--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the first things I learned about…" description: "\"One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself\" — Ed Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg" --- # One of the first things I learned about acting was, the… ![“One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself” quote by Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg) > “One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself” [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is a personal competition; the only true rival is oneself, urging self-improvement. **In simple terms:** Compete with yourself in acting. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes self-improvement competition acting Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - rehearsals - auditions - career development Key Concepts psychology of performance self-discipline Questions to Reflect On - How to balance self-critique? - What metrics gauge progress? A Different Perspective External feedback also matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [First things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-things/) ## Related quotes > [“The only person you should compete with is the person you were yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prem-jagyasi/the-only-person-you-should-compete-with-is-the-person-you-were/) Prem Jagyasi > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [Outside of acting, the person that I admire the most is my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/outside-of-acting-the-person-that-i-admire-the-most-is-my-mother/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Some people have like a certain person, when they're around they get like a gnarly energy. I see it in other people, if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-fanning/some-people-have-like-a-certain-person-when-they-re-around-they-get/) [Mick Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-fanning/) > [“The only person I compete with is Satan. If that happens to be you, then could you please move out of the way? You’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-only-person-i-compete-with-is-satan-if-that-happens-to-be-you/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [There is only one person with whom to compete and that is yourself. Keep aiming to surpass your own best performance and ever strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/there-is-only-one-person-with-whom-to-compete-and-that-is-yourself/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [What I've learned about acting is that it needs to be mysterious. If you overthink how a beat needs to be played, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/what-i-ve-learned-about-acting-is-that-it-needs-to-be-mysterious-if/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're acting, you're a person. When you're modeling, you're a hanger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/analeigh-tipton/when-you-re-acting-you-re-a-person-when-you-re-modeling-you-re-a/) [Analeigh Tipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/analeigh-tipton/) > [Rajni Sir is very dedicated and punctual. It was great experience acting with him both as a person and as an actor. The way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayantara/rajni-sir-is-very-dedicated-and-punctual-it-was-great-experience/) Nayantara > [When you're acting, it's all about you and the person in front of you, and I think in life we forget to apply the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/when-you-re-acting-it-s-all-about-you-and-the-person-in-front-of-you/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [I'm a much better listener when I'm acting than I am as a person in real life because you learn as an actor that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-m-a-much-better-listener-when-i-m-acting-than-i-am-as-a-person-in/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [I do really like my co-stars when I'm acting. As a person, as a partner, and as something beyond that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joo-won/i-do-really-like-my-co-stars-when-i-m-acting-as-a-person-as-a-partner/) [Joo Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joo-won/) > [It's easy to direct while acting; there's one less person to argue with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/it-s-easy-to-direct-while-acting-there-s-one-less-person-to-argue-with/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [Without the heart it is no worship; it is a stage play; an acting a part without being that person really which is acted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-charnock/without-the-heart-it-is-no-worship-it-is-a-stage-play-an-acting-a/) [Stephen Charnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-charnock/) > [You can survive tough situations and even turn them to your advantage by acting as if you are the person you want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-survive-tough-situations-and-even-turn-them-to-your-advantage/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) ## More by Ed Harris > [I like to act with people that know what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-like-to-act-with-people-that-know-what-they-re-doing/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [Hippy, you think everything is a conspiracy. Everything is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/hippy-you-think-everything-is-a-conspiracy-everything-is/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I am not one of these guys who works job after job after job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-am-not-one-of-these-guys-who-works-job-after-job-after-job/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I love this country very much, and I'm proud to live here, but I think our current administration is extreme. These are not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-love-this-country-very-much-and-i-m-proud-to-live-here-but-i-think/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I hope to direct a few more films before I leave the planet, so I hope I can find the material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-hope-to-direct-a-few-more-films-before-i-leave-the-planet-so-i-hope/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I chose films made by people I wanted to work with, about subject matter I thought was intriguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-chose-films-made-by-people-i-wanted-to-work-with-about-subject/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [When Bush first got elected, the very first time there was talk of going to war with Iraq, the mainstream media gave his position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/when-bush-first-got-elected-the-very-first-time-there-was-talk-of/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I'm not an activist per se, but I have strong feelings about things. People can jump on celebrities for being ill-informed or naive, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-m-not-an-activist-per-se-but-i-have-strong-feelings-about-things/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I feel like my place in this industry is still progressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-feel-like-my-place-in-this-industry-is-still-progressing/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [For The Truman Show, I worked for a few weeks, do my gig, then I was done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/for-the-truman-show-i-worked-for-a-few-weeks-do-my-gig-then-i-was-done/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [You look at a guy like Lance Armstrong, and you have to be inspired. I sat next to Kirk Douglas the other day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/you-look-at-a-guy-like-lance-armstrong-and-you-have-to-be-inspired-i/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [You can mostly forget ethnic or religious differences. The competition for a bigger share of the oil proceeds is behind much of the fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/you-can-mostly-forget-ethnic-or-religious-differences-the-competition/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [There's always a reaction based on fear. People assume if you're criticizing a decision to go to war, then you're saying something against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/there-s-always-a-reaction-based-on-fear-people-assume-if-you-re/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [It's hard to see a film that's been made from a book that you really loved because it's such a different experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/it-s-hard-to-see-a-film-that-s-been-made-from-a-book-that-you-really/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [I was concerned about filling my life up with something important to me. To me, it was just necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-was-concerned-about-filling-my-life-up-with-something-important-to/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) [Explore all 35 Ed Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) ## 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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about-acting-was-the-only-person/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about-acting-was-the-only-person/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/ed-harris-18248_acting_one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about_466790.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself” — Ed Harris", "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": "Ed Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the first things I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about-acting-was-the-only-person/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/one-of-the-first-things-i-learned-about-acting-was-the-only-person/#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 } } ] } ```