---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's important to never play…"
description: "\"I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.\" — Claire Danes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg"
---

#  I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to…

![“I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.” quote by Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg)

> “I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.”

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

## About This Quote

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

Recognizes that acting erratically can be strategic, but one must understand the specific role and limits of that behavior.

**In simple terms:** Strategic self-awareness

Key Takeaway

Know the purpose of your eccentricity

Themes

self-awareness strategy identity communication psychology

Mood

confident playful thoughtful

Type

advice observation philosophical

When to use this quote

- negotiations
- leadership decisions
- creative brainstorming
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

role-playing social dynamics personal boundaries

Practical Applications

- coaching
- team-building workshops

Questions to Reflect On

- When does 'crazy' become counterproductive?
- How can you define your own version of 'crazy'?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [I've been playing a lot of really strong, able woman, but I think it would be really fun to play a crazy drug addict,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-bell/i-ve-been-playing-a-lot-of-really-strong-able-woman-but-i-think-it/)

[Catherine Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-bell/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

> [“I don't need to sleep to play. I'm crazy anyway. Being crazier still could only help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-don-t-need-to-sleep-to-play-i-m-crazy-anyway-being-crazier-still/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

> [When I was a kid, everyone called me crazy for playing goal, but they were the ones chasing after the puck while I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-tugnutt/when-i-was-a-kid-everyone-called-me-crazy-for-playing-goal-but-they/)

Ron Tugnutt

> [I believe when actors say they can go crazy playing the same role, over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-posey/i-believe-when-actors-say-they-can-go-crazy-playing-the-same-role/)

[Tyler Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-posey/)

> [It's been crazy, playing for the club that I've dreamt of playing for all my life, I can't really explain how much it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-smith-rowe/it-s-been-crazy-playing-for-the-club-that-i-ve-dreamt-of-playing-for/)

[Emile Smith Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-smith-rowe/)

> [I look crazy. I know I do. Been true since I was a kid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-look-crazy-i-know-i-do-been-true-since-i-was-a-kid/)

[Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/)

> [You can't just play crazy. It makes you push yourself to stay in the realm of reality. And when you do that, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mccarthy/you-can-t-just-play-crazy-it-makes-you-push-yourself-to-stay-in-the/)

[Melissa McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mccarthy/)

> [You see why we play so many crazy ladies. We have to be crazy to start with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/you-see-why-we-play-so-many-crazy-ladies-we-have-to-be-crazy-to-start/)

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

> [People ask why I always play crazy people and free spirits. I guess it is because I like to have fun. But I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-punch/people-ask-why-i-always-play-crazy-people-and-free-spirits-i-guess-it/)

[Lucy Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-punch/)

> [I just want to keep at it. I can't wait to see, after years of being around, the roles I can play when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-fischer/i-just-want-to-keep-at-it-i-can-t-wait-to-see-after-years-of-being/)

[Tanya Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-fischer/)

> [I would love to play a crazy Russian spy, run with a gun. That's something I would love to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/i-would-love-to-play-a-crazy-russian-spy-run-with-a-gun-that-s/)

[Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/)

> [Australia is one of my favorite places to play - it's a crazy experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/australia-is-one-of-my-favorite-places-to-play-it-s-a-crazy-experience/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [Playing dysfunctional characters or crazy characters is only fun if they're well written. So I have been lucky enough to be asked to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/playing-dysfunctional-characters-or-crazy-characters-is-only-fun-if/)

[Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/)

> [I've played a lot of weird women. I play crazy ladies, and I've played a lot of insane women and weird best friends that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/i-ve-played-a-lot-of-weird-women-i-play-crazy-ladies-and-i-ve-played/)

[Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/)

## More by Claire Danes

> [My character was kidnapped by the Terminator and I was kidnapped by the Terminator production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/my-character-was-kidnapped-by-the-terminator-and-i-was-kidnapped-by/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I hadn't been free from adult responsibilities since I was 12, and I needed to experience that. I really needed to just be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-hadn-t-been-free-from-adult-responsibilities-since-i-was-12-and-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [Growing up in New York with artist parents - a very liberal environment, where we were always encouraged to challenge the status quo -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/growing-up-in-new-york-with-artist-parents-a-very-liberal-environment/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I was told that going to college wouldn't be good for my career, but I think that's nonsense. It's good to empower yourself by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-told-that-going-to-college-wouldn-t-be-good-for-my-career-but-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I exercise more for mental relaxation than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-exercise-more-for-mental-relaxation-than-anything-else/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I could truly have gone through life thinking that women were these venomous creatures. Turns out, they're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-could-truly-have-gone-through-life-thinking-that-women-were-these/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I do feel like I've gotten younger as I've aged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-do-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-younger-as-i-ve-aged/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [Voice over can be tricky. It can be dangerous because it's over-used or inappropriately used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/voice-over-can-be-tricky-it-can-be-dangerous-because-it-s-over-used/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I think people who make movies and have invested a lot of money in them get frightened that if they challenge an audience they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-people-who-make-movies-and-have-invested-a-lot-of-money-in/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I was a pretty nerdy kid. I was pretty nerdy. I'm still kind of nerdy. I have all of the worst qualities of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-a-pretty-nerdy-kid-i-was-pretty-nerdy-i-m-still-kind-of-nerdy-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I care about being formally physically attractive in my life, and I think that I am quite vain about my performance. I'm just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-care-about-being-formally-physically-attractive-in-my-life-and-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [When I was younger, like 14...I was desperate to find that 'true love' experience, but really, if you have to ask yourself if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-i-was-younger-like-14-i-was-desperate-to-find-that-true-love/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [However, I'm at a very comfortable place in my career and celebrity, in that I don't have to audition as extensively as I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/however-i-m-at-a-very-comfortable-place-in-my-career-and-celebrity-in/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I think people who make movies and have invested a lot of money in them, get frightened that if they challenge an audience they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-people-who-make-movies-and-have-invested-a-lot-of-money-in-2/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

[Explore all 185 Claire Danes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

## More Crazy quotes

> [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/)

Dot Dot Curve

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/)

[Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/)

> [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/)

[Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/)

> [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

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

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

> [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claire Danes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Crazy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/claire-danes-2119_crazy_i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-cra_41822.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.” — Claire Danes",
                "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": "Claire Danes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think it's important to never...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
