--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 'There's Something About Mary' and…" description: "\"In 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Dumb & Dumber,' I ended up improvising quite a bit of my scenes, and later I didn't even remember what I'd said ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/harland-williams-17630_about_in-there-s-something-about-mary-and-dumb_1709754.png" --- # In 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Dumb & Dumber,' I… ![“In 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Dumb & Dumber,' I ended up improvising quite a bit of my scenes, and later I didn't even remember what I'd said because I just winged it. When I went and saw the movie, I was as stunned as everyone else was.” quote by Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/harland-williams-17630_about_in-there-s-something-about-mary-and-dumb_1709754.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/harland-williams-17630_about_in-there-s-something-about-mary-and-dumb_1709754.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/harland-williams-17630_about_in-there-s-something-about-mary-and-dumb_1709754.png) > “In 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Dumb & Dumber,' I ended up improvising quite a bit of my scenes, and later I didn't even remember what I'd said because I just winged it. When I went and saw the movie, I was as stunned as everyone else was.” [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improvisation can lead to memorable moments but may also cause loss of precise recall of dialogue. **In simple terms:** Improvising creates fun but forgettable lines. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneity but note key lines. Themes creativity improvisation memory film performance Mood amused reflective nostalgic Type anecdotal humorous cautionary When to use this quote - acting - stand‑up comedy - live performance - rehearsal - director feedback Key Concepts spontaneity risk authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does spontaneity affect audience reception? - When is it better to stick to the script? A Different Perspective Improvisation may hinder consistency and script integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb Dumber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-dumber-330450/) [Dumber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumber/) [Dumber Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumber-ended-1234937/) [Else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/else/) [Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ended/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Improvising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvising/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later/) [Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mary/) [Mary Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mary-dumb-1234938/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Stunned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-stunned-1234936/) [Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Saw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saw/) [Scenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scenes/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Stunned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stunned/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Winged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winged/) ## Related quotes > [“You two are like Dumb and Dumber on ice skates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ehemann/you-two-are-like-dumb-and-dumber-on-ice-skates/) [Beth Ehemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ehemann/) > [One of my favorite films is 'Dumb and Dumber.' I'd love to do some really silly comedy someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/one-of-my-favorite-films-is-dumb-and-dumber-i-d-love-to-do-some/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Dumb & Dumber' is one of my and Glock's favorite movies. We do stuff in real life that's just like they do in that movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-dolph/dumb-dumber-is-one-of-my-and-glock-s-favorite-movies-we-do-stuff-in/) [Young Dolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-dolph/) > [“You know that movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’? If there’s an addition of a third member, I’d get the part of ‘Dumbest’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-reed/you-know-that-movie-dumb-and-dumber-if-there-s-an-addition-of-a-third/) [Martin Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-reed/) > [Working with Jim Carrey is an absolute gas. I have never laughed so hard for so long. Had he been on-board for the sequel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/working-with-jim-carrey-is-an-absolute-gas-i-have-never-laughed-so/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [If they didn't have an Oscar for people to shoot for, all they'd do is be making 'Dumb And Dumber' again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/if-they-didn-t-have-an-oscar-for-people-to-shoot-for-all-they-d-do-is/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [One of my favorite films is 'Dumb and Dumber.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/one-of-my-favorite-films-is-dumb-and-dumber/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [When the first big paycheque with 'Dumb And Dumber' hit, I went: 'Gosh, I wonder if this will affect my performance. Will I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/when-the-first-big-paycheque-with-dumb-and-dumber-hit-i-went-gosh-i/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [My favorite movie is Dumb and Dumber. It's a classic and I can pretty much recite the entire movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-holland/my-favorite-movie-is-dumb-and-dumber-it-s-a-classic-and-i-can-pretty/) [Derek Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-holland/) > [I wish I'd done 'Dumb and Dumber.' I was offered the part, but I don't think I'd have been better than Jeff Daniels was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/i-wish-i-d-done-dumb-and-dumber-i-was-offered-the-part-but-i-don-t/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [If slander be a snake, it is a winged one - it flies as well as creeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/if-slander-be-a-snake-it-is-a-winged-one-it-flies-as-well-as-creeps/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hold-fast-to-your-dreams-for-without-them-life-is-a-broken-winged/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always a lover of soft-winged things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-was-always-a-lover-of-soft-winged-things/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [for a poet is a light and winged thing, and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired, and is beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-and-holy-and-never-able-to/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is perfectly obvious that no one nor any single country can save the world from the horrors of tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and winged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/it-is-perfectly-obvious-that-no-one-nor-any-single-country-can-save/) [Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/) ## More by Harland Williams > [I used to do little sketches into my cassette tape recorder when I was a little boy. I would just turn it on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-used-to-do-little-sketches-into-my-cassette-tape-recorder-when-i/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [I think a lot of people think I'm doing kind of a character onstage, but what you're really getting is just me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-think-a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-doing-kind-of-a-character-onstage/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [What's interesting about Stephen Baldwin is that me and Dana Gould were originally cast for 'Bio-Dome' - but Pauly Shore and Baldwin ended up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/what-s-interesting-about-stephen-baldwin-is-that-me-and-dana-gould/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [Everything's a conspiracy and everything's not a conspiracy. You could look at this planet and go, "This is all a conspiracy. God made this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/everything-s-a-conspiracy-and-everything-s-not-a-conspiracy-you-could/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [If you're going to take a jab at someone, you should at least have a bit more of a personal relationship with them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/if-you-re-going-to-take-a-jab-at-someone-you-should-at-least-have-a/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [I just tried to create a life for myself that's full of fun and fantasy and things that equal laughter. My life's been cartoons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-just-tried-to-create-a-life-for-myself-that-s-full-of-fun-and/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [I try to take normal things - whether it's a serious subject or something as obscure as a piece of toast - and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-try-to-take-normal-things-whether-it-s-a-serious-subject-or/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [I grew up on Don Knotts and Jerry Lewis and all the guys from Second City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-grew-up-on-don-knotts-and-jerry-lewis-and-all-the-guys-from-second/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [Canada has been a breeding ground for great comedic actors, sketch artists and stand-up comedians. We grew up with a different perspective on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/canada-has-been-a-breeding-ground-for-great-comedic-actors-sketch/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [The thing I love about sketch is sometimes it leads you as opposed to you leading it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/the-thing-i-love-about-sketch-is-sometimes-it-leads-you-as-opposed-to/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [I'd done a ton of movies here in Hollywood, and I realized that every movie I'd done was somebody's else's work and someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-d-done-a-ton-of-movies-here-in-hollywood-and-i-realized-that-every/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [The thing is, you never know with any movie how it's going to turn out. 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Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. 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