--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People tend to relax when they're off…" description: "\"People tend to relax when they're off camera. That's when they should be working the hardest.\" — Denzel Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/denzel-washington-1345_cameras_people-tend-to-relax-when-they-re-off-ca_1570361.jpg" --- # People tend to relax when they're off camera. That's when… ![“People tend to relax when they're off camera. That's when they should be working the hardest.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/denzel-washington-1345_cameras_people-tend-to-relax-when-they-re-off-ca_1570361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/denzel-washington-1345_cameras_people-tend-to-relax-when-they-re-off-ca_1570361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/denzel-washington-1345_cameras_people-tend-to-relax-when-they-re-off-ca_1570361.jpg) > “People tend to relax when they're off camera. That's when they should be working the hardest.” [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When unobserved, people often relax; true effort should be constant, not just under scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Work hardest when no one watches. Key Takeaway Maintain discipline regardless of audience. Themes work ethic integrity self‑discipline Mood determined reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - remote work - creative endeavors - personal goals Key Concepts performance motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay accountable alone? - What routines keep you disciplined? A Different Perspective Self‑monitoring can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [Today my passion is still black and white. Today if I have an array of cameras in front of me the one I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sexton/today-my-passion-is-still-black-and-white-today-if-i-have-an-array-of/) [John Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sexton/) > [I relax more when I'm behind the camera than anything else. I love that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/i-relax-more-when-i-m-behind-the-camera-than-anything-else-i-love-that/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [My great joy in working on anything is stepping out in front of the camera and working with the actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/my-great-joy-in-working-on-anything-is-stepping-out-in-front-of-the/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) > [I was fortunate to literally find my style on camera working in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sasso/i-was-fortunate-to-literally-find-my-style-on-camera-working-in-canada/) [Will Sasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sasso/) > [I'm just looking forward to keep improving and keep working my hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/i-m-just-looking-forward-to-keep-improving-and-keep-working-my-hardest/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [“the three men working hardest to maneuver the president—Bannon, Kushner, and Priebus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-three-men-working-hardest-to-maneuver-the-president-bannon/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [I'm trying to be number one. I'm doing the best I can and working the hardest I've ever worked to ensure I've got that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-m-trying-to-be-number-one-i-m-doing-the-best-i-can-and-working-the/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [I'm just going to be working my hardest to get to my full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chung/i-m-just-going-to-be-working-my-hardest-to-get-to-my-full-potential/) [Patrick Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chung/) > [Everyone's so used to taking care of actors and directors, but people in the crew are there the longest and working the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/everyone-s-so-used-to-taking-care-of-actors-and-directors-but-people/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [What I am working hardest for is for my kid, for a better future for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mcdonald/what-i-am-working-hardest-for-is-for-my-kid-for-a-better-future-for/) [Jessica McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mcdonald/) > [It's nice when you know the crowd are on your side. I can only repay them by working my hardest when I do get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/it-s-nice-when-you-know-the-crowd-are-on-your-side-i-can-only-repay/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [It's very simple: When you're working your hardest, the world opens up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/it-s-very-simple-when-you-re-working-your-hardest-the-world-opens-up/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [“Well, this I know: our best years are when we're working hardest and going right ahead when we can hardly see our way out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/well-this-i-know-our-best-years-are-when-we-re-working-hardest-and/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Sometimes it ain’t about being the most talented. Sometimes it ain’t about being the smartest. Sometimes it’s not even about working the hardest. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/sometimes-it-ain-t-about-being-the-most-talented-sometimes-it-ain-t/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [It's flabbergasting. I can understand if you have your legs spread and you're pushing yourself into the camera - that's sexually erotic. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-christensen/it-s-flabbergasting-i-can-understand-if-you-have-your-legs-spread-and/) [Helena Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-christensen/) ## More by Denzel Washington > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/talent-comes-from-god-if-you-have-been-given-some-then-value-it/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [ I'll be working with Ridley's \[Scott\] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brother-tony-again-someone-who/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-found-that-nothing-in-life-is-worthwhile-unless-you-take-risks/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-and-haven-t-been-unemployed-for-20-years-i-m-an-exception-to-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [It's strictly business. If I loan you $25 million, I want my money back. I don't want to hear about the social impact. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-strictly-business-if-i-loan-you-25-million-i-want-my-money-back/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-have-an-enemy-then-learn-and-know-your-enemy-don-t-just-be-mad/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“He taught us that everyone has a good story and the more of others you understand, the better your grasp of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/he-taught-us-that-everyone-has-a-good-story-and-the-more-of-others/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." Religion to me is the human condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/religion-to-me-is-when-man-gets-ahold-of-spirituality-my-god-is-right/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-award-i-d-been-to-the-party-enough-times/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I've just directed a film called The Great Debaters, which is inspired by a true story about a young college debating team in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ve-just-directed-a-film-called-the-great-debaters-which-is-inspired/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) [Explore all 253 Denzel Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More Cameras quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/to-shift-the-structure-of-a-sentence-alters-the-meaning-of-that/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [There's nothing like the energy in a small comedy club room or a small theater when it's going really well. I can see everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/there-s-nothing-like-the-energy-in-a-small-comedy-club-room-or-a/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [When they took me to do the camera test for the vampire make up, after they put the prosthetic on, I went though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/when-they-took-me-to-do-the-camera-test-for-the-vampire-make-up-after/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Many times I've sat with a camera and another actor and seen all their fears and insecurities and struggles. You want to support them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/many-times-i-ve-sat-with-a-camera-and-another-actor-and-seen-all/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [Don't ever for a minute make the mistake of looking down your nose at westerns. They're art - the good ones, I mean. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/don-t-ever-for-a-minute-make-the-mistake-of-looking-down-your-nose-at/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [My personal interest in ordinary people is unlimited, but I am fascinated by the challenge of portraying true greatness adequately with my camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/my-personal-interest-in-ordinary-people-is-unlimited-but-i-am/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [I'm closer to being happy. I'm doing things that make me happy. In football I loved to practice and I loved to play, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-m-closer-to-being-happy-i-m-doing-things-that-make-me-happy-in/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) [Browse all 2,666 Cameras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People tend to relax when they're off camera. 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