--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The theater is a need for me. It's a…" description: "\"The theater is a need for me. It's a terrible attraction, something I'm compelled to do. And one derives a form of nourishment from the theater which y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/daniel-day-lewis-3575_attraction_the-theater-is-a-need-for-me-it-s-a-terr_1865986.jpg" --- # The theater is a need for me. It's a terrible attraction… ![“The theater is a need for me. It's a terrible attraction, something I'm compelled to do. And one derives a form of nourishment from the theater which you can never get from films. Making films weakens you in some way. With the theater, the work itself is a regenerative process.” quote by Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/daniel-day-lewis-3575_attraction_the-theater-is-a-need-for-me-it-s-a-terr_1865986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/daniel-day-lewis-3575_attraction_the-theater-is-a-need-for-me-it-s-a-terr_1865986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/daniel-day-lewis-3575_attraction_the-theater-is-a-need-for-me-it-s-a-terr_1865986.jpg) > “The theater is a need for me. It's a terrible attraction, something I'm compelled to do. And one derives a form of nourishment from the theater which you can never get from films. Making films weakens you in some way. With the theater, the work itself is a regenerative process.” [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theater offers a deep, personal nourishment that film cannot provide; live performance regenerates the actor, while film can diminish that vitality. **In simple terms:** Theater feeds the soul, film does not. Key Takeaway Choose live performance for personal growth. Themes art creativity authenticity self‑renewal Mood reflective passionate Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - stage acting - theatre workshops - creative retreats - actor training - performance art Key Concepts method acting presence immediacy Questions to Reflect On - How does live audience energy influence your craft? - Can film ever replicate the regenerative aspect of theater? A Different Perspective Film may lack the immediate feedback loop of live audience, limiting personal regeneration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-making-436439/) [Making Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-films-342962/) [Nourishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nourishment/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Theater Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-films-2542854/) [Theater Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-need-321352/) [Theater Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-work-428889/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I'm working in a form of cinema that can be described, and has been described, as a diaristic form of cinema. In other words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-working-in-a-form-of-cinema-that-can-be-described-and-has-been/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The only way you can learn about making films is by making them, by putting your stamp on the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/the-only-way-you-can-learn-about-making-films-is-by-making-them-by/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I can't always be making 'British films.' Why should we be making films about corsets and horses and girls learning to drive when Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/i-can-t-always-be-making-british-films-why-should-we-be-making-films/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) > [Except here it's more power, more energy, younger and also in Europe it's still not only entertainment. Theater or films are looked at as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/except-here-it-s-more-power-more-energy-younger-and-also-in-europe-it/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [Will TV kill the theater? If the programs I have seen, save for "Kukla, Fran and Ollie," the ball games and the fights, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/will-tv-kill-the-theater-if-the-programs-i-have-seen-save-for-kukla/) [Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/) > [I am married to the theater, and the films are only my mistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oskar-werner/i-am-married-to-the-theater-and-the-films-are-only-my-mistress/) [Oskar Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oskar-werner/) > [To do theater you need to block off a hunk of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/to-do-theater-you-need-to-block-off-a-hunk-of-time/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [When you are on stage in front of an audience, you want to engage the entire crowd. If a thousand people are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/when-you-are-on-stage-in-front-of-an-audience-you-want-to-engage-the/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [I go to the theater because I need help dealing with my life; I want to see the greatest questions addressed. I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-go-to-the-theater-because-i-need-help-dealing-with-my-life-i-want/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [I kind of prefer bouncing back and forth between theater and films. It's like having the best of both worlds, both very different experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-going/i-kind-of-prefer-bouncing-back-and-forth-between-theater-and-films-it/) [Joanna Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-going/) > [I think for me with theater, I need to take a break and then fall in love with it again. And then go do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-think-for-me-with-theater-i-need-to-take-a-break-and-then-fall-in/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Our goal at Home Theater Films is to inspire and entertain our audience. We want to make great movies that everyone can enjoy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/our-goal-at-home-theater-films-is-to-inspire-and-entertain-our/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [I prefer the films that put their audience to sleep in the theater. Some films have made me doze off in the theater, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-prefer-the-films-that-put-their-audience-to-sleep-in-the-theater/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > ['Nicholas Nickleby' was the best example, where 43 people could make an audience of 1,500 look at a fingernail at any given moment. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/nicholas-nickleby-was-the-best-example-where-43-people-could-make-an/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [What I love about the theater is the work ethic. I grew up with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/what-i-love-about-the-theater-is-the-work-ethic-i-grew-up-with-it/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) ## More by Daniel Day-Lewis > [You don't merely give over your creativity to making a film - you give over your life! In theatre, by contrast, you live these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/you-don-t-merely-give-over-your-creativity-to-making-a-film-you-give/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [I became conflicted in my late teens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-became-conflicted-in-my-late-teens/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [I spend many months in apparently listless rumination out of which I hope something will emerge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-spend-many-months-in-apparently-listless-rumination-out-of-which-i/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [Perhaps I'm particularly serious, because I'm not unaware of the potential absurdity of what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/perhaps-i-m-particularly-serious-because-i-m-not-unaware-of-the/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [Being at the centre of a film is a burden one takes on with innocence the first time. Thereafter, you take it on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/being-at-the-centre-of-a-film-is-a-burden-one-takes-on-with-innocence/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [There must've been some part of me that wanted to make my mark. But there was never a defining moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/there-must-ve-been-some-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-make-my-mark-but/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [For as long as I can remember, the thing that gave me a sense of wonderment and renewal... has always been the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-the-thing-that-gave-me-a-sense-of/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [The more articulate somebody is, the more suspicious I am of them. I like to feel that the important things remain unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/the-more-articulate-somebody-is-the-more-suspicious-i-am-of-them-i/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [I've got a serious-looking head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-ve-got-a-serious-looking-head/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [I don't know what impression you might have of the way I live. I live in a quiet place. I do not live as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-don-t-know-what-impression-you-might-have-of-the-way-i-live-i-live/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [I broke things to get attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-broke-things-to-get-attention/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [I still relate to my father very much. I mean, I talk to him in a certain way, as we do talk to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-still-relate-to-my-father-very-much-i-mean-i-talk-to-him-in-a/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [When I've gone back to work, it's always with that sense of inevitability. That may be a complete delusion, but it's the one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/when-i-ve-gone-back-to-work-it-s-always-with-that-sense-of/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [There are always practical decisions to be made about any character you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/there-are-always-practical-decisions-to-be-made-about-any-character/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [My preference is that, that day when someone sticks a tripod in front of you with a camera on the top, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/my-preference-is-that-that-day-when-someone-sticks-a-tripod-in-front/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) [Explore all 127 Daniel Day-Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) ## More Attraction quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [You cannot perceive what you are not in the vibration of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/you-cannot-perceive-what-you-are-not-in-the-vibration-of/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-one-who-calls-the-law-of-attraction-into-action-and-you/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [War is thus divine in itself, since it is a law of the world. War is divine through its consequences of a supernatural nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-de-maistre/war-is-thus-divine-in-itself-since-it-is-a-law-of-the-world-war-is/) [Joseph de Maistre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-de-maistre/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) [Browse all 2,005 Attraction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The theater is a need for me. It's a terrible attraction, something I'm compelled to do. And one derives a form of nourishment from the theater which you can never get from films. Making films weakens you in some way. 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