--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing…" description: "\"Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn't be more real. Some people don't like to look at it in the face because it's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/elizabeth-taylor-2193_acting_acting-is-to-me-now-artificial-seeing-pe_254111.jpg" --- # Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing people suffer is… ![“Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn't be more real. Some people don't like to look at it in the face because it's painful. But if nobody does, then nothing gets done.” quote by Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/elizabeth-taylor-2193_acting_acting-is-to-me-now-artificial-seeing-pe_254111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/elizabeth-taylor-2193_acting_acting-is-to-me-now-artificial-seeing-pe_254111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/elizabeth-taylor-2193_acting_acting-is-to-me-now-artificial-seeing-pe_254111.jpg) > “Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn't be more real. Some people don't like to look at it in the face because it's painful. But if nobody does, then nothing gets done.” [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting feels artificial, but witnessing real suffering is profoundly authentic and motivates action. **In simple terms:** Seeing real pain drives genuine concern. Key Takeaway Turn empathy into purposeful action. Themes empathy reality social responsibility Mood somber motivated Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - charitable work - advocacy - personal growth Key Concepts human suffering authenticity activism Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance empathy with self‑care? - What steps can we take to address suffering? A Different Perspective Emotional burden can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Artificial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-artificial-2519976/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Artificial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Face Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-painful-493709/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Suffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-suffer-557352/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Suffer Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffer-real-1963126/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“The sympathy in his face was painful. “This doesn’t sound like a decision, Cath. This sounds like giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/the-sympathy-in-his-face-was-painful-this-doesn-t-sound-like-a/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [A basis for much of the pain women suffer in real life is they must somehow resolve their devotion to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-cannon/a-basis-for-much-of-the-pain-women-suffer-in-real-life-is-they-must/) [Billy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-cannon/) > [Great leaders are those who are able to look reality in the face, however painful it may be, and deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/great-leaders-are-those-who-are-able-to-look-reality-in-the-face/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Man has to suffer. When he has no real afflictions, he invents some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/man-has-to-suffer-when-he-has-no-real-afflictions-he-invents-some/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [“What are you doing?” “I...” He appeared to have no idea himself. “I wanted to see your freckle.” A vulnerable tenderness flashed across his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/what-are-you-doing-i-he-appeared-to-have-no-idea-himself-i-wanted-to/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [I always hide myself at the back of the bar just to see your smiling face,, but the most painful part of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-hide-myself-at-the-back-of-the-bar-just-to-see-your-smiling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all suffer alone in the real world; true empathy's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/we-all-suffer-alone-in-the-real-world-true-empathy-s-impossible/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Some suffer from real misfortunes. Sadly, others only imagine that they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/some-suffer-from-real-misfortunes-sadly-others-only-imagine-that-they/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Perspective, as its inventor remarked, is a beautiful thing. What horrors of damp huts, where human beings languish, may not become picturesque through aerial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/perspective-as-its-inventor-remarked-is-a-beautiful-thing-what/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [People suffer when they pursue a life or chase a dream that doesn’t belong to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/people-suffer-when-they-pursue-a-life-or-chase-a-dream-that-doesn-t/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Successful people suffer because they work beyond their energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/successful-people-suffer-because-they-work-beyond-their-energy/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [We now undertake that we cannot rest while millions of our people suffer the pain and indignity of poverty in all its forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-now-undertake-that-we-cannot-rest-while-millions-of-our-people/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [When people suffer, their relationships usually suffer as well. Period. And we all suffer because, as the Buddha says, that's the nature of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/when-people-suffer-their-relationships-usually-suffer-as-well-period/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [It is not merely that people must die and people must suffer, if not here, then there. But what is dreadful is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/it-is-not-merely-that-people-must-die-and-people-must-suffer-if-not/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [You don't want people to suffer or get fat when they're pregnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-bowen/you-don-t-want-people-to-suffer-or-get-fat-when-they-re-pregnant/) [Julie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-bowen/) ## More by Elizabeth Taylor > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Any home where there is love constitutes a family and all families should have the same legal rights, including the right to marry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/any-home-where-there-is-love-constitutes-a-family-and-all-families/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Michael Jackson is part of my heart. We would do anything for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/michael-jackson-is-part-of-my-heart-we-would-do-anything-for-each/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Why shouldn't gay people be allowed to be able to marry? Those against gay marriages say marriage should only be between a man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/why-shouldn-t-gay-people-be-allowed-to-be-able-to-marry-those-against/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [“If we do not alter with the times, the times yet alter us. We may stand perfectly still, but our surroundings shift round and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/if-we-do-not-alter-with-the-times-the-times-yet-alter-us-we-may-stand/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I use my fame now when I want to help a cause or other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/i-use-my-fame-now-when-i-want-to-help-a-cause-or-other-people/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/you-find-out-who-your-real-friends-are-when-you-re-involved-in-a/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I gave a very dear friend of mine my humanitarian award. Because you don't need an award to be, or not be, a humanitarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/i-gave-a-very-dear-friend-of-mine-my-humanitarian-award-because-you/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Everything was handed to me - looks, fame, wealth, honour, love. I rarely had to fight for anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/everything-was-handed-to-me-looks-fame-wealth-honour-love-i-rarely/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [When you're fat, the world is divided into two groups - people who bug you and people who leave you alone. The funny thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/when-you-re-fat-the-world-is-divided-into-two-groups-people-who-bug/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Originally, we were going to set up a cappuccino bar in the showroom, but we've been so busy, ... We decided when we're old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/originally-we-were-going-to-set-up-a-cappuccino-bar-in-the-showroom/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I want my tombstone to say She Lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/i-want-my-tombstone-to-say-she-lived/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [To me, acting is a matter of absolute concentration. You can laugh and giggle with your friends up to the minute the director says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/to-me-acting-is-a-matter-of-absolute-concentration-you-can-laugh-and/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [The most sensible thing to do to people you hate is to drink their brandy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/the-most-sensible-thing-to-do-to-people-you-hate-is-to-drink-their/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I prefer rugby to soccer. I enjoy the violence in rugby, except when they start biting each other's ears off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/i-prefer-rugby-to-soccer-i-enjoy-the-violence-in-rugby-except-when/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) [Explore all 180 Elizabeth Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn't be more real. Some people don't like to look at it in the face because it's painful. 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