--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity…" description: "\"It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity in an audition. I have done so many auditions where I've put it out there and have been met with that kind of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ben-stiller-7406_actor_it-s-hard-to-maintain-a-sense-of-dignity_3232551.jpg" --- # It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity in an audition. I… ![“It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity in an audition. I have done so many auditions where I've put it out there and have been met with that kind of blank stare - "Great! Thanks! OK! Great work! Thanks for coming in!" At the door I'm thinking, 'What the hell am I doing with my life?'” quote by Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ben-stiller-7406_actor_it-s-hard-to-maintain-a-sense-of-dignity_3232551.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ben-stiller-7406_actor_it-s-hard-to-maintain-a-sense-of-dignity_3232551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ben-stiller-7406_actor_it-s-hard-to-maintain-a-sense-of-dignity_3232551.jpg) > “It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity in an audition. I have done so many auditions where I've put it out there and have been met with that kind of blank stare - "Great! Thanks! OK! Great work! Thanks for coming in!" At the door I'm thinking, 'What the hell am I doing with my life?'” [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) ## 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 expresses the difficulty of maintaining self-respect amid superficial praise and empty gestures in auditions. **In simple terms:** Auditions can erode dignity when feedback feels hollow. Key Takeaway Seek authentic feedback and stay true to your craft. Themes self‑esteem performance authenticity Mood candid introspective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - audition rooms - acting workshops - career crossroads Key Concepts psychology of ego career resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine critique from polite applause? - What practices protect your sense of worth? A Different Perspective External validation can be fleeting and may undermine confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Audition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audition/) [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [Be treated with dignity & respect.The sense of dignity grows with the root of discipline & honor to commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/be-treated-with-dignity-respect-the-sense-of-dignity-grows-with-the/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Let's remember our goal. It is not to reeducate the teacher; it is not to express fair anger, it is not "to show everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-soloveychik/let-s-remember-our-goal-it-is-not-to-reeducate-the-teacher-it-is-not/) [Simon Soloveychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-soloveychik/) > [I just would never go audition, and yet I was in very visible places where people would come looking for actors. 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It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) ## More by Ben Stiller > [I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-to-translate-anywhere-you-re/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I studied Tom Cruise running in all the Mission Impossibles. I think he's one of the best screen runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-studied-tom-cruise-running-in-all-the-mission-impossibles-i-think/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [When I didn't have a family, I was much more of a workaholic. 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I'm not comfortable on skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-play-hockey-at-all-i-m-not-comfortable-on-skates/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Nobody makes me bleed my own blood - nobody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/nobody-makes-me-bleed-my-own-blood-nobody/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/moisture-is-the-essence-of-wetness-and-wetness-is-the-essence-of/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I think people will be curious to see what I can do as a dramatic actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-people-will-be-curious-to-see-what-i-can-do-as-a-dramatic/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I don't have a burning desire to be taken seriously as an actor. 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