--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The old-fashioned idea that the simple…" description: "\"The old-fashioned idea that the simple piling up of experiences, one on top of another, can make you an artist, is, of course, so much rubbish. If acti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/helen-hayes-12611_acting_the-old-fashioned-idea-that-the-simple-p_2805705.png" --- # The old-fashioned idea that the simple piling up of… ![“The old-fashioned idea that the simple piling up of experiences, one on top of another, can make you an artist, is, of course, so much rubbish. If acting were just a matter of experience, then any busy harlot could make Garbo's Camille pale.” quote by Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/helen-hayes-12611_acting_the-old-fashioned-idea-that-the-simple-p_2805705.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/helen-hayes-12611_acting_the-old-fashioned-idea-that-the-simple-p_2805705.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/helen-hayes-12611_acting_the-old-fashioned-idea-that-the-simple-p_2805705.png) > “The old-fashioned idea that the simple piling up of experiences, one on top of another, can make you an artist, is, of course, so much rubbish. If acting were just a matter of experience, then any busy harlot could make Garbo's Camille pale.” [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experience alone does not create artistry; skill, insight, and intention are essential. **In simple terms:** Skill matters more than just experience. Key Takeaway Cultivate insight and intention. Themes artistry skill experience talent Mood critical reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - acting classes - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts craftsmanship creative process mastery Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn experience into mastery? - What role does intention play in your craft? A Different Perspective Experience without reflection yields mediocrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Camille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camille/) [Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garbo/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Old fashioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-fashioned/) ## Related quotes > [As Camille Paglia's success has demonstrated, what is most marketable is absolutism and attitude undiluted by thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kaminer/as-camille-paglia-s-success-has-demonstrated-what-is-most-marketable/) [Wendy Kaminer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kaminer/) > [Will nodded slowly, then looked up at tha black sky. "The stars", he said. "I have never seen them so bright. The wind has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-nodded-slowly-then-looked-up-at-tha-black-sky-the-stars-he-said/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Strider hovered over the scope and slammed his eye on it before jumping back with a hand over the squinting eye. "That bloody thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-oliver/strider-hovered-over-the-scope-and-slammed-his-eye-on-it-before/) [Tess Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-oliver/) > [Her little shoulders drove me mad; I hugged her and hugged her. And she loved it. 'I love love,' she said, closing her eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/her-little-shoulders-drove-me-mad-i-hugged-her-and-hugged-her-and-she/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [With my wife Camille's help, I took to social networking. I'm working with the computers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/with-my-wife-camille-s-help-i-took-to-social-networking-i-m-working/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [Lovely,wonderful Isabelle.Could you please go away?Now is a really bad time." Isabelle looked from Magnus to her brother,and back again. "Then,you dont want me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lovely-wonderful-isabelle-could-you-please-go-away-now-is-a-really/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Magnus gazed upon Camille. "Some of my fondest memories include lashings of cream and beautiful women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/magnus-gazed-upon-camille-some-of-my-fondest-memories-include/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [This was an idea peculiar to Camille, Maximilien thought, that the worse things get, the better they get. No one else seems to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/this-was-an-idea-peculiar-to-camille-maximilien-thought-that-the/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Even more blood welled up and spilled down his arm, splattering onto the ground. “Camille’s carpet,” Magnus protested. “It’s blood,” said Will. “She ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/even-more-blood-welled-up-and-spilled-down-his-arm-splattering-onto/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I try and remind our viewers that climate is always in a state of flux and yes, the world has warmed over the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topper-shutt/i-try-and-remind-our-viewers-that-climate-is-always-in-a-state-of/) Topper Shutt > [Years later Magnus would return to London and Camille Belcourt's side, and find it not all that he had dreamed. Years later another desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/years-later-magnus-would-return-to-london-and-camille-belcourt-s-side/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [She was sound asleep when he came to curl up next to her. She grunted. "Don't worry. I'm too drunk, I won't do anything,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gavalda/she-was-sound-asleep-when-he-came-to-curl-up-next-to-her-she-grunted/) [Anna Gavalda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gavalda/) > [Of course, the guests were also staring because they know of my relationship with Camille, and are wondering what we might be doing here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/of-course-the-guests-were-also-staring-because-they-know-of-my/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I operate under the assumption that people don't notice the good in me. That's just how things always seem to play out. I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-operate-under-the-assumption-that-people-don-t-notice-the-good-in/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [As Danton sees it, the most bizarre aspect of Camille's character is his desire to scribble over every blank surface; he sees a guileless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/as-danton-sees-it-the-most-bizarre-aspect-of-camille-s-character-is/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## More by Helen Hayes > [An actress always knows when she's hit it and mostly you haven't; but once or twice I think I hit it right, so maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/an-actress-always-knows-when-she-s-hit-it-and-mostly-you-haven-t-but/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [The good die young but not always. The wicked prevail but not consistently. I am confused by life, and I feel safe within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/the-good-die-young-but-not-always-the-wicked-prevail-but-not/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/the-hardest-years-in-life-are-those-between-ten-and-seventy/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [“From your parents you learn love & laughter & how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/from-your-parents-you-learn-love-laughter-how-to-put-one-foot-in/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [“From your parents, you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/from-your-parents-you-learn-love-and-laughter-and-how-to-put-one-foot/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [In the last stages of a final illness, we need only the absence of pain and the presence of family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/in-the-last-stages-of-a-final-illness-we-need-only-the-absence-of/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [I'm a boss by nature. I'm bossy. I'm not imperious, but I don't really want people to curtsy low before me and back out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/i-m-a-boss-by-nature-i-m-bossy-i-m-not-imperious-but-i-don-t-really/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [The story of a love is not important-what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/the-story-of-a-love-is-not-important-what-is-important-is-that-one-is/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [There's a little vanity chair that Charlie gave me the first Christmas we knew each other. I'll not be parting with that, nor our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/there-s-a-little-vanity-chair-that-charlie-gave-me-the-first/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [“Always aim for achievement, and forget about success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/always-aim-for-achievement-and-forget-about-success/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [Love is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/love-is-perhaps-the-only-glimpse-we-are-permitted-of-eternity/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [Legends die hard. They survive as truth rarely does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/legends-die-hard-they-survive-as-truth-rarely-does/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [We rely upon the poets, the philosophers, and the playwrights to articulate what most of us can only feel, in joy or sorrow. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/we-rely-upon-the-poets-the-philosophers-and-the-playwrights-to/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [There is only one terminal dignity - love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/there-is-only-one-terminal-dignity-love/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) > [Egocentrics are attracted to the inept. It gives them one more excuse for patting themselves on the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hayes/egocentrics-are-attracted-to-the-inept-it-gives-them-one-more-excuse/) [Helen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) [Explore all 54 Helen Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hayes/) ## 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. 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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. 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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