--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always necessary to overstate a…" description: "\"It is always necessary to overstate a cast startlingly to make people sit up and listen to it, and to frighten them into acting on it.\" — George Bernar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/george-bernard-shaw-68_acting_it-is-always-necessary-to-overstate-a-ca_852024.png" --- # It is always necessary to overstate a cast startlingly to… ![“It is always necessary to overstate a cast startlingly to make people sit up and listen to it, and to frighten them into acting on it.” quote by George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/george-bernard-shaw-68_acting_it-is-always-necessary-to-overstate-a-ca_852024.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/george-bernard-shaw-68_acting_it-is-always-necessary-to-overstate-a-ca_852024.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/george-bernard-shaw-68_acting_it-is-always-necessary-to-overstate-a-ca_852024.png) > “It is always necessary to overstate a cast startlingly to make people sit up and listen to it, and to frighten them into acting on it.” [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates exaggeration to capture attention and provoke action, using shock value as a catalyst for engagement **In simple terms:** Bold statements can jolt people into action Key Takeaway Use striking language to motivate Themes communication persuasion activism Mood provocative strategic Type theatrical motivational When to use this quote - advertising - public speaking - social campaigns - activist movements Key Concepts rhetoric hyperbole psychology of fear Questions to Reflect On - When is exaggeration effective? - What are the risks of fear‑based messaging? A Different Perspective Excessive drama can cause backlash or distrust ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cast Startlingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cast-startlingly-760079/) [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Frighten Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frighten-acting-760078/) [Necessary Overstate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-overstate-760081/) [Overstate Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overstate-cast-760080/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) [Ernest Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gold/) > [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/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [Now, we are agreed, I and my destinies. 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Satisfaction is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-long-as-i-have-a-want-i-have-a-reason-for-living-satisfaction-is/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-camera-can-represent-flesh-so-superbly-that-if-i-dared-i-would/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. 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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. 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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. 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