for-the-course/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [An actor with too much money will usually find a way to get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/an-actor-with-too-much-money-will-usually-find-a-way-to-get-rid-of-it/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I'm an actor, not a star. Stars are people who live in Hollywood and have heart-shaped swimming pools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-m-an-actor-not-a-star-stars-are-people-who-live-in-hollywood-and/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) [Explore all 219 Al Pacino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether he's doing great acting or not, you're seeing somebody who is in the tradition of a great actor. What he does with it, that's something else, but he's got it all. 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