--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look back the old old ones [X-Files…" description: "\"I look back the old old ones [X-Files series], from the beginning, and I'm kind of mortified by my acting! But I'm kind of impressed by my enthusiasm. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/david-duchovny-1754_acting_i-look-back-the-old-old-ones-x-files-ser_3132799.jpg" --- # I look back the old old ones \[X-Files series\], from the… ![“I look back the old old ones [X-Files series], from the beginning, and I'm kind of mortified by my acting! But I'm kind of impressed by my enthusiasm. I'm just thankful that I got to become better at what I did, and that we didn't get cancelled in the first year.” quote by David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/david-duchovny-1754_acting_i-look-back-the-old-old-ones-x-files-ser_3132799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/david-duchovny-1754_acting_i-look-back-the-old-old-ones-x-files-ser_3132799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/david-duchovny-1754_acting_i-look-back-the-old-old-ones-x-files-ser_3132799.jpg) > “I look back the old old ones \[X-Files series\], from the beginning, and I'm kind of mortified by my acting! But I'm kind of impressed by my enthusiasm. I'm just thankful that I got to become better at what I did, and that we didn't get cancelled in the first year.” [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early work felt embarrassing, yet enthusiasm drove improvement and continuity. **In simple terms:** Early mistakes teach growth. Key Takeaway Embrace enthusiasm despite early flaws. Themes growth self‑reflection career entlearning confidence Mood nostalgic proud Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - acting early - career retrospectives - creative projects Key Concepts self‑assessment media production Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance confidence with skill? - What lessons from early work guide you now? A Different Perspective Enthusiasm alone may not sustain success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [X files](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/x-files/) ## Related quotes > [I've got huge tubs full of X-Files memorobilia that I can sell on eBay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-ve-got-huge-tubs-full-of-x-files-memorobilia-that-i-can-sell-on-ebay/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [ I missed the whole thing \[X-files series\]. And I know it went for nine seasons, and I think I saw bits and pieces of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/i-missed-the-whole-thing-x-files-series-and-i-know-it-went-for-nine/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [You have these catch-phrases that you associate with 'The X-Files': 'Trust No One,' 'Deny Everything.' 'Believe the Lie' was one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/you-have-these-catch-phrases-that-you-associate-with-the-x-files/) [Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/) > [There are very few horror shows, where you have a long running arc. Most horror shows play as a sort of an anthology. Buffy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-mazzara/there-are-very-few-horror-shows-where-you-have-a-long-running-arc/) [Glen Mazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-mazzara/) > [When I did The X-Files, there was certainly less of that because the script was as it was and it was such a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/when-i-did-the-x-files-there-was-certainly-less-of-that-because-the/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [You used to have to make a choice. Is it a serialized television show, or is it a stand-alone or procedural? We were wildly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kurtzman/you-used-to-have-to-make-a-choice-is-it-a-serialized-television-show/) [Alex Kurtzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kurtzman/) > [ I tried my best \[on audition for X-Files\], and it worked out. I got the part. So I was flabbergasted. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/i-tried-my-best-on-audition-for-x-files-and-it-worked-out-i-got-the/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [If you look closely at 'Breaking Bad' and any given episode of 'The X Files,' you will realise the structure is exactly the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gilligan/if-you-look-closely-at-breaking-bad-and-any-given-episode-of-the-x/) [Vince Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gilligan/) > [ I get them \[auditions\] from time to time, and I sometimes get auditions for big dramas, and I often think, well, I'm not going… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/i-get-them-auditions-from-time-to-time-and-i-sometimes-get-auditions/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [When I first moved to Los Angeles I came down there on a wing and a prayer in a way. I had about six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/when-i-first-moved-to-los-angeles-i-came-down-there-on-a-wing-and-a/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [I'm not doing a Mulder, there was no character reference-point. I think Mark Buchman shot it very David Fincher, but we did not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-giuntoli/i-m-not-doing-a-mulder-there-was-no-character-reference-point-i-think/) [David Giuntoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-giuntoli/) > [When I was a kid, I was obsessed with UFOs in particular, and the paranormal. I grew up in the '90s, which is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-obsessed-with-ufos-in-particular-and-the/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [For anyone who's a fan of the X-files show - I mean, I have the ultimate role. I got to deal with Mulder, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/for-anyone-who-s-a-fan-of-the-x-files-show-i-mean-i-have-the-ultimate/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [I'm Jewish, but my mom's Catholic, so the guilt area is covered. I have the highest expectations, along with the lowest. I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-jewish-but-my-mom-s-catholic-so-the-guilt-area-is-covered-i-have/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I wasn't a big science-fiction fan growing up. But I loved Jules Verne and Sherlock Holmes. Both came into play on 'The X-Files.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/i-wasn-t-a-big-science-fiction-fan-growing-up-but-i-loved-jules-verne/) [Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/) ## More by David Duchovny > [My whole life, I've wanted things before I was ready. I was always pushing for the next job, the next success. I was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/my-whole-life-i-ve-wanted-things-before-i-was-ready-i-was-always/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [ I would say recently I've gotten back to perusing \[Samuel\] Beckett's novels. Listening to the way Donald Trump speaks without saying anything has made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-would-say-recently-i-ve-gotten-back-to-perusing-samuel-beckett-s/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I got married a bit late, I agree. In any other period of history I'd have been dead at that age and they'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-got-married-a-bit-late-i-agree-in-any-other-period-of-history-i-d/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Our country was founded on a distrust of government. Our founding fathers gave power to the people to keep an eye on government. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/our-country-was-founded-on-a-distrust-of-government-our-founding/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I still feel like I haven't grown up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-still-feel-like-i-haven-t-grown-up/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [It's not someone else's responsibility to honor my marriage. It's my responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/it-s-not-someone-else-s-responsibility-to-honor-my-marriage-it-s-my/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Fame does lead to money, which I don't have a close relationship with. I'm the kind of guy who never sees the money -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/fame-does-lead-to-money-which-i-don-t-have-a-close-relationship-with/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I like my computer. But I don't know how to use it as well as the 10-year-old daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-like-my-computer-but-i-don-t-know-how-to-use-it-as-well-as-the-10/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Maybe the best things about celebrity are the things like being able to get that seat on the plane that you wouldn't normally get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/maybe-the-best-things-about-celebrity-are-the-things-like-being-able/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [“Of course I’m biased, what else could I be? Bias makes the world go round, sometimes a little too fast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/of-course-i-m-biased-what-else-could-i-be-bias-makes-the-world-go/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > ['The X-Files,' as I recall, we didn't know really what we were until the middle of the first year. You know, so if we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/the-x-files-as-i-recall-we-didn-t-know-really-what-we-were-until-the/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I always dreamt of being a basketball player. A dream that only I believed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-always-dreamt-of-being-a-basketball-player-a-dream-that-only-i/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Well, I still write poetry, but I wouldn't call myself a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/well-i-still-write-poetry-but-i-wouldn-t-call-myself-a-poet/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I'm not reading currently because I'm getting revisions of a novel. If I read while I'm writing I will unconsciously plagiarize and go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-m-not-reading-currently-because-i-m-getting-revisions-of-a-novel-if/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Anxiety is part of creativity, the need to get something out, the need to be rid of something or to get in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/anxiety-is-part-of-creativity-the-need-to-get-something-out-the-need/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) [Explore all 211 David Duchovny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) ## 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 > [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. 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