--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The acting is better when you know your…" description: "\"The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.\" — Bob Newhart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg" --- # The acting is better when you know your material is being… ![“The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.” quote by Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg) > “The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.” [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performing is enhanced when you know the audience is evaluating you, adding pressure that sharpens delivery. **In simple terms:** Judgment from listeners improves performance. Key Takeaway Embrace audience scrutiny to refine your act. Themes performance feedback confidence growth comedy Mood humorous reflective Type insightful motivational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - theater rehearsals - public speaking - workshop critiques Key Concepts stagecraft psychology of audience self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does audience feedback shape your work? - When does scrutiny hinder creativity? A Different Perspective Too much focus on judgment can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-better-510535/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Being judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-judged/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judged/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-material-593365/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Material Judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-judged-5247612/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [You know what the material is so that you never play it the same way twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/you-know-what-the-material-is-so-that-you-never-play-it-the-same-way/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [We're so used to the tests telling me if I'm smart or not. It's telling me if I know the material or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/we-re-so-used-to-the-tests-telling-me-if-i-m-smart-or-not-it-s/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [My intent is simply to know my material so well that I'm very comfortable with it. Confidence, not perfection, is the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/my-intent-is-simply-to-know-my-material-so-well-that-i-m-very/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) > [Oh no we don't play with silly girls All I know is the material girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/oh-no-we-don-t-play-with-silly-girls-all-i-know-is-the-material-girls/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [I just want to keep acting and better my craft and see how far it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-just-want-to-keep-acting-and-better-my-craft-and-see-how-far-it-goes/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [I like the community of acting better than the prison of writing. I like sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-like-the-community-of-acting-better-than-the-prison-of-writing-i/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [There's probably no one who understands Method acting better academically than I do, or actually uses it more in his work. But it's funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/there-s-probably-no-one-who-understands-method-acting-better/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had better try or wind up still holding a desk job at 50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-to-try-acting-i-had-better-try/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [I've never changed my approach to acting. I've always felt like I've gotten better. I think that all of us can get better. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-ve-never-changed-my-approach-to-acting-i-ve-always-felt-like-i-ve/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks with you for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old-when-you-say-something-and/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [The less acting you have to do, the better, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-less-acting-you-have-to-do-the-better-i-think/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I was cursed with age, really. You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-was-cursed-with-age-really-you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [After 'Amen' people started recognising me. It made me think that acting is better than direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mathew/after-amen-people-started-recognising-me-it-made-me-think-that-acting/) [Joy Mathew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mathew/) > [The better the actor I am acting with, the better my performance gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/the-better-the-actor-i-am-acting-with-the-better-my-performance-gets/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) ## More by Bob Newhart > [Television series are like the stock market. There's room for bears and bulls but no room for pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/television-series-are-like-the-stock-market-there-s-room-for-bears/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I didn't need the elf outfit to play an elf; I could just play an elf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-didn-t-need-the-elf-outfit-to-play-an-elf-i-could-just-play-an-elf/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-was-off-tv-people-would-ask-me-to-please-come-back-which-i/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-going-to-try-comedy-and-if-didn-t/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Don't be silly and don't waste your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/don-t-be-silly-and-don-t-waste-your-time/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-m-most-proud-of-the-longevity-of-my-marriage-my-kids-and-my/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The best advice I could give someone trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-best-advice-i-could-give-someone-trying-to-get-into-the-comedy/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [As an actor, you generally want to see the other actor's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/as-an-actor-you-generally-want-to-see-the-other-actor-s-face/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [You shouldn't get too close to the truth, because then maybe you stop being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/you-shouldn-t-get-too-close-to-the-truth-because-then-maybe-you-stop/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [But I really believe that if you have the ability, there is an obligation to make people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/but-i-really-believe-that-if-you-have-the-ability-there-is-an/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The reason I'm a psychologist is based in part on my telephone routines. Much of my humor comes out of reaction to what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-reason-i-m-a-psychologist-is-based-in-part-on-my-telephone/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I think that what comes through in Chicago humor is the affection. Even though you're poking fun at someone or something, there's still an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-think-that-what-comes-through-in-chicago-humor-is-the-affection/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I feel more comfortable in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-feel-more-comfortable-in-comedy/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. Yet if you put the same ingredients in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-really-don-t-know-what-makes-a-comedian-i-think-it-s-a-family/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-made-a-record-album-in-1960-and-it-exploded-and-i-got-all-these/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) [Explore all 167 Bob Newhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## 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": "The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Newhart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your-material-is-being-judged/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your-material-is-being-judged/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/bob-newhart-2419_acting_the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your_657944.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.” — Bob Newhart", "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": "Bob Newhart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The acting is better when you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your-material-is-being-judged/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your-material-is-being-judged/#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 } } ] } ```