Habits Quote by David Hare
““And it's a preference, a long-held preference, what you might call a 'habit of mind'—putting words into other people's mouths. And those people are played by people whose profession is to pretend to be other people. For which purpose, they adopt gestures, voices, intonations, even sexual attitudes not their own. On stage, they affect to be ravished and amused by someone whom they will, afterwards, run a mile to avoid having dinner with. Likewise, they spit torrents of abuse against an actor who later, later, in the softness of the night, they will share their bed with.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Permanent Way, David Hare, 2004
People often project their own thoughts onto others, especially when acting, leading to contradictory behavior and hypocrisy.
In simple terms: Projecting thoughts onto others causes hypocrisy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question your assumptions about others.
Themes
hypocrisy
projection
performance
identity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- acting
- political debate
- personal relationships
- media criticism
Key Concepts
psychology
social dynamics
role-play
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice when you’re projecting?
- What drives you to adopt contradictory stances?
A Different Perspective
Assumptions can be deeply ingrained and hard to change.
