--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Directing is a big responsibility to take…" description: "\"Directing is a big responsibility to take on. I think I'm only good at doing things I know very well. I don't direct movies because I get offered the n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg" --- # Directing is a big responsibility to take on. I think I'm… ![“Directing is a big responsibility to take on. I think I'm only good at doing things I know very well. I don't direct movies because I get offered the new vampire movie or science fiction movie. I don't get offered those, anyway, but if I did, I would just tell 'em, "Look, I'm the wrong guy." I…” quote by Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg) > “Directing is a big responsibility to take on. I think I'm only good at doing things I know very well. I don't direct movies because I get offered the new vampire movie or science fiction movie. I don't get offered those, anyway, but if I did, I would just tell 'em, "Look, I'm the wrong guy." I only do things about people and situations, and I do the ones that I think I'm the best guy for the job on, which is usually something I generate myself.” [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) ## 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 directing should align with personal expertise and genuine interest, avoiding projects that feel mismatched. **In simple terms:** Direct only what you know and love. Key Takeaway Focus on strengths. Themes authenticity expertise career choice Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice career When to use this quote - selecting projects - career planning - team leadership - personal branding Key Concepts self‑awareness creative integrity risk management Questions to Reflect On - What projects could stretch your skills? - How do you assess fit? A Different Perspective May limit growth by avoiding new challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-responsibility/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Direct Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-movies-1215546/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-big-1535015/) [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Ems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ems/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-think-309234/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [Science fiction movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction-movie/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vampire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vampire/) [Vampire movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vampire-movie/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wrong guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-guy/) ## Related quotes > [If I were Mark Zuckerberg or any of these guys, I would say, "My God. How does the world expect us to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/if-i-were-mark-zuckerberg-or-any-of-these-guys-i-would-say-my-god-how/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [It's a big responsibility, I think, when you play somebody who has existed but also somebody who has just recently passed away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-eisley/it-s-a-big-responsibility-i-think-when-you-play-somebody-who-has/) [India Eisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-eisley/) > [You know, what's popular? Okay, vampires are very popular. Let me make my vampire movie. I'm not saying you can't make a vampire movie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/you-know-what-s-popular-okay-vampires-are-very-popular-let-me-make-my/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Why not directing? There’s no big mystery about it. It’s – well, it’s just having a point of view and – and a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-edwards/why-not-directing-there-s-no-big-mystery-about-it-it-s-well-it-s-just/) [Vince Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-edwards/) > [Directing was a big learning experience for me because I had to deal with every aspect of everything-all this constant decision-making, with people asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/directing-was-a-big-learning-experience-for-me-because-i-had-to-deal/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [The first thing I look at with a project isn't who's directing, whether it's a big film; it's the character and whether I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-lovibond/the-first-thing-i-look-at-with-a-project-isn-t-who-s-directing/) [Ophelia Lovibond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-lovibond/) > [I don't see a big difference between the job of directing a low-budget movie and the job of directing a big-budget movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-don-t-see-a-big-difference-between-the-job-of-directing-a-low/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [I always wanted to direct movies. That's what I set out to do. When I was a little kid I just dreamed of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-always-wanted-to-direct-movies-that-s-what-i-set-out-to-do-when-i/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [You have to be in California in order to write or direct movies. People say, "Oh, I'm gonna do it from Pittsburgh. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/you-have-to-be-in-california-in-order-to-write-or-direct-movies/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [I think ever since I was preteen I wanted to direct movies and tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-think-ever-since-i-was-preteen-i-wanted-to-direct-movies-and-tell/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I wouldn't not want to be a director and write as I wouldn't not to want to be a writer and direct movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hill/i-wouldn-t-not-want-to-be-a-director-and-write-as-i-wouldn-t-not-to/) [Walter Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hill/) > [There are only so many movies you can direct. And yet there are movies that I want to make sure make it to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/there-are-only-so-many-movies-you-can-direct-and-yet-there-are-movies/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [I wanted to write and direct movies and not be forced to adapt them from a bestselling book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-wanted-to-write-and-direct-movies-and-not-be-forced-to-adapt-them/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [I like to direct movies, but I don't like to goof around for eight years talking about it. And it's pretty irritating to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-like-to-direct-movies-but-i-don-t-like-to-goof-around-for-eight/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [My whole game plan was to direct movies. I knew if I made a reputation in theater, I would get offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/my-whole-game-plan-was-to-direct-movies-i-knew-if-i-made-a-reputation/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) ## More by Billy Bob Thornton > [Robert Duvall taught me years ago. He said, "You know theatre is not real. I don't like plays." You know, he doesn't like plays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/robert-duvall-taught-me-years-ago-he-said-you-know-theatre-is-not/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I think I fully commit myself to any role to the extent to which I can. In other words there's some roles that maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-think-i-fully-commit-myself-to-any-role-to-the-extent-to-which-i/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Just the other day, my assistant was on the line with Calvin Klein. Golly, I usually shop at Sears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/just-the-other-day-my-assistant-was-on-the-line-with-calvin-klein/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I don't have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-don-t-have-a-fear-of-flying-i-have-a-fear-of-crashing/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Heavy role in the movies that I've done that I have loved and fit my soul; A Simple Plan, Monster's Ball, Sling Blade, One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/heavy-role-in-the-movies-that-i-ve-done-that-i-have-loved-and-fit-my/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [When I was coming up in the '80s television, if you were on television that meant either you were a young actor just coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-coming-up-in-the-80s-television-if-you-were-on-television/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [The movies I've made about the South, they were my experience and it's something that I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/the-movies-i-ve-made-about-the-south-they-were-my-experience-and-it-s/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Man, I was drowning in sadness. And Angelina, she lifted me right up out of there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/man-i-was-drowning-in-sadness-and-angelina-she-lifted-me-right-up-out/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I've been largely an improvisational actor for most of my career, except for when I've worked with the Coen brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-ve-been-largely-an-improvisational-actor-for-most-of-my-career/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I always have an idea before we even start the movie because if you hire the wrong person, within a couple of days you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-always-have-an-idea-before-we-even-start-the-movie-because-if-you/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [People want the truth but they only want the truth so they can talk bad about you on the blog or on television. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/people-want-the-truth-but-they-only-want-the-truth-so-they-can-talk/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Usually when you're playing a character, you think a lot about their backstory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/usually-when-you-re-playing-a-character-you-think-a-lot-about-their/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I've lived in California for half of my life. It's weird, everyone thinks of me as this guy who's from the South ... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-ve-lived-in-california-for-half-of-my-life-it-s-weird-everyone/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [You have to really know what you're saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/you-have-to-really-know-what-you-re-saying/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [People a lot of times say that you know it must be hard to direct yourself. That's a myth. It's easier to direct yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/people-a-lot-of-times-say-that-you-know-it-must-be-hard-to-direct/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) [Explore all 192 Billy Bob Thornton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) ## More Big responsibility quotes > [For a man, there's a big responsibility that comes with having a boy because men are made by their fathers. If you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-spall/for-a-man-there-s-a-big-responsibility-that-comes-with-having-a-boy/) [Rafe Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-spall/) > [When you were growing up, your mom and dad told you to look both ways before crossing the street or not to get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dewolfe/when-you-were-growing-up-your-mom-and-dad-told-you-to-look-both-ways/) [Chris DeWolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dewolfe/) > [It's a big responsibility to be the main part of a film because if you don't like me, you have a problem for two-and-a-half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carice-van-houten/it-s-a-big-responsibility-to-be-the-main-part-of-a-film-because-if/) [Carice van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carice-van-houten/) > [She was really strong around me. Having me at 16 had to have been a big responsibility. My mom gave up everything for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/she-was-really-strong-around-me-having-me-at-16-had-to-have-been-a/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [That's a big responsibility, and the details obsess me. And, also, I no longer feel I have to do the Tonight Show every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/that-s-a-big-responsibility-and-the-details-obsess-me-and-also-i-no/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [It surprises me how much children like me, you know? If they look at me as an example, I have a big responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-balotelli/it-surprises-me-how-much-children-like-me-you-know-if-they-look-at-me/) [Mario Balotelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-balotelli/) > [It's a big responsibility for sure, to be a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniil-medvedev/it-s-a-big-responsibility-for-sure-to-be-a-father/) [Daniil Medvedev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniil-medvedev/) > [We stand united, facing the big responsibility to change our country into a nation of justice, solidarity, humanity and green development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/we-stand-united-facing-the-big-responsibility-to-change-our-country/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [There are very few ethnic LGBT characters on television, so I am honored to represent them. I love supporting this cause, but it’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/there-are-very-few-ethnic-lgbt-characters-on-television-so-i-am/) [Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/) > [“The reality is what you wear matters. If you're a singer and on TV and in the living room of some 12-year-old girl, she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-reality-is-what-you-wear-matters-if-you-re-a-singer-and-on-tv-and/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [It's a big responsibility, I think, when you play somebody who has existed but also somebody who has just recently passed away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-eisley/it-s-a-big-responsibility-i-think-when-you-play-somebody-who-has/) [India Eisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-eisley/) > [My dogs are a priority and a big responsibility... but the payoffs are well worth it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/my-dogs-are-a-priority-and-a-big-responsibility-but-the-payoffs-are/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I have a big responsibility as a father. That helps me to be more sensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-arnautovic/i-have-a-big-responsibility-as-a-father-that-helps-me-to-be-more/) [Marko Arnautovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-arnautovic/) > [People who are always late are sometimes not worthy of big responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wordfaith3/people-who-are-always-late-are-sometimes-not-worthy-of-big/) [Wordfaith3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wordfaith3/) > [My films have always been considered the benchmark in action. I have a big responsibility to shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-deol/my-films-have-always-been-considered-the-benchmark-in-action-i-have-a/) [Sunny Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-deol/) [Browse all 78 Big responsibility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-responsibility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Directing is a big responsibility to take on. I think I'm only good at doing things I know very well. I don't direct movies because I get offered the new vampire movie or science fiction movie. I don't get offered those, anyway, but if I did, I would just tell 'em, \"Look, I'm the wrong guy.\" I only do things about people and situations, and I do the ones that I think I'm the best guy for the job on, which is usually something I generate myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy Bob Thornton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-take-on-i-think-i-m-only-good-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big responsibility" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-take-on-i-think-i-m-only-good-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/billy-bob-thornton-2003_big-responsibility_directing-is-a-big-responsibility-to-tak_3125317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Directing is a big responsibility to take on. 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