--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writers and painters have a medium that…" description: "\"Writers and painters have a medium that can foster self-effacements. Actors haven't. An actor can't hide himself behind paper or canvas. If you're not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/elizabeth-goudge-2888_actors_writers-and-painters-have-a-medium-that_931121.jpg" --- # Writers and painters have a medium that can foster… ![“Writers and painters have a medium that can foster self-effacements. Actors haven't. An actor can't hide himself behind paper or canvas. If you're not there your art's not there. That's why we actors are often such self-centered objects.” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/elizabeth-goudge-2888_actors_writers-and-painters-have-a-medium-that_931121.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/elizabeth-goudge-2888_actors_writers-and-painters-have-a-medium-that_931121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/elizabeth-goudge-2888_actors_writers-and-painters-have-a-medium-that_931121.jpg) > “Writers and painters have a medium that can foster self-effacements. Actors haven't. An actor can't hide himself behind paper or canvas. If you're not there your art's not there. That's why we actors are often such self-centered objects.” [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists can hide behind their work, but actors must be present, making them appear self‑absorbed. **In simple terms:** Actors must be present; artists can hide behind medium. Key Takeaway Recognize presence in performance. Themes art self‑awareness ego Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - theatre - acting workshops - self‑reflection - creative collaboration Key Concepts identity visibility performance Questions to Reflect On - How does presence shape authenticity? - Can actors balance self‑focus with audience connection? A Different Perspective Actors cannot conceal themselves, leading to perceived selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-self-640041/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-actors-1517470/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Effacements Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effacements-actors-1517471/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centered/) [Self Effacements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-effacements-1517469/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think anybody becomes an actor to serve theatre or to serve art anywhere. 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The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) ## More by Elizabeth Goudge > [“He strolled to the front door and stood watching, letting the picture of Felicity grave itself so deeply on his mind that when with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-strolled-to-the-front-door-and-stood-watching-letting-the-picture/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I have known him nearly all my life, and I am going to marry him, so that there won't ever be a time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-have-known-him-nearly-all-my-life-and-i-am-going-to-marry-him-so/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Because of course she had known she must go. 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Day and night, life and death, love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/could-you-understand-the-meaning-of-light-if-there-were-no-darkness/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [A well-trained dog is like religion, it sets the deserving at their ease and is a terror to evildoers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/a-well-trained-dog-is-like-religion-it-sets-the-deserving-at-their/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The sun is still there... even if clouds drift over it. Once you have experienced the reality of sunshine you may weep, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-sun-is-still-there-even-if-clouds-drift-over-it-once-you-have/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [ \[Salvation\] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine-burglary-the-first-thing-to/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The lovers of life, they are children at heart always in their wonder and delight, but they do not grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-lovers-of-life-they-are-children-at-heart-always-in-their-wonder/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Our home, our special country, is for all of us the place where we find liberation; a very difficult word ... that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/our-home-our-special-country-is-for-all-of-us-the-place-where-we-find/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) [Explore all 144 Elizabeth Goudge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. 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