--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know what actors fear, what they like…" description: "\"I know what actors fear, what they like; I know how to get things out of them and I listen to them better, since I've been there.\" — Joan Chen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/joan-chen-13493_actor_i-know-what-actors-fear-what-they-like-i_2996773.png" --- # I know what actors fear, what they like; I know how to get… ![“I know what actors fear, what they like; I know how to get things out of them and I listen to them better, since I've been there.” quote by Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/joan-chen-13493_actor_i-know-what-actors-fear-what-they-like-i_2996773.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/joan-chen-13493_actor_i-know-what-actors-fear-what-they-like-i_2996773.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/joan-chen-13493_actor_i-know-what-actors-fear-what-they-like-i_2996773.png) > “I know what actors fear, what they like; I know how to get things out of them and I listen to them better, since I've been there.” [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She leverages personal acting experience to understand and guide others effectively. **In simple terms:** Experience helps her connect and direct actors. Key Takeaway Use personal insight to empathize and lead. Themes empathy leadership acting communication Mood reflective insightful Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - directing actors - coaching workshops - casting decisions - team building Key Concepts psychology method acting collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How can personal experience be balanced with objective critique? - What techniques enhance listening beyond shared background? A Different Perspective May overlook technical aspects beyond personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-fear-1783658/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-actors/) [Know Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-things/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen/) [Listen Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-better-2381889/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Since](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/since/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-listen-1304875/) ## Related quotes > [Since age 14, I know what actors fear, what they like; I know how to get things out of them and I listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/since-age-14-i-know-what-actors-fear-what-they-like-i-know-how-to-get/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [I think actors always have that fear of unemployment so when the opportunities are there, you just jump on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-dewitt/i-think-actors-always-have-that-fear-of-unemployment-so-when-the/) [Rosemarie DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-dewitt/) > [The two things that will defeat a lot of young actors are fear of failure and lack of preparation. With acting, I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/the-two-things-that-will-defeat-a-lot-of-young-actors-are-fear-of/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [Young actors, fear your admirers! Learn in time, from your first steps, to hear, understand and love the cruel truth about yourselves. Find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/young-actors-fear-your-admirers-learn-in-time-from-your-first-steps/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [It's something that - jazz is one of the few things that you can go and listen to, I don't care where you're from,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-higgins/it-s-something-that-jazz-is-one-of-the-few-things-that-you-can-go-and/) [Billy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-higgins/) > [Look at things and listen and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/look-at-things-and-listen-and-feel/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Subconciously, the things you listen to and you believe in, those things are going to come out, you know what I mean? I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-lanez/subconciously-the-things-you-listen-to-and-you-believe-in-those/) [Tory Lanez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-lanez/) > [“And you notice things and listen to things, but not in a nosy way. In a real way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/and-you-notice-things-and-listen-to-things-but-not-in-a-nosy-way-in-a/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“Have you suffered, starved and triumphed, grovelled down, yet grasped at glory, Grown bigger in the bigness of the whole? 'Done things' just for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-robert-william-service/have-you-suffered-starved-and-triumphed-grovelled-down-yet-grasped-at/) [Robert W. (Robert William) Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-robert-william-service/) > [“<...> the world says a lot of things, and if you listen without choosing, you become the one you hear the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-keegan/the-world-says-a-lot-of-things-and-if-you-listen-without-choosing-you/) [Nicola Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-keegan/) > [“History teaches us things about ourselves, but you have to listen for the lessons. You have to be really still to hear the whispers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-kizer/history-teaches-us-things-about-ourselves-but-you-have-to-listen-for/) [Amber Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-kizer/) > [“I could tell you many things; you will listen to none of them. And if you listen t any of them, you will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-sar-calvo/i-could-tell-you-many-things-you-will-listen-to-none-of-them-and-if/) [César Calvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-sar-calvo/) > [Always listen to yourself... It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/always-listen-to-yourself-it-is-better-to-be-wrong-than-simply-to/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“you read, and the things you listen to or watch on radio or television. “Of”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/you-read-and-the-things-you-listen-to-or-watch-on-radio-or-television/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [“I'd rather do two hundred million things than listen to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheridan/i-d-rather-do-two-hundred-million-things-than-listen-to-you/) [Gail Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheridan/) ## More by Joan Chen > [Acting is actually private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/acting-is-actually-private/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [There are a lot of stereotypes to be broken which I think a lot of us are doing. What I do is, as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/there-are-a-lot-of-stereotypes-to-be-broken-which-i-think-a-lot-of-us/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [There is no theoretical study of motherhood. You know, before I became a mother, I did play a mother, but I was like -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/there-is-no-theoretical-study-of-motherhood-you-know-before-i-became/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [In order to dance professionally, you have to start at a young age. No matter what, your muscle structure and your bones have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/in-order-to-dance-professionally-you-have-to-start-at-a-young-age-no/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [Physical hunger and physical poverty is something I could only imagine. I've been poor when I was in China... As kids we never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/physical-hunger-and-physical-poverty-is-something-i-could-only/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [I remember watching Swan Lake and everybody looking exactly the same, but being able to relate because they were the only company I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/i-remember-watching-swan-lake-and-everybody-looking-exactly-the-same/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [Since my mom is the President of Ballet Hawaii, I'm always in touch with stuff going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/since-my-mom-is-the-president-of-ballet-hawaii-i-m-always-in-touch/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [I miss directing. I see stories in images and music more so than in dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/i-miss-directing-i-see-stories-in-images-and-music-more-so-than-in/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [How I was raised is what I am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/how-i-was-raised-is-what-i-am-today/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [The young people, they don't knock on the door politely and say "May I come in?" They barge in, they take your seat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/the-young-people-they-don-t-knock-on-the-door-politely-and-say-may-i/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [Since age 14, I know what actors fear, what they like; I know how to get things out of them and I listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/since-age-14-i-know-what-actors-fear-what-they-like-i-know-how-to-get/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [It's a very obsessive profession that you need to stay obsessed to get anywhere, and it's very easy for us to get obsessed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/it-s-a-very-obsessive-profession-that-you-need-to-stay-obsessed-to/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [I will always have a career. I believe in working. I don't believe that taking care of your house and children is enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/i-will-always-have-a-career-i-believe-in-working-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [I grew up in Honolulu. It's not the ballet cultural mecca by any stretch of the imagination. People are much more familiar with hula…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/i-grew-up-in-honolulu-it-s-not-the-ballet-cultural-mecca-by-any/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [When you feel so strongly about something and other people feel equally strongly, you have to feel stronger about it in order to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/when-you-feel-so-strongly-about-something-and-other-people-feel/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) [Explore all 50 Joan Chen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) ## 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. 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