--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The actor is not quite a human being-but…" description: "\"The actor is not quite a human being-but then, who is?\" — George Sanders" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/george-sanders-30611_acting_the-actor-is-not-quite-a-human-being-but_2293730.jpg" --- # The actor is not quite a human being-but then, who is? ![“The actor is not quite a human being-but then, who is?” quote by George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/george-sanders-30611_acting_the-actor-is-not-quite-a-human-being-but_2293730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/george-sanders-30611_acting_the-actor-is-not-quite-a-human-being-but_2293730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/george-sanders-30611_acting_the-actor-is-not-quite-a-human-being-but_2293730.jpg) > “The actor is not quite a human being-but then, who is?” [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggested actors are partly beyond ordinary humanity, prompting existential reflection on identity. **In simple terms:** Actors are not fully human. Key Takeaway Question what defines humanity. Themes philosophy art identity Mood thoughtful poetic Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - theatre critique - personal identity exploration - creative workshops Key Concepts existentialism performance selfhood Questions to Reflect On - What makes a person truly human? - Can art bridge the gap between humanity and performance? A Different Perspective Such statements can alienate rather than inspire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [One of the pleasures of being an actor is quite simply taking a walk in someone else's shoes. And when I look at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/one-of-the-pleasures-of-being-an-actor-is-quite-simply-taking-a-walk/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Thankfully, the life of an actor can be quite balanced anyway. If you look over the course of a whole year, you do tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-cassidy/thankfully-the-life-of-an-actor-can-be-quite-balanced-anyway-if-you/) [Elaine Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-cassidy/) > [I had no intention of being an actor. I was quite good at it. I was pretty capable at other things but never any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-bean/i-had-no-intention-of-being-an-actor-i-was-quite-good-at-it-i-was/) [Sean Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-bean/) > [I know when an actor goes in to audition, if they don't get the part, it's not because they're a bad actor at all;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/i-know-when-an-actor-goes-in-to-audition-if-they-don-t-get-the-part/) [Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/) > [Weirdly, my dad didn't want me to become an actor, he was always quite resistant to it. 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I'll wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/kevin-feige-said-to-me-i-don-t-think-we-ve-ever-put-an-actor-through/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. It has been engaged in everywhere, from the dregs of society to the most respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-bernstein/gambling-has-held-human-beings-in-thrall-for-millennia-it-has-been/) [Peter L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/) ## More by George Sanders > [Every well-thought-out rebuttal to dogma, every scrap of intelligent logic, every absurdist reduction of some bullying stance is the antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/every-well-thought-out-rebuttal-to-dogma-every-scrap-of-intelligent/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/i-m-nobody-s-fool-least-of-all-yours/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [I am annoyed by individuals who are embarrassed by pauses in a conversation. To me, every conversational pause refreshes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/i-am-annoyed-by-individuals-who-are-embarrassed-by-pauses-in-a/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [Good-bye. I am leaving because I am bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/good-bye-i-am-leaving-because-i-am-bored/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [The cynical, caustic, acid-tongued New York drama critic Addison De Witt introduces his protege/date of the moment, a bimbo date and so-called actress named…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/the-cynical-caustic-acid-tongued-new-york-drama-critic-addison-de/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [All stories should be completely planned out from beginning to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/all-stories-should-be-completely-planned-out-from-beginning-to-end/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [This is no time to act like a gentleman. I am a cad and shall react like one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/this-is-no-time-to-act-like-a-gentleman-i-am-a-cad-and-shall-react/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [I am essential to the theater,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/i-am-essential-to-the-theater/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [Acting is like roller skating. Once you know how to do it, it is neither stimulating nor exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/acting-is-like-roller-skating-once-you-know-how-to-do-it-it-is/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [Live. Let nothing be lost upon you. Be afraid of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/live-let-nothing-be-lost-upon-you-be-afraid-of-nothing/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [I am a reformed Catholic. I'm a Buddhist in other words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/i-am-a-reformed-catholic-i-m-a-buddhist-in-other-words/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [Dear world, I am leaving because I am bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/dear-world-i-am-leaving-because-i-am-bored/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/dear-world-i-am-leaving-because-i-am-bored-i-feel-i-have-lived-long/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [It's not that it's so good with money, but that it's so bad without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/it-s-not-that-it-s-so-good-with-money-but-that-it-s-so-bad-without-it/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [Hope that, in future, all is well, everyone eats free, no one must work, all just sit around feeling love for one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/hope-that-in-future-all-is-well-everyone-eats-free-no-one-must-work/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) [Explore all 17 George Sanders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) ## 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 > [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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