--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have no idea how fragile an actor's…" description: "\"You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.\" — Elia Kazan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg" --- # You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is. ![“You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.” quote by Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg) > “You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.” [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor’s self‑esteem is extremely delicate and can be easily damaged. **In simple terms:** Actors have fragile self‑worth. Key Takeaway Protect emotional wellbeing in performance. Themes psychology performance vulnerability Mood sensitive reflective Type psychological advice When to use this quote - auditions - rehearsals - public reviews - career setbacks Key Concepts self‑esteem criticism artistic pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate self‑worth from feedback? - What practices sustain confidence? A Different Perspective External validation may be unreliable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragile/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) ## Related quotes > [“In recognition that any good idea is a fragile thing, you have to give it a few minutes to breath—like a good red wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/in-recognition-that-any-good-idea-is-a-fragile-thing-you-have-to-give/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [To be an actor, you have to be self-obsessed, but when you are a filmmaker, you get a macro view. Every aspect of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bhatt/to-be-an-actor-you-have-to-be-self-obsessed-but-when-you-are-a/) [Pooja Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bhatt/) > [It's important for an actor to self-analyze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-akkineni/it-s-important-for-an-actor-to-self-analyze/) [Akhil Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-akkineni/) > [When you're an aspiring actor, you do so many self-tapes that it gets to a certain point where you have to develop a thick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-scanlen/when-you-re-an-aspiring-actor-you-do-so-many-self-tapes-that-it-gets/) [Eliza Scanlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-scanlen/) > [Part of being an actor is almost self-hypnosis during those brief moments when the cameras are rolling. You want to actually believe you're Chris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/part-of-being-an-actor-is-almost-self-hypnosis-during-those-brief/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [The only disadvantage to directing if you've been an actor is how self-conscious you are. When I'm directing, I'm always so aware when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/the-only-disadvantage-to-directing-if-you-ve-been-an-actor-is-how/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [Obviously, being an actor I am very self-critical and I will always want to serve the fans, but I've always tried to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-chalotra/obviously-being-an-actor-i-am-very-self-critical-and-i-will-always/) [Anya Chalotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-chalotra/) > [I used to believe that George Michael was a total actor. It was self-defeating, because it made me also feel fraudulent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-used-to-believe-that-george-michael-was-a-total-actor-it-was-self/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [I do believe that an actor, who is self aware, will never do a film that is not an extension of his personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/i-do-believe-that-an-actor-who-is-self-aware-will-never-do-a-film/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [“Hearts were beautifully fierce yet fragile things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-maniscalco/hearts-were-beautifully-fierce-yet-fragile-things/) [Kerri Maniscalco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-maniscalco/) > [I hope the day will come when a wasp-waist and a pair of thin shoulders will not be esteemed beauty: we have had our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/i-hope-the-day-will-come-when-a-wasp-waist-and-a-pair-of-thin/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) > [The foundations of our lives are far more fragile than we think. So we are severely shaken when life turns out to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/the-foundations-of-our-lives-are-far-more-fragile-than-we-think-so-we/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Elia Kazan > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I didn't have the problem of finding myself at 45 on the wrong course - I always wanted to be a film director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-didn-t-have-the-problem-of-finding-myself-at-45-on-the-wrong-course/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Never underestimate the narcissism of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/never-underestimate-the-narcissism-of-a-writer/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [What's called a difficult decision is a difficult decision because either way you go there are penalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/what-s-called-a-difficult-decision-is-a-difficult-decision-because/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You can't just sit there and do the lines. You have to do something revealing or unusual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-can-t-just-sit-there-and-do-the-lines-you-have-to-do-something/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [If you're going to play a cowboy, show up with the horse at the audition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/if-you-re-going-to-play-a-cowboy-show-up-with-the-horse-at-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I value peace, too, when it is not bought at the price of fundamental decencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-value-peace-too-when-it-is-not-bought-at-the-price-of-fundamental/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [There was no doubt that there was a vast organization which was making fools of all the liberals in Hollywood and taking their money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/there-was-no-doubt-that-there-was-a-vast-organization-which-was/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [The makers of entertainment must try, in our field, to be honest and grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-makers-of-entertainment-must-try-in-our-field-to-be-honest-and/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I'm very pro-America, but I feel it necessary to keep in touch with Europe to maintain a perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-very-pro-america-but-i-feel-it-necessary-to-keep-in-touch-with/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [It's difficult, if not impossible, to get away with anything false before the camera. That instrument penetrates the husk of the actor; it reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/it-s-difficult-if-not-impossible-to-get-away-with-anything-false/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [For years after I resigned, I was still faithful to their way of thinking. But not in the American Communists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/for-years-after-i-resigned-i-was-still-faithful-to-their-way-of/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You've got to keep fighting; you've got to risk your life every six months to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-ve-got-to-keep-fighting-you-ve-got-to-risk-your-life-every-six/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Look for the contradictions in every character, especially in your heroes and villains. No one should be what they first seem to be. Surprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/look-for-the-contradictions-in-every-character-especially-in-your/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Explore all 97 Elia Kazan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elia Kazan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s-self-worth-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s-self-worth-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/elia-kazan-6753_actor_you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s_163544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.” — Elia Kazan", "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": "Elia Kazan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have no idea how fragile...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s-self-worth-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s-self-worth-is/#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 } } ] } ```