--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A…" description: "\"“Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A representative? it the actual thing represented?-Ultimately you are even just an imitation play-actor…Second ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/friedrich-nietzsche-15_theatre_are-you-genuine-or-just-a-play-actor-a-r_1217487.jpg" --- # Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A representative?… ![“Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A representative? it the actual thing represented?-Ultimately you are even just an imitation play-actor…Second question for the conscience.” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/friedrich-nietzsche-15_theatre_are-you-genuine-or-just-a-play-actor-a-r_1217487.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/friedrich-nietzsche-15_theatre_are-you-genuine-or-just-a-play-actor-a-r_1217487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/friedrich-nietzsche-15_theatre_are-you-genuine-or-just-a-play-actor-a-r_1217487.jpg) > ““Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A representative? it the actual thing represented?-Ultimately you are even just an imitation play-actor…Second question for the conscience.”” [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authenticity questions authenticity from performance; even self‑awareness may be an act. **In simple terms:** Genuine self may be an act. Key Takeaway Question the authenticity of your actions. Themes authenticity identity performance philosophy self conscience Mood critical introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - artistic expression - political discourse - therapy Key Concepts existentialism self‑deception social masks Questions to Reflect On - Are you acting or performing? - What does “real” self mean to you? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can lead to paralysis; authenticity can be fluid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Are you genuine? Or just an actor? A representative? Or what it is that is represented?In the end, you might merely be someone mimicking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/are-you-genuine-or-just-an-actor-a-representative-or-what-it-is-that/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Do you want to go along with others? or go on ahead? or go off on your own?...you must know what you want and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/do-you-want-to-go-along-with-others-or-go-on-ahead-or-go-off-on-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Are you one who looks on? or lends a hand? - or who looks away, sidles off?...Third question for the conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/are-you-one-who-looks-on-or-lends-a-hand-or-who-looks-away-sidles-off/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Don't question your conscience so much--it will get out of tune like a strummed piano. Keep it for great occasions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/don-t-question-your-conscience-so-much-it-will-get-out-of-tune-like-a/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [I'm always just drawn to those roles that present one way and have many other things going on underneath. It's just more fun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-m-always-just-drawn-to-those-roles-that-present-one-way-and-have/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [In a weird way, I live vicariously through the characters I play as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/in-a-weird-way-i-live-vicariously-through-the-characters-i-play-as-an/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [Every director is always directing around the play. If you have an actor who really doesn't get the character well enough, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilo-cruz/every-director-is-always-directing-around-the-play-if-you-have-an/) [Nilo Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nilo-cruz/) > [I stopped asking a long time ago, "why would you want me to play that?" I'm an actor. That's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-stopped-asking-a-long-time-ago-why-would-you-want-me-to-play-that-i/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I'm not very actorish. I don't play actor 24 hours a day. When the job is done, I go on to be myself, whoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-burr/i-m-not-very-actorish-i-don-t-play-actor-24-hours-a-day-when-the-job/) [Raymond Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-burr/) > [You have to play your part as an actor at the end of the day, regardless of the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaideep-ahlawat/you-have-to-play-your-part-as-an-actor-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [Jaideep Ahlawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaideep-ahlawat/) > [It's important to do research. I do that in every play, every actor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gilpin/it-s-important-to-do-research-i-do-that-in-every-play-every-actor-does/) John Gilpin > [I'm inspired every time I see a role I'd like to play, an actor turn in a well crafted performance, a story I'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-keyah-crystal-keymah/i-m-inspired-every-time-i-see-a-role-i-d-like-to-play-an-actor-turn/) [T'Keyah Crystal Keymah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-keyah-crystal-keymah/) > [I made a decision that whether or not I was going to make under the national poverty level wasn't going to play a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/i-made-a-decision-that-whether-or-not-i-was-going-to-make-under-the/) [Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/) > [Aaron Sorkin uses a lot of the same people again and again - the people he likes. I think if there's ever a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/aaron-sorkin-uses-a-lot-of-the-same-people-again-and-again-the-people/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [ I think a reason why TV is exciting and getting so much better is because we \[authors\] get to play off of an actor's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brandt/i-think-a-reason-why-tv-is-exciting-and-getting-so-much-better-is/) [Michael Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brandt/) ## More by Friedrich Nietzsche > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“79. A soul which knows that it is loved, but does not itself love, betrays its sediment: its dregs come up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/79-a-soul-which-knows-that-it-is-loved-but-does-not-itself-love/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [We deceive ourselves when giving respect to the person for whom we have surrendered ourselves, when we respectively expect them to be as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-deceive-ourselves-when-giving-respect-to-the-person-for-whom-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The great periods of our life occur when we gain the courage to rechristen what is bad about us as what is best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-great-periods-of-our-life-occur-when-we-gain-the-courage-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“What is life? Life - that is: continually shedding something that wants to die. Life - that is: being cruel and inexorable against everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-is-life-life-that-is-continually-shedding-something-that-wants/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Writers whose thoughts are expressed with clarity and precision are assumed by readers to be superficial. Where the meaning is obscured, then readers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/writers-whose-thoughts-are-expressed-with-clarity-and-precision-are/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“he does not wear a twitching, mobile, human face, but rather a mask, as it were, with its features in dignified equilibrium; he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/he-does-not-wear-a-twitching-mobile-human-face-but-rather-a-mask-as/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/chastity-is-a-virtue-with-some-but-with-many-it-is-almost-a-vice/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The earth is like the breasts of a woman: useful as well as pleasing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-earth-is-like-the-breasts-of-a-woman-useful-as-well-as-pleasing/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Of all that is written I love only what a man has written in his own blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/of-all-that-is-written-i-love-only-what-a-man-has-written-in-his-own/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [No shepherd and one herd! Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/no-shepherd-and-one-herd-everybody-wants-the-same-everybody-is-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Pain makes hens and poets cackle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/pain-makes-hens-and-poets-cackle/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Explore all 3,486 Friedrich Nietzsche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More Imitation quotes > [Imitation is the first instinct of the awakening mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/imitation-is-the-first-instinct-of-the-awakening-mind/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Obviously I don't play the same way as Peter, but I could do a passable imitation of Peter Green; if you gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/obviously-i-don-t-play-the-same-way-as-peter-but-i-could-do-a/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [“Imitation and custom are the spring of almost all human action. The cause of it is that men fight shy of all and any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/imitation-and-custom-are-the-spring-of-almost-all-human-action-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We have lost the good old British spirit. Instead we have American journalism and black-shirted buffoons making a cheap imitation of ice-cream sellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-mosley/we-have-lost-the-good-old-british-spirit-instead-we-have-american/) [Oswald Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-mosley/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“most expensive originals have cheap imitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/most-expensive-originals-have-cheap-imitations/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [I said breathe. Not do a fish-out of-water imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-said-breathe-not-do-a-fish-out-of-water-imitation/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [Acquiring knowledge is a form of imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/acquiring-knowledge-is-a-form-of-imitation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-tragedy-is-the-imitation-of-an-action-that-is-serious-and-also-as/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is not imitation that makes sons. It is sonship that make imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-make-imitators/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I propose not our enemies as an example for our general imitation, yet, as their navy is the best regulated of any in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-jones/i-propose-not-our-enemies-as-an-example-for-our-general-imitation-yet/) [John Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-jones/) Browse all 737 Imitation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? 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