--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you can study too much. I've seen…" description: "\"I think you can study too much. I've seen that happen. Young people get immersed in the work of other directors and end up imitating them rather than f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/james-ivory-11660_directors_i-think-you-can-study-too-much-i-ve-seen_3123279.jpg" --- # I think you can study too much. I've seen that happen… ![“I think you can study too much. I've seen that happen. Young people get immersed in the work of other directors and end up imitating them rather than finding their own identity.” quote by James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/james-ivory-11660_directors_i-think-you-can-study-too-much-i-ve-seen_3123279.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/james-ivory-11660_directors_i-think-you-can-study-too-much-i-ve-seen_3123279.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/james-ivory-11660_directors_i-think-you-can-study-too-much-i-ve-seen_3123279.jpg) > “I think you can study too much. I've seen that happen. Young people get immersed in the work of other directors and end up imitating them rather than finding their own identity.” [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive study can lead to imitation rather than original artistic identity. **In simple terms:** Too much copying stifles originality. Key Takeaway Balance study with personal creativity. Themes creativity identity learning Mood thoughtful encouraging Type educational reflective When to use this quote - film school - creative workshops - directorial practice Key Concepts artistic development originality influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor influences without losing self? - What practices foster unique artistic voice? A Different Perspective Imitation can become a crutch if not checked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-end-5492137/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Happen Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen-young-2612800/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Think Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-study-1189042/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“These things happen so often . 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You have been told how to think, what to study and what's right and wrong your entire life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-al-dred/how-do-you-know-who-are-you-have-been-told-how-to-think-what-to-study/) [Rob Al'dred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-al-dred/) > [The study of science teaches young men to think, while study of the classics teaches them to express thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-study-of-science-teaches-young-men-to-think-while-study-of-the/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [I think sometimes you can study guys and build them into giants that they are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-think-sometimes-you-can-study-guys-and-build-them-into-giants-that/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [“To study in order to know? No. To study in order to know more? 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I don't think it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-lot-of-people-have-this-live-or-die-attitude-with-mediation-it-has/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think if you study people in the street today, you do sometimes feel that they have taken their behavior and their language from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-think-if-you-study-people-in-the-street-today-you-do-sometimes-feel/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [One must not be negligent in learning. In the Lun Yu it says: "To study and not to think is darkness. To think without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-nobushige/one-must-not-be-negligent-in-learning-in-the-lun-yu-it-says-to-study/) [Takeda Nobushige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-nobushige/) > [I've been working with Spanish, French, some more American, and Japanese directors. And then I realized I have to study English, and that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rinko-kikuchi/i-ve-been-working-with-spanish-french-some-more-american-and-japanese/) [Rinko Kikuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rinko-kikuchi/) > [ Learn how to draw. It's the basis of what we \[animation directors\] do. Keep a sketchbook. Try making a very simple little film. Try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-musker/learn-how-to-draw-it-s-the-basis-of-what-we-animation-directors-do/) [John Musker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-musker/) ## More by James Ivory > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [The conscious decision, early on, was that I was going to live in New York. 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I don't find shooting as traumatic as some directors do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/a-director-must-be-patient-and-unflappable-i-think-i-was-always/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [My father did think I should get interested in television. But I had very little interest in television and it wasn't something I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/my-father-did-think-i-should-get-interested-in-television-but-i-had/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [I can tell you that when Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, our writer, when she would work on some of these grander novels like, say, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-can-tell-you-that-when-ruth-prawer-jhabvala-our-writer-when-she/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [In India, I tried never to show enthusiasm for the things I wanted most, but instead to focus it falsely on something showy, ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/in-india-i-tried-never-to-show-enthusiasm-for-the-things-i-wanted/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [It's important to see the work of as many directors as possible but you must not become self-conscious. 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That would be terrible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/you-can-t-make-up-timothee-chalamet-to-look-say-40-that-would-be/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) [Explore all 58 James Ivory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) ## More Directors quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? 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On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) [J. Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hoberman/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. 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When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [I'm seen as a little risky to the industry, I think. All my favorite directors are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-m-seen-as-a-little-risky-to-the-industry-i-think-all-my-favorite/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [Music and language are a vital element. We, as actors and directors, offer it to people who want to experience it. Sometimes the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/music-and-language-are-a-vital-element-we-as-actors-and-directors/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. 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