---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing is to accept that theater…"
description: "\"The first thing is to accept that theater is an unknown. If you go to a concert, you know the music. If you go to an art show, you can literally see th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg"
---

#  The first thing is to accept that theater is an unknown…

![“The first thing is to accept that theater is an unknown. If you go to a concert, you know the music. If you go to an art show, you can literally see the art on your phone before you see it in person. But with theater, often times people aren't prepared to take risks, even though that's exactly…” quote by Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg)

> “The first thing is to accept that theater is an unknown. If you go to a concert, you know the music. If you go to an art show, you can literally see the art on your phone before you see it in person. But with theater, often times people aren't prepared to take risks, even though that's exactly what's great about it.”

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Theatre is inherently unpredictable; audiences must accept uncertainty and be willing to take creative risks, which is its greatest strength.

**In simple terms:** Theater is unknown and risky, but that’s its power.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty and take risks.

Themes

creativity risk artistic exploration

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

artistic motivational

When to use this quote

- acting auditions
- directing projects
- live performances
- creative workshops

Key Concepts

theatre studies performance theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you willing to step into the unknown for art?
- How does risk enhance theatrical experience?

A Different Perspective

Risk can lead to failure or audience alienation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accept Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-theater-3910606/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Concert Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concert-know-242303/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Person Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-theater-3628591/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-unknown-3910608/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/)

## Related quotes

> [When you can impress your mom by saying you've been to someone's concert, you know you're pretty lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/when-you-can-impress-your-mom-by-saying-you-ve-been-to-someone-s/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [I was always the first person in the theater all the time. If it was an eight-o'clock curtain, I was here at five-thirty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/i-was-always-the-first-person-in-the-theater-all-the-time-if-it-was/)

[Beverly Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-sills/)

> [I was just blown away by everything my dad was doing, every play. It was amazing to be able to go as a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorma-taccone/i-was-just-blown-away-by-everything-my-dad-was-doing-every-play-it/)

[Jorma Taccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorma-taccone/)

> [I came back to do a live concert. Nobody had done that before and I know my managers were worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namie-amuro/i-came-back-to-do-a-live-concert-nobody-had-done-that-before-and-i/)

[Namie Amuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namie-amuro/)

> [When I give a concert, I know they're not going to hear everything; there might be a lot going on. My individual perceptual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-iyer/when-i-give-a-concert-i-know-they-re-not-going-to-hear-everything/)

[Vijay Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-iyer/)

> [It's always fun to do something that you know ultimately is not about the money, and it's certainly not for the fame - because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/it-s-always-fun-to-do-something-that-you-know-ultimately-is-not-about/)

[Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/)

> [First and foremost, I want people on concerts to have a really great experience away from the negative press and negative stuff that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dirnt/first-and-foremost-i-want-people-on-concerts-to-have-a-really-great/)

[Mike Dirnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dirnt/)

> [I like to go to concerts because I love to see my favorite band through the phone of the asshole who's standing in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-like-to-go-to-concerts-because-i-love-to-see-my-favorite-band/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [My favourite song of Elton's is... it's a tricky one for me. I'm a proper fan and I've probably seen him in concert about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/my-favourite-song-of-elton-s-is-it-s-a-tricky-one-for-me-i-m-a-proper/)

[Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/)

> [Congratulations to each and every one of you for the concert last night in New York and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-ormandy/congratulations-to-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-the-concert-last/)

[Eugene Ormandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-ormandy/)

> [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/)

[Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/)

> [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/)

[Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/)

> [In fact, when Jaan wanted to be a part of some of my live concerts, I let him join me for a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/in-fact-when-jaan-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-some-of-my-live-concerts-i/)

[Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/)

> [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [The live concert industry has become corporate-ized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-farrell/the-live-concert-industry-has-become-corporate-ized/)

[Perry Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-farrell/)

## More by Cate Blanchett

> [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Every single pore - not on the men, but on the women - is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/every-single-pore-not-on-the-men-but-on-the-women-is-scrutinized-so-i/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Conservatism is affecting the way women perceive who they are in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/conservatism-is-affecting-the-way-women-perceive-who-they-are-in-the/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [There is a societal cost of increased pollution, and that's what I'm passionate about as a mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/there-is-a-societal-cost-of-increased-pollution-and-that-s-what-i-m/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [If you know you are going to fail, then fail gloriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/if-you-know-you-are-going-to-fail-then-fail-gloriously/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I went through a mod and goth-phase when I decided that I wouldn't ever be the bronzed beach-bunny. I started going as pale as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-went-through-a-mod-and-goth-phase-when-i-decided-that-i-wouldn-t/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [See the opportunity in the misstep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/see-the-opportunity-in-the-misstep/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I think Pilates is great, especially when you can do it with a trainer who keeps you on track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-pilates-is-great-especially-when-you-can-do-it-with-a-trainer/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I'm partial to a nice cup of vodka. I normally just drink it really simple with a little bit of lemon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-m-partial-to-a-nice-cup-of-vodka-i-normally-just-drink-it-really/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Obviously, if Woody Allen calls and says he wants you to read a script, of course you read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/obviously-if-woody-allen-calls-and-says-he-wants-you-to-read-a-script/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Everyone gets obsessed with anti-aging but I'd rather look as good as I can at the age I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/everyone-gets-obsessed-with-anti-aging-but-i-d-rather-look-as-good-as/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Australia is a remarkable country with incredible technical and physical resources and a capacity to be a world leader in renewables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/australia-is-a-remarkable-country-with-incredible-technical-and/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I often have a few scents depending on if I'm playing a character. The character may be wearing a scent that perhaps I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-often-have-a-few-scents-depending-on-if-i-m-playing-a-character-the/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

[Explore all 347 Cate Blanchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

## More Accepting quotes

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/)

[Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/)

> [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/)

[Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/)

[Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The first thing is to accept that theater is an unknown. If you go to a concert, you know the music. If you go to an art show, you can literally see the art on your phone before you see it in person. But with theater, often times people aren't prepared to take risks, even though that's exactly what's great about it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cate Blanchett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theater-is-an-unknown-if-you-go-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accepting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theater-is-an-unknown-if-you-go-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/cate-blanchett-864_accepting_the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theate_2057785.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first thing is to accept that theater is an unknown. If you go to a concert, you know the music. If you…” — Cate Blanchett",
                "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": "Cate Blanchett",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The first thing is to accept...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theater-is-an-unknown-if-you-go-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/the-first-thing-is-to-accept-that-theater-is-an-unknown-if-you-go-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
