--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try not to read acting books any more…" description: "\"I try not to read acting books any more, but they set a high bar for me very early on.\" — Brian J. Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/brian-j-smith-24738_acting_i-try-not-to-read-acting-books-any-more_2274668.jpg" --- # I try not to read acting books any more, but they set a… ![“I try not to read acting books any more, but they set a high bar for me very early on.” quote by Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/brian-j-smith-24738_acting_i-try-not-to-read-acting-books-any-more_2274668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/brian-j-smith-24738_acting_i-try-not-to-read-acting-books-any-more_2274668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/brian-j-smith-24738_acting_i-try-not-to-read-acting-books-any-more_2274668.jpg) > “I try not to read acting books any more, but they set a high bar for me very early on.” [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High early standards from acting books set ambitious goals, motivating continual improvement. **In simple terms:** Early standards push growth. Key Takeaway Set high expectations early. Themes ambition self‑improvement craft Mood inspirational cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - acting - career development - skill mastery Key Concepts goal setting self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What standards serve you best? - How to adjust expectations over time? A Different Perspective Unrealistic standards may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ## Related quotes > [In December 2014, Uber held its annual holiday party on an unfurnished floor at its swank, mood-lit headquarters in San Francisco. Employees and investors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-chang/in-december-2014-uber-held-its-annual-holiday-party-on-an-unfurnished/) [Emily Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-chang/) > [You cannot study acting in books. Do it, do it, do it. And watch good actors. See what they are doing and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-sydow/you-cannot-study-acting-in-books-do-it-do-it-do-it-and-watch-good/) [Max von Sydow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-sydow/) > [My favorite acting books are Stella Adler's 'The Art of Acting' and 'Sanford Meisner on Acting.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/my-favorite-acting-books-are-stella-adler-s-the-art-of-acting-and/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [I learned so much by being an actor, and part of my sort-of development as a writer is big thanks to the scripts I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-learned-so-much-by-being-an-actor-and-part-of-my-sort-of/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Many people think voice over artists just read, there's much more to it. Without acting beats, scene study and improving skills, you won't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-strong/many-people-think-voice-over-artists-just-read-there-s-much-more-to/) [Tara Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-strong/) > [I'm not a trained actor. I have neither read acting books nor gone to acting school. But I have certain fundamentals on how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/i-m-not-a-trained-actor-i-have-neither-read-acting-books-nor-gone-to/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) > [Remember, acting is not a business of glamour. It is science, craft and an art. Read about acting; don't do it for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/remember-acting-is-not-a-business-of-glamour-it-is-science-craft-and/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [When I was in high school, I was a bad singer. I mean, all my early acting was musical theater, and my first ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-a-bad-singer-i-mean-all-my-early/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [Eleven years old is not an early age to set your sight on the Olympics for a gymnast, because we normally peak in high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/eleven-years-old-is-not-an-early-age-to-set-your-sight-on-the/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I wanted to be an actress at a very early age and then decided to become an orthodontist after working in Dr. Richard Boyd's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-earhardt/i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-at-a-very-early-age-and-then-decided-to/) [Ainsley Earhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-earhardt/) > [When I was in high school in the early 1970s, we knew we were running out of oil; we knew that easy sources were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/when-i-was-in-high-school-in-the-early-1970s-we-knew-we-were-running/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I went through this phase of Spandex, high heels, and fur coats when I was my late teens and early twenties; before then, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/i-went-through-this-phase-of-spandex-high-heels-and-fur-coats-when-i/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) ## More by Brian J. Smith > [In the wake of such bad news, it was heartening to know that what 'Sense8' stood for meant so much to so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/in-the-wake-of-such-bad-news-it-was-heartening-to-know-that-what/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [I will say, I quite enjoyed 'SG-1'. I'm a very big fan of 'SG-1'. I especially love Ben Browder. I thought he did fantastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/i-will-say-i-quite-enjoyed-sg-1-i-m-a-very-big-fan-of-sg-1-i/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [When you think someone really has the upper hand, you realize that someone has been played the entire time, and there's a whole other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/when-you-think-someone-really-has-the-upper-hand-you-realize-that/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [I think David Hewlett is a comedic genius. I think he's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/i-think-david-hewlett-is-a-comedic-genius-i-think-he-s-great/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [I've been doing sci-fi for two years, and there is always something big going on. The stakes are always huge. 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Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [You're not supposed to do a television series that takes place in nine cities all over the globe. Everyone will tell you that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/you-re-not-supposed-to-do-a-television-series-that-takes-place-in/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [As storytellers, we tend to want to force-feed everything and have everybody understand everything right away, and we freak out if they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/as-storytellers-we-tend-to-want-to-force-feed-everything-and-have/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [What is it like to get in someone's head and hunt them from inside their eyes? That's so freaky to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/what-is-it-like-to-get-in-someone-s-head-and-hunt-them-from-inside/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [People aren't making as many movies as they used to, so youve got a lot of really big-name actors who are coming in, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/people-aren-t-making-as-many-movies-as-they-used-to-so-youve-got-a/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [Anything by D. H. Lawrence or Jean Genet - 'Zen Mind,' 'Beginner's Mind' is my daily go to for non-fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/anything-by-d-h-lawrence-or-jean-genet-zen-mind-beginner-s-mind-is-my/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [Directing a television episode is no joke, and it's incredibly difficult and especially when you're acting in it as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/directing-a-television-episode-is-no-joke-and-it-s-incredibly/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [When I was a first year student at Julliard, I wasn't happy, not sure about this acting thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/when-i-was-a-first-year-student-at-julliard-i-wasn-t-happy-not-sure/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) [Explore all 24 Brian J. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) ## 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 > [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": "I try not to read acting books any more, but they set a high bar for me very early on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian J. 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