--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And that's one thing that helps me is I…" description: "\"And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly, vanilla, then I don't try to act it too soon because you start to act it, and you kind of go ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg" --- # And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly… ![“And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly, vanilla, then I don't try to act it too soon because you start to act it, and you kind of go away from what the next sentence is, what the next paragraph is. So get it down so it kind of can - it's in there so you can then, as I call it…” quote by Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg) > “And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly, vanilla, then I don't try to act it too soon because you start to act it, and you kind of go away from what the next sentence is, what the next paragraph is. So get it down so it kind of can - it's in there so you can then, as I call it, dance on top of it.” [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learns lines plainly first, then builds on them, allowing spontaneous creativity while staying grounded in the script. **In simple terms:** Learn lines simply, then improvise on top. Key Takeaway Master basics before improvisation. Themes acting creativity learning process Mood instructive inspirational Type theatrical educational When to use this quote - rehearsals - workshop - classroom teaching - directing - writing Key Concepts script analysis improvisation method acting Questions to Reflect On - How does a solid foundation enable creative freedom? - When should you deviate from the script? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on improvisation can drift from intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Going away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-away/) ## Related quotes > [My sentences tend to be very short and rather spare. I'm more your paragraph kind of gal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/my-sentences-tend-to-be-very-short-and-rather-spare-i-m-more-your/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [I think the No. 1 thing that helps me get through every single day is the support of my friends and my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-walsh/i-think-the-no-1-thing-that-helps-me-get-through-every-single-day-is/) [Kerri Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-walsh/) > [“The thing is, it helps when people stand up to them, it gives everyone hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/the-thing-is-it-helps-when-people-stand-up-to-them-it-gives-everyone/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [The best thing about being 6'9'' is that it helps with my tennis game, especially with my serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-best-thing-about-being-6-9-is-that-it-helps-with-my-tennis-game/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Losing isn't always a bad thing it helps you to prepare for the best the next go around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-stafon/losing-isn-t-always-a-bad-thing-it-helps-you-to-prepare-for-the-best/) [Damian Stafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-stafon/) > [One thing helps the other. My stand-up helps my writing; my writing helps my stand-up; my stand-up helps my acting. They're all interlocked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/one-thing-helps-the-other-my-stand-up-helps-my-writing-my-writing/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [“Each life lived eventually became a book. How a single letter becomes a word, becomes a sentence, becomes a paragraph, before finally becoming a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betta-ferrendelli/each-life-lived-eventually-became-a-book-how-a-single-letter-becomes/) Betta Ferrendelli > [“Sometimes, pretending you don't know something you know helps to learn something you really don't know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthonize-rajaratne/sometimes-pretending-you-don-t-know-something-you-know-helps-to-learn/) Anthonize Rajaratne > [Solitude offers a lot that being coupled or being in a group does not. It helps us learn what we are capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-kates-shulman/solitude-offers-a-lot-that-being-coupled-or-being-in-a-group-does-not/) [Alix Kates Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alix-kates-shulman/) > [It helps me to learn things in different languages, even if it's just phonetically, and to make myself vulnerable to other audiences by trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/it-helps-me-to-learn-things-in-different-languages-even-if-it-s-just/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [Yeah,Not all the things you say or do is going to be right,But It helps you learn(Sometimes)… So,Everything you say or do is good(Sometimes).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/yeah-not-all-the-things-you-say-or-do-is-going-to-be-right-but-it/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [I never leave a sentence or a paragraph until I'm satisfied with it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/i-never-leave-a-sentence-or-a-paragraph-until-i-m-satisfied-with-it/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [“who helps you learn what you need to know for your job? How did you connect with those people?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-warlick/who-helps-you-learn-what-you-need-to-know-for-your-job-how-did-you/) [David Warlick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-warlick/) > [Don't get discouraged if you're hammering away at a sentence or a paragraph or a chapter, and it keeps coming out wrong. You're allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/don-t-get-discouraged-if-you-re-hammering-away-at-a-sentence-or-a/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [Sometimes reading other writers helps. You learn some little technique that turns out to be useful, or simply are reinspired by the amazing things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-tobin-anderson/sometimes-reading-other-writers-helps-you-learn-some-little-technique/) [Matthew Tobin Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-tobin-anderson/) ## More by Jeff Daniels > [You know, its really strange now with the Internet, with everyone having an unsolicited, anonymous opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/you-know-its-really-strange-now-with-the-internet-with-everyone/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I always wanted to do films. I'd gone to New York early in 1976 and did a lot of theater, but I really wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-always-wanted-to-do-films-i-d-gone-to-new-york-early-in-1976-and/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I love the theater, but if I had to choose, I would choose a film at this time in my life. Something meaty, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-love-the-theater-but-if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-choose-a-film-at/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I just never did buy this idea that you have to live in Los Angeles to be an actor. I didn't see that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-just-never-did-buy-this-idea-that-you-have-to-live-in-los-angeles/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [One of the more noble things the Oscars can do is pay attention to movies no one knows about. Blockbusters don't need much help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/one-of-the-more-noble-things-the-oscars-can-do-is-pay-attention-to/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [There is no best anything in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/there-is-no-best-anything-in-art/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I never starved. And you know, whatever talent I have, I've relied on that, versus image or star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-never-starved-and-you-know-whatever-talent-i-have-i-ve-relied-on/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [The older you get, and the more you're in this business, the more you kind of feel like, 'Why don't we just do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/the-older-you-get-and-the-more-you-re-in-this-business-the-more-you/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I was haunted by trainers going "Up, up, up, get up." You find yourself picking your head up and then realizing, They aren't talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-was-haunted-by-trainers-going-up-up-up-get-up-you-find-yourself/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [On cable now, the writer is king. Any actor chases that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/on-cable-now-the-writer-is-king-any-actor-chases-that/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I think we have the attention span of a gnat. You know, with cell phones and Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-think-we-have-the-attention-span-of-a-gnat-you-know-with-cell/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [ There is no best anything in art. Phillip \[Hoffman\] isn't better than Heath \[Ledger\]; Joaquin \[Phoenix\] isn't better than David \[Strathairn\] or Terence \[Howard\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/there-is-no-best-anything-in-art-phillip-hoffman-isn-t-better-than/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [There are so many projects that you go into hoping the story works, and here comes a new third act and that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/there-are-so-many-projects-that-you-go-into-hoping-the-story-works/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [Give me good writing, and I'll play it all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/give-me-good-writing-and-i-ll-play-it-all-day/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [On indies it's hard to do, but in rehearsals, you make mistakes in rehearsal. It's really hard rehearsing a play or what rehearsal you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/on-indies-it-s-hard-to-do-but-in-rehearsals-you-make-mistakes-in/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) [Explore all 54 Jeff Daniels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly, vanilla, then I don't try to act it too soon because you start to act it, and you kind of go away from what the next sentence is, what the next paragraph is. So get it down so it kind of can - it's in there so you can then, as I call it, dance on top of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Daniels" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i-learn-it-blandly-vanilla-then/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i-learn-it-blandly-vanilla-then/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/jeff-daniels-12465_dance_and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i_1854505.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly, vanilla, then I don't try to act it too soon…” — Jeff Daniels", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Daniels", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And that's one thing that helps...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i-learn-it-blandly-vanilla-then/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/and-that-s-one-thing-that-helps-me-is-i-learn-it-blandly-vanilla-then/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```