--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do the thing itself. Don’t pay much mind…" description: "\"Do the thing itself. Don’t pay much mind to critics or what anyone says about it. Just do it, in any form possible, and watch others doing it. Take it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/holland-taylor-36360_critics_do-the-thing-itself-don-t-pay-much-mind_601157.jpg" --- # Do the thing itself. Don’t pay much mind to critics or… ![“Do the thing itself. Don’t pay much mind to critics or what anyone says about it. Just do it, in any form possible, and watch others doing it. Take it in viscerally, get it by osmosis. Don’t ever read your own reviews, certainly not the good ones.” quote by Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/holland-taylor-36360_critics_do-the-thing-itself-don-t-pay-much-mind_601157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/holland-taylor-36360_critics_do-the-thing-itself-don-t-pay-much-mind_601157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/holland-taylor-36360_critics_do-the-thing-itself-don-t-pay-much-mind_601157.jpg) > “Do the thing itself. Don’t pay much mind to critics or what anyone says about it. Just do it, in any form possible, and watch others doing it. Take it in viscerally, get it by osmosis. Don’t ever read your own reviews, certainly not the good ones.” [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Act without fearing judgment; let experience teach you, and ignore self‑praise. **In simple terms:** Do it, ignore critics, learn by doing. Key Takeaway Act now, learn by doing. Themes action criticism learning Mood determined encouraging Type motivational practical When to use this quote - starting projects - creative work - public speaking - skill development Key Concepts self‑efficacy experiential learning Questions to Reflect On - What project have you delayed due to fear? - How can you balance action with reflection? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on action can ignore thoughtful planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Osmosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/osmosis/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“I was told as a child to watch what everyone else is doing and do the complete opposite, I’m glad I followed that advise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najah-roberts/i-was-told-as-a-child-to-watch-what-everyone-else-is-doing-and-do-the/) [Najah Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najah-roberts/) > [As part of being in the industry you do watch what others are doing. I think that's something good to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-penty/as-part-of-being-in-the-industry-you-do-watch-what-others-are-doing-i/) [Diana Penty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-penty/) > [I just always gravitate toward the kind of characters or people that maybe you don't want to talk to for a long time at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-just-always-gravitate-toward-the-kind-of-characters-or-people-that/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [Forget that you are anybody and just perform the activities around you. Look at them. Watch what you are doing, my God! Life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/forget-that-you-are-anybody-and-just-perform-the-activities-around/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Whenever I watch someone doing something, even if it doesn't turn out so great, I at least admire their intentions and stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/whenever-i-watch-someone-doing-something-even-if-it-doesn-t-turn-out/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [You want people to watch what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-liotta/you-want-people-to-watch-what-you-re-doing/) [Ray Liotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-liotta/) > [What it comes down to is, people either want to watch what you're doing or they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/what-it-comes-down-to-is-people-either-want-to-watch-what-you-re/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [You are the fans, sit back and watch. That's all you're doing anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/you-are-the-fans-sit-back-and-watch-that-s-all-you-re-doing-anyway/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [The most difficult thing in the world is to know how to do a thing and to watch someone else doing it wrong, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white-3/the-most-difficult-thing-in-the-world-is-to-know-how-to-do-a-thing/) T H White > [I would be horrified to watch whatever I was doing on 'Party Of Five.' I'm sure I'm bad on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-would-be-horrified-to-watch-whatever-i-was-doing-on-party-of-five-i/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [Choose what you want to do – or watch someone else doing it. Learn how to handle tools, paint, babies, machinery, or just listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-littlewood/choose-what-you-want-to-do-or-watch-someone-else-doing-it-learn-how/) [Joan Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-littlewood/) > [I am finding I have to watch what I am doing otherwise I may as well be in full-time football again and, while I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/i-am-finding-i-have-to-watch-what-i-am-doing-otherwise-i-may-as-well/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [The world will not be destroyed by those do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-world-will-not-be-destroyed-by-those-do-evil-but-by-those-who/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I think the best way to become a character is by osmosis as opposed to thinking directly about stuff. The more material that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-the-best-way-to-become-a-character-is-by-osmosis-as-opposed/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [My background is deep and set in deep time, and in a narrow space, oral traditions going back a long, long time, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/my-background-is-deep-and-set-in-deep-time-and-in-a-narrow-space-oral/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) ## More by Holland Taylor > [I've always had a hunger for realizing myself through my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-ve-always-had-a-hunger-for-realizing-myself-through-my-career/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I always did think I would be married and settled down by now but maybe I ain't ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-always-did-think-i-would-be-married-and-settled-down-by-now-but/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I've had a long life and a lot of relationships and not one of them do I wish -- well, I take that back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-ve-had-a-long-life-and-a-lot-of-relationships-and-not-one-of-them/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I love playing someone who just skates by and does anything she wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-love-playing-someone-who-just-skates-by-and-does-anything-she-wants/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I notice that most of the men who tease me about my hair, don't have any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-notice-that-most-of-the-men-who-tease-me-about-my-hair-don-t-have/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I've never written a play before, and I'll never write one again. You can quote me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-ve-never-written-a-play-before-and-i-ll-never-write-one-again-you/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I've often played very strong, flashy, kind of inadvertently mean women. I am not that way in my real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-ve-often-played-very-strong-flashy-kind-of-inadvertently-mean-women/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I've had some marvelous parts, but I'm also asked to play characters who are kind of superficial people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-ve-had-some-marvelous-parts-but-i-m-also-asked-to-play-characters/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [There's a different experience when you're reading a book rather than when you're seeing something on screen. When you're seeing a movie or TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/there-s-a-different-experience-when-you-re-reading-a-book-rather-than/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I just never was the marrying kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-just-never-was-the-marrying-kind/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [It took a long time to get to the place in my career where I could pick and choose what I wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/it-took-a-long-time-to-get-to-the-place-in-my-career-where-i-could/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [It's interesting, I had absolutely no maternal instinct. I'm much more interested in young people now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/it-s-interesting-i-had-absolutely-no-maternal-instinct-i-m-much-more/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) [Explore all 13 Holland Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) ## More Critics quotes > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Critics are biased, and so are readers. (Indeed, a critic is a bundle of biases held loosely together by a sense of taste.) But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-balliett/critics-are-biased-and-so-are-readers-indeed-a-critic-is-a-bundle-of/) Whitney Balliett > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Yippies, their lifestyle is different from mine. But I consider Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman inspired critics of the kind of society that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dellinger/the-yippies-their-lifestyle-is-different-from-mine-but-i-consider/) [David Dellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dellinger/) > [This one goes out to all my critics: don't you feel stupid? Look how I did it. Look how it came to pass when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/this-one-goes-out-to-all-my-critics-don-t-you-feel-stupid-look-how-i/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [There's a lot of stuff I want to do, just things that I want to explore that don't involve show business. I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/there-s-a-lot-of-stuff-i-want-to-do-just-things-that-i-want-to/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is-always-someone-to-tell-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-likely-to-disappear-in-a/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [A certain type of critic doesn't really want French movies to be visual. They think movies started from books and they forgot this part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/a-certain-type-of-critic-doesn-t-really-want-french-movies-to-be/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) Browse all 2,637 Critics quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do the thing itself. Don’t pay much mind to critics or what anyone says about it. Just do it, in any form possible, and watch others doing it. Take it in viscerally, get it by osmosis. 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