--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is reacting. That's when acting is…" description: "\"Acting is reacting. That's when acting is great - when you say something, somebody said something, they make a face, they pose, they use something phys..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/carlos-mencia-2630_acting_acting-is-reacting-that-s-when-acting-is_446434.png" --- # Acting is reacting. That's when acting is great - when you… ![“Acting is reacting. That's when acting is great - when you say something, somebody said something, they make a face, they pose, they use something physical, then you react to that, then they react to you.” quote by Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/carlos-mencia-2630_acting_acting-is-reacting-that-s-when-acting-is_446434.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/carlos-mencia-2630_acting_acting-is-reacting-that-s-when-acting-is_446434.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/carlos-mencia-2630_acting_acting-is-reacting-that-s-when-acting-is_446434.png) > “Acting is reacting. That's when acting is great - when you say something, somebody said something, they make a face, they pose, they use something physical, then you react to that, then they react to you.” [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective performance relies on spontaneous interaction; reacting to others creates dynamic energy. **In simple terms:** React to build momentum. Key Takeaway Embrace improvisation. Themes performance interaction creativity Mood energetic playful Type advice humorous When to use this quote - theater - live comedy - team presentations Key Concepts improvisation communication Questions to Reflect On - When should you lead versus react? - How to balance spontaneity with structure? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on reaction can hinder original ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-great-298068/) [Acting Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-reacting-586553/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [React](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/react/) [Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting/) [Reacting Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting-acting-3904293/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) ## Related quotes > [Acting is reacting. You can't react if you're not paying attention, if you're not listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/acting-is-reacting-you-can-t-react-if-you-re-not-paying-attention-if/) [Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/) > [To me, acting is reacting. An emotional person will react quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/to-me-acting-is-reacting-an-emotional-person-will-react-quickly/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [Acting is reacting, and it's always easier to react when someone is doing a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/acting-is-reacting-and-it-s-always-easier-to-react-when-someone-is/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Activist: not as much acting as it is reacting- which is my story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-gingrich-jones/activist-not-as-much-acting-as-it-is-reacting-which-is-my-story/) [Candace Gingrich-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-gingrich-jones/) > [All the theories that acting is reacting to imaginary circumstances as though they are real, and directing is turning psychology into behavior, those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/all-the-theories-that-acting-is-reacting-to-imaginary-circumstances/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [The trick to being a good actor is getting so involved in your character that the camera disappears, the 50 bored guys eating doughnuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/the-trick-to-being-a-good-actor-is-getting-so-involved-in-your/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Improv as an actor makes you present in the moment. You listen, you're attentive. You're not acting so much as reacting, which is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/improv-as-an-actor-makes-you-present-in-the-moment-you-listen-you-re/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [Good acting is about reacting, not tryingto express something, but reacting to a situation as the character.I don't like acting acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/good-acting-is-about-reacting-not-tryingto-express-something-but/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Acting to me is always reacting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-tracy/acting-to-me-is-always-reacting/) [Spencer Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-tracy/) > [I'm more interested in knowing my cues than my lines. If you know what your cues are, then you know what your reaction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-root/i-m-more-interested-in-knowing-my-cues-than-my-lines-if-you-know-what/) [Stephen Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-root/) > [I think chemistry is about not acting, but reacting, and not talking, but listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-think-chemistry-is-about-not-acting-but-reacting-and-not-talking/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [The enemy resembles us. Therefore, he needs to be approached not as an assembly of 'targets' to be destroyed one by one; but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/the-enemy-resembles-us-therefore-he-needs-to-be-approached-not-as-an/) [Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/) > [Acting is reacting... there's a magic when you're working with another actor. With voice acting, you're doing it alone, all in your head. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-keaton/acting-is-reacting-there-s-a-magic-when-you-re-working-with-another/) [Josh Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-keaton/) > [That's what acting is. You're not alone. It's reacting. That's what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/that-s-what-acting-is-you-re-not-alone-it-s-reacting-that-s-what-we-do/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [That's the thing about acting is that it's reacting to what's going on around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/that-s-the-thing-about-acting-is-that-it-s-reacting-to-what-s-going/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) ## More by Carlos Mencia > [Nobody calls me a racist when I do redneck jokes. Jeff Foxworthy can do as many 'You might be a redneck jokes' as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/nobody-calls-me-a-racist-when-i-do-redneck-jokes-jeff-foxworthy-can/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I am frail like everyone else, and I take that into account when I talk about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-am-frail-like-everyone-else-and-i-take-that-into-account-when-i/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [People live in a place called Tornado Alley - and they're surprised when they get hit by a tornado. I'm sorry when they get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/people-live-in-a-place-called-tornado-alley-and-they-re-surprised/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [When I was younger, I was angry. I was boisterous and loud. I was on top of the mountain, screaming at everybody, 'Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-i-was-younger-i-was-angry-i-was-boisterous-and-loud-i-was-on-top/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [When you are younger, you pretend to believe, but you are proving it to everyone and to yourself. The change comes when you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-you-are-younger-you-pretend-to-believe-but-you-are-proving-it-to/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [Here's what I know about the business I am in. It's all based on money. It's all based on ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/here-s-what-i-know-about-the-business-i-am-in-it-s-all-based-on-money/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I've gotten in trouble with every race you can imagine. They say, 'I can't believe you talked about this - you're racist.' And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-ve-gotten-in-trouble-with-every-race-you-can-imagine-they-say-i-can/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [My choices are made out of love. When I go on stage now, I want to make people happy. I mean, when I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-choices-are-made-out-of-love-when-i-go-on-stage-now-i-want-to-make/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [My comedy is about, lift yourself. See reality. Change the reality if you don't like it. But if you can't, then deal with things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-comedy-is-about-lift-yourself-see-reality-change-the-reality-if/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I can't imagine how unbelievable it would be to go to the Great Barrier Reef.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-can-t-imagine-how-unbelievable-it-would-be-to-go-to-the-great/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [The beauty of not growing up middle class is that you don't think like the middle class. You don't have anything to protect, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/the-beauty-of-not-growing-up-middle-class-is-that-you-don-t-think/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I'm not good looking, but I'm not bad looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-m-not-good-looking-but-i-m-not-bad-looking/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I choose to live in a positive world and a positive presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-choose-to-live-in-a-positive-world-and-a-positive-presence/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I'm a spiritual person: I believe that if you read the Bible, you get what you want from it. But, when you actually read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-m-a-spiritual-person-i-believe-that-if-you-read-the-bible-you-get/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [At the end of the day, I don't think I am going to be judged by what happened in the 90's and 2000's, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-don-t-think-i-am-going-to-be-judged-by-what/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) [Explore all 157 Carlos Mencia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) ## 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": "Acting is reacting. 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