--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The kindest thing a director can do is…" description: "\"The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes at everything.\" — Alexander Payne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png" --- # The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes… ![“The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes at everything.” quote by Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png) > “The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes at everything.” [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes a director’s greatest act is to observe everything openly. **In simple terms:** Directors should watch the world with open eyes. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and observation. Themes creativity observation leadership Mood inspired thoughtful Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - film sets - documentary work - teaching Key Concepts visual storytelling mindful awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does openness improve directing? - When does observation become indecision? A Different Perspective Over‑observation can hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Director Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-look-1770672/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Kindest Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindest-thing-1371664/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-open-2291099/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open/) [Open eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-eyes/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-director-369515/) ## Related quotes > [“We often think that there is just one way to look at things - the way we always have. In fact, there are an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-anderson/we-often-think-that-there-is-just-one-way-to-look-at-things-the-way/) [Jeffrey R. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-anderson/) > [The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/the-most-important-thing-for-a-director-is-being-able-to-communicate/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate. When you communicate comfortably, regardless of what you're saying, it can always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/the-most-important-thing-for-a-director-is-being-able-to-communicate-2/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Sometimes I get insecure about being a real director because I look at the great directors, and they have such command. But maybe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/sometimes-i-get-insecure-about-being-a-real-director-because-i-look/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I'm not a normal director. You can't look at me that way. What's kept me alive is my technical skill at doing other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-m-not-a-normal-director-you-can-t-look-at-me-that-way-what-s-kept/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [“What’s the kindest thing you almost did? Is your fear of insomnia stronger than your fear of what awoke you? Are bonsai cruel? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/what-s-the-kindest-thing-you-almost-did-is-your-fear-of-insomnia/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [I like people to come back and tell me what I did wrong. That's the kindest thing you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/i-like-people-to-come-back-and-tell-me-what-i-did-wrong-that-s-the/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [“...the kindest thing you can do for someone you love is to never tell them how much they have broken your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/the-kindest-thing-you-can-do-for-someone-you-love-is-to-never-tell/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) > [Forgive the unforgivable. It really is the kindest thing you can do for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/forgive-the-unforgivable-it-really-is-the-kindest-thing-you-can-do/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [I feel like the kindest thing that I do to my voice is sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-carlile/i-feel-like-the-kindest-thing-that-i-do-to-my-voice-is-sing/) [Brandi Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-carlile/) > [It's the most courageous and it's the kindest thing that you can do for someone - be honest with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-hunt/it-s-the-most-courageous-and-it-s-the-kindest-thing-that-you-can-do/) [Van Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-hunt/) > [“Is that why you said all that stuff earlier-because you were trying to protect me? Because if it was, I'll tell you it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-grey/is-that-why-you-said-all-that-stuff-earlier-because-you-were-trying/) [Andrew Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-grey/) > [“how dark a side love could have, how hiding it was the kindest thing you could do sometimes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/how-dark-a-side-love-could-have-how-hiding-it-was-the-kindest-thing/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [The truth is the kindest thing we can give folks in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/the-truth-is-the-kindest-thing-we-can-give-folks-in-the-end/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [The kindest thing you can do for the people you care about is to become a happy, joyous person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-kindest-thing-you-can-do-for-the-people-you-care-about-is-to/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Alexander Payne > [I want all of my films to belong to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-want-all-of-my-films-to-belong-to-me/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I spend a long time casting, but once I've cast a film there's a reason why I selected those people. So I'm hands-on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-spend-a-long-time-casting-but-once-i-ve-cast-a-film-there-s-a/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [You just never know when you're living in a golden age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/you-just-never-know-when-you-re-living-in-a-golden-age/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I don't feel despair because I am able to make the films I want to make, and that gives me hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-don-t-feel-despair-because-i-am-able-to-make-the-films-i-want-to/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [Jesuits encourage an intellectual rigor in a way that I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/jesuits-encourage-an-intellectual-rigor-in-a-way-that-i-like/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [Forgiving yourself may be for many people, at least for myself, extremely difficult. And then in a larger context, I will say that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/forgiving-yourself-may-be-for-many-people-at-least-for-myself/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [In a general sense, to convert any short story, novel, play, or opera into a movie, you have to re-rig it. Even though they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/in-a-general-sense-to-convert-any-short-story-novel-play-or-opera/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [If you have your movies so that everyone understands everything, I think that's probably not a very good movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/if-you-have-your-movies-so-that-everyone-understands-everything-i/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I like actors who, when you see them on screen, you sense a person, not just an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-like-actors-who-when-you-see-them-on-screen-you-sense-a-person-not/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [If you're trying to recreate life, the life that you best know is the one you grew up with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/if-you-re-trying-to-recreate-life-the-life-that-you-best-know-is-the/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I think about what movie I would like to see. I don't think of them as a correction or palliative. I certainly am irritated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-think-about-what-movie-i-would-like-to-see-i-don-t-think-of-them-as/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [If you were falling in love and you could go back in time and relive a day and see the banal things you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/if-you-were-falling-in-love-and-you-could-go-back-in-time-and-relive/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [Omaha, like Rome, is built on seven hills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/omaha-like-rome-is-built-on-seven-hills/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [Hollywood films have become a cesspool of formula and it's up to us to try to change it... I feel like a preacher! But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/hollywood-films-have-become-a-cesspool-of-formula-and-it-s-up-to-us/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I don't want all of American cinema to be big cartoons that are just made to be digested by the entire world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-don-t-want-all-of-american-cinema-to-be-big-cartoons-that-are-just/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) [Explore all 102 Alexander Payne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes at everything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Payne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-look-with-open-eyes-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can do" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-look-with-open-eyes-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/alexander-payne-5223_can-do_the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-l_2643796.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes at everything.” — Alexander Payne", "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": "Alexander Payne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The kindest thing a director can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-look-with-open-eyes-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/the-kindest-thing-a-director-can-do-is-look-with-open-eyes-at/#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 } } ] } ```