--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People know you as an actor, and labels…" description: "\"People know you as an actor, and labels are so comfortable for people. That syndrome is always hard to get past.\" — Harry Dean Stanton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_people-know-you-as-an-actor-and-labels-a_1161802.jpg" --- # People know you as an actor, and labels are so comfortable… ![“People know you as an actor, and labels are so comfortable for people. That syndrome is always hard to get past.” quote by Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_people-know-you-as-an-actor-and-labels-a_1161802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_people-know-you-as-an-actor-and-labels-a_1161802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_people-know-you-as-an-actor-and-labels-a_1161802.jpg) > “People know you as an actor, and labels are so comfortable for people. That syndrome is always hard to get past.” [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often define us by our profession, making it hard to move beyond that identity. **In simple terms:** Labels limit personal growth. Key Takeaway Challenge the label, define yourself. Themes identity labels self‑perception Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career transition - personal branding - public speaking - relationship building Key Concepts psychology social identity self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How do you see yourself beyond your profession? - What steps can you take to expand others' view of you? A Different Perspective Labels can be useful for quick recognition but may restrict authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-labels-3329258/) [Comfortable People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable-people-544233/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Know Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-actor/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Labels Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels-comfortable-3329259/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-know/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“in order to be comfortable with other people, you have to be comfortable with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stanley/in-order-to-be-comfortable-with-other-people-you-have-to-be/) [Paul Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stanley/) > [You get too comfortable around people, you let your guard down & they take advantage of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-get-too-comfortable-around-people-you-let-your-guard-down-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not very comfortable with what people sometimes say or think about me - things I don't feel responsible for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schumacher/i-m-not-very-comfortable-with-what-people-sometimes-say-or-think/) [Michael Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schumacher/) > [I feel more confident in being able to be funny if I'm comfortable with the people I'm around. When you're friends with them, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/i-feel-more-confident-in-being-able-to-be-funny-if-i-m-comfortable/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [I'm real comfortable around people, and it took a long time for me to evolve to that point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-m-real-comfortable-around-people-and-it-took-a-long-time-for-me-to/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [“Research confirms that we are more comfortable with people who are familiar looking, whether we know them very well or have not previously met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-wilson/research-confirms-that-we-are-more-comfortable-with-people-who-are/) [Glen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-wilson/) > [Most of us don't have to worry about being shot of we poke our noses outside. So we are comfortable, but the people I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/most-of-us-don-t-have-to-worry-about-being-shot-of-we-poke-our-noses/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Some people aren't comfortable with being comfortable. Some people really want to be pushed and find people that they can pull something out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/some-people-aren-t-comfortable-with-being-comfortable-some-people/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [The only way I could get comfortable around people was to make them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-only-way-i-could-get-comfortable-around-people-was-to-make-them-2/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Not a lot of people have jobs that they're really comfortable with, but I'm one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-williams/not-a-lot-of-people-have-jobs-that-they-re-really-comfortable-with-2/) [Maisie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-williams/) > [I'm not comfortable being around too many people. I don't like being out in public too much. I don't like going to bars. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-m-not-comfortable-being-around-too-many-people-i-don-t-like-being/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [I really want to understand the mind so I can be more comfortable with the way people are. Being comfortable with people is incredibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-really-want-to-understand-the-mind-so-i-can-be-more-comfortable/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'm really not that comfortable with people. I mean, I love individuals, but I'm not very social.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-m-really-not-that-comfortable-with-people-i-mean-i-love-individuals/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [“People don't show who they truly are when they are comfortable. People will show you who they truly are when they are uncomfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cuoco/people-don-t-show-who-they-truly-are-when-they-are-comfortable-people/) [Steven Cuoco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cuoco/) > [Everyone writes in whatever way feels comfortable to them. People write songs because maybe they don't feel so comfortable talking about whatever matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-barnett/everyone-writes-in-whatever-way-feels-comfortable-to-them-people/) [Courtney Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-barnett/) ## More by Harry Dean Stanton > [Fame in itself is, you know... It involves a whole discussion on just that word, 'fame.' It's a power; it's another degree of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/fame-in-itself-is-you-know-it-involves-a-whole-discussion-on-just/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I watch television. Game shows - I hate the hosts and the people on them, and I love the questions and the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-watch-television-game-shows-i-hate-the-hosts-and-the-people-on-them/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I was singing the blues when I was six. Kind of sad, eh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-singing-the-blues-when-i-was-six-kind-of-sad-eh/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I never liked being ordered around - which, of course, was an overreaction. I eventually found out that I didn't mind being ordered around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-never-liked-being-ordered-around-which-of-course-was-an/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I've never been ambitious about recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-ve-never-been-ambitious-about-recording/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I know little stories that happen to people around me, and I can repeat that in a way that has some color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-know-little-stories-that-happen-to-people-around-me-and-i-can/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I worked with the best directors - Martin Scorsese, John Huston, David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-worked-with-the-best-directors-martin-scorsese-john-huston-david/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [The first film I ever remember - I think my mother took me to it - was called 'She Married Her Boss' with Melvyn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/the-first-film-i-ever-remember-i-think-my-mother-took-me-to-it-was/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [The band I've played with for 10 or 12 years now, we've been all over, but we mostly play in LA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/the-band-i-ve-played-with-for-10-or-12-years-now-we-ve-been-all-over/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [When man began to think he was a separate person with a separate soul, it created a violent situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/when-man-began-to-think-he-was-a-separate-person-with-a-separate-soul/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I was the classic killer. I always played an angry man. I think it was because I used to really be like that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-the-classic-killer-i-always-played-an-angry-man-i-think-it-was/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I like to watch 'Paris, Texas,' but I have no desire to see it. I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-like-to-watch-paris-texas-but-i-have-no-desire-to-see-it-i-did-it/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I would've preferred to blossom earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-would-ve-preferred-to-blossom-earlier-in-life/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I do the same series of five exercises 21 times each day - an ancient Tibetan practice that stimulates your chakras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-do-the-same-series-of-five-exercises-21-times-each-day-an-ancient/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I've never seen a Western that was really truthful. Most are just morality plays. Good guys and bad guys - and the good guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-ve-never-seen-a-western-that-was-really-truthful-most-are-just/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) [Explore all 116 Harry Dean Stanton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People know you as an actor, and labels are so comfortable for people. 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