--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is true that one has to think first…" description: "\"It is true that one has to think first and then to act - but it's also true that if one has no possibility of acting, one's thinking kind of becomes em..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/erich-fromm-367_acting_it-is-true-that-one-has-to-think-first-a_1144326.jpg" --- # It is true that one has to think first and then to act… ![“It is true that one has to think first and then to act - but it's also true that if one has no possibility of acting, one's thinking kind of becomes empty and stupid.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/erich-fromm-367_acting_it-is-true-that-one-has-to-think-first-a_1144326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/erich-fromm-367_acting_it-is-true-that-one-has-to-think-first-a_1144326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/erich-fromm-367_acting_it-is-true-that-one-has-to-think-first-a_1144326.jpg) > “It is true that one has to think first and then to act - but it's also true that if one has no possibility of acting, one's thinking kind of becomes empty and stupid.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking without the ability to act renders thought ineffective and meaningless, highlighting the need for practical agency. **In simple terms:** Thoughts are useless without action. Key Takeaway Ensure your ideas can be applied. Themes agency thought action meaning existentialism Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical psychological motivational When to use this quote - personal decision making - political activism - career planning - creative projects Key Concepts Existentialism pragmatism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for action when circumstances limit you? - When is contemplation valuable without immediate action? A Different Perspective If action is impossible, thought may still guide future possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Thinking before acting is wisdom but acting before thinking is regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/thinking-before-acting-is-wisdom-but-acting-before-thinking-is-regret/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I don't think about the passing of time, but I think it would be great if I can have fun acting while thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shin-min-a/i-don-t-think-about-the-passing-of-time-but-i-think-it-would-be-great/) [Shin Min-a](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shin-min-a/) > [The only negative thing is that I got into acting thinking, "One day I'll be a cowboy, the next day I'll be an astronaut.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/the-only-negative-thing-is-that-i-got-into-acting-thinking-one-day-i/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [Acting is something I had been thinking about all the time, though not seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/acting-is-something-i-had-been-thinking-about-all-the-time-though-not/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [Increasingly I've come to think that what's at the core of acting is thinking. Most people would say it's feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/increasingly-i-ve-come-to-think-that-what-s-at-the-core-of-acting-is/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I try to not think too much about how stuff gets seen as it's being done by a woman. Because if you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/i-try-to-not-think-too-much-about-how-stuff-gets-seen-as-it-s-being/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [Good acting is thinking in front of the camera. I just do that and apply a sense of humor to it. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-grodin/good-acting-is-thinking-in-front-of-the-camera-i-just-do-that-and/) [Charles Grodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-grodin/) > [A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-man-of-knowledge-lives-by-acting-not-by-thinking-about-acting/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [You think when you don't want to do anything. Thinking is a poor alternative to acting. Your thinking is consuming all your energy. Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/you-think-when-you-don-t-want-to-do-anything-thinking-is-a-poor/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) > [A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-lives-by-acting-not-by-thinking-about-acting-nor-by/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [When I'm acting, that's all I'm doing. When I'm not acting, I'm not thinking about acting. If I'm writing, I'm just writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/when-i-m-acting-that-s-all-i-m-doing-when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-not/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [Tradition is an explanation for acting without thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-mcgarvie/tradition-is-an-explanation-for-acting-without-thinking/) Grace McGarvie > [Acting without thinking is like shooting without aiming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/acting-without-thinking-is-like-shooting-without-aiming/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“Thinking without acting makes you a coward. Acting without thinking makes you insane. You need both the thoughts and actions; they never walk alone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/thinking-without-acting-makes-you-a-coward-acting-without-thinking/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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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. 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