--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be what we make, and not who we are." description: "\"Be what we make, and not who we are.\" — Catherine Breillat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png" --- # Be what we make, and not who we are. ![“Be what we make, and not who we are.” quote by Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png) > “Be what we make, and not who we are.” [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We shape our identity through actions, not merely by existing traits. **In simple terms:** Actions define us, not labels. Key Takeaway Focus on purposeful actions. Themes identity agency self‑determination Mood thoughtful empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - personal growth - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism behavioral theory Questions to Reflect On - What actions best reflect your true self? - How do innate qualities influence your choices? A Different Perspective Actions alone may not fully capture inherent traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Filmmaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaking/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [Work very very hard. This business is no joke. Make sure you know what you want or you might be taking someone else's view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-cassavetes/work-very-very-hard-this-business-is-no-joke-make-sure-you-know-what/) [Zoe Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-cassavetes/) > [Don't try and change things for other people. Don't try and be persuaded by producers and people to change your vision. If you stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/don-t-try-and-change-things-for-other-people-don-t-try-and-be/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [Directing ain't about drawing a neat little picture and showing it to the cameraman. I didn't want to go to film school. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/directing-ain-t-about-drawing-a-neat-little-picture-and-showing-it-to/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [The truth is that filmmaking is not really an actor's medium; it's really a director's medium, so all I can really control is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/the-truth-is-that-filmmaking-is-not-really-an-actor-s-medium-it-s/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [One of the great things about being a director as a life choice is that it can never be mastered. Every story is its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-a-director-as-a-life-choice-is/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [I think filmmaking should be a wonderfully free collaborative process, and it so very rarely is. 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Do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/the-advice-you-give-to-young-directors-for-sure-is-to-go-out-and/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [I've always traveled with the films because I want the audience to be my teacher so that I can learn for the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-potter/i-ve-always-traveled-with-the-films-because-i-want-the-audience-to-be/) [Sally Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-potter/) > [Filmmaking seems more difficult but theatre comes with its own challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puneet-issar/filmmaking-seems-more-difficult-but-theatre-comes-with-its-own/) [Puneet Issar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puneet-issar/) > [For me, it doesn't matter what kind of role I am doing. I just enjoy the process of acting and filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/for-me-it-doesn-t-matter-what-kind-of-role-i-am-doing-i-just-enjoy/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I love the way the long scenes feel - one of the characteristics of '70s filmmaking is that you don't cut around a lot;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/i-love-the-way-the-long-scenes-feel-one-of-the-characteristics-of-70s/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) ## More by Catherine Breillat > [Only conformists are ever adored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/only-conformists-are-ever-adored/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [“the basic theme is the dichotomy of womanhood. the woman cut in two. every society creates laws to exercise power over women and exclude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/the-basic-theme-is-the-dichotomy-of-womanhood-the-woman-cut-in-two/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [I am eternally, devastatingly romantic, and I thought people would see it because 'romantic' doesn't mean 'sugary.' It's dark and tormented — the furor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/i-am-eternally-devastatingly-romantic-and-i-thought-people-would-see/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [There is no masculine psychology in my cinema. There is only the resentments and desires of women. A man should not attempt to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/there-is-no-masculine-psychology-in-my-cinema-there-is-only-the/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [If I stop making films, I will die. I can tell myself that one day I will stop living. But I cannot bear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/if-i-stop-making-films-i-will-die-i-can-tell-myself-that-one-day-i/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [If you want to preserve your virginity, it's about not wanting to belong to the human species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/if-you-want-to-preserve-your-virginity-it-s-about-not-wanting-to/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [“If I haven’t found out who I am until the end of my life…because I am afraid/ashamed of it, then I would have just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/if-i-haven-t-found-out-who-i-am-until-the-end-of-my-life-because-i-am/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [I know why I make films -cinema is a mode of expression that allows you to express all the nuances of a thing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/i-know-why-i-make-films-cinema-is-a-mode-of-expression-that-allows/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) > [The problem is that censors create the concept of obscenity. By supposedly trying to protect us they form an absurd concept of what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/the-problem-is-that-censors-create-the-concept-of-obscenity-by/) [Catherine Breillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) [Explore all 10 Catherine Breillat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/) ## More Directors quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? 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On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) J. Hoberman > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [I was in good shape from Divergent. Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash told me, ‘Stop Working Out! Don’t go outside!’ He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-was-in-good-shape-from-divergent-damien-chazelle-the-director-of/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [I'm seen as a little risky to the industry, I think. All my favorite directors are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-m-seen-as-a-little-risky-to-the-industry-i-think-all-my-favorite/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [Music and language are a vital element. We, as actors and directors, offer it to people who want to experience it. Sometimes the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/music-and-language-are-a-vital-element-we-as-actors-and-directors/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/there-was-always-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-be-an-old-time-director/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [If the director's a communist, whatever, he's a communist. All I care is that he directs. For the actor, the same thing. All you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-the-director-s-a-communist-whatever-he-s-a-communist-all-i-care-is/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) [Browse all 4,068 Directors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be what we make, and not who we are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherine Breillat" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Directors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/catherine-breillat-42844_directors_be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are-26159_2615953.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be what we make, and not who we are.” — Catherine Breillat", "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": "Catherine Breillat", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-breillat/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be what we make, and not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-breillat/be-what-we-make-and-not-who-we-are/#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 } } ] } ```