---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're saying the same line 10 times…"
description: "\"If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look like you just came up with it, that's acting.\" — Joan Rivers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png"
---

#  If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look…

![“If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look like you just came up with it, that's acting.” quote by Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png)

> “If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look like you just came up with it, that's acting.”

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Imitation without originality is merely acting, not genuine creation.

**In simple terms:** Copying isn’t creativity.

Key Takeaway

Seek authentic expression.

Themes

creativity authenticity performance

Mood

playful critical

Type

observational humorous

When to use this quote

- writing
- stand‑up comedy
- public speaking

Key Concepts

originality self‑expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you bring true originality to repeated ideas?
- What distinguishes acting from authentic creation?

A Different Perspective

Mimicry can mask lack of skill.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't write stage directions. If it is not apparent what the character is trying to accomplish by saying the line, tell us how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/don-t-write-stage-directions-if-it-is-not-apparent-what-the-character/)

[David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/)

> [When 'Nil By Mouth' was released, people thought that's what we were actually like, that they'd put me and Ray in front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/when-nil-by-mouth-was-released-people-thought-that-s-what-we-were/)

[Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/)

> [Came to acting pretty late. It looked wonderful, but I guess I was intimidated by my father. I look a bit like him, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/came-to-acting-pretty-late-it-looked-wonderful-but-i-guess-i-was/)

[Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/)

> [For me, acting was always a way to explore emotions - to dip into the well and really try to reach rock bottom down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/for-me-acting-was-always-a-way-to-explore-emotions-to-dip-into-the/)

[Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/)

> [Because I came to acting quite late, I kind of think one of the few attributes that I do have is that I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-cunningham/because-i-came-to-acting-quite-late-i-kind-of-think-one-of-the-few/)

[Liam Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-cunningham/)

> [I came into acting with that sort of dull, meet-with-triumph-and-disaster-the-same philosophy and it's been the right one for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-sives/i-came-into-acting-with-that-sort-of-dull-meet-with-triumph-and/)

[Jamie Sives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-sives/)

> [I came to acting as a sort of fluke. I really enjoy it, but I think I'm different from the people who dreamed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-plumb/i-came-to-acting-as-a-sort-of-fluke-i-really-enjoy-it-but-i-think-i-m/)

[Eve Plumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-plumb/)

> [I was a bit scared because I came from the acting world. There was a fear that people would think of me kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/i-was-a-bit-scared-because-i-came-from-the-acting-world-there-was-a/)

[Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/)

> [I was a very extrovert kid. It felt normal to me to act. I always went to regular schools. I've never been catty or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-was-a-very-extrovert-kid-it-felt-normal-to-me-to-act-i-always-went/)

[Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/)

> [My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they'd make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/my-first-ten-years-in-hollywood-were-really-tough-i-d-be-coaching/)

[Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/)

> [Once I came to acting, it was almost a thing where there weren't enough hours in the day to work on stuff because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tveit/once-i-came-to-acting-it-was-almost-a-thing-where-there-weren-t/)

[Aaron Tveit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tveit/)

> [When I first came into acting, I had great opportunities to make a decent movie. I had a run there in 2005, '06, '07…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/when-i-first-came-into-acting-i-had-great-opportunities-to-make-a/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [I came out here to do the acting, and then after a year of auditions and not getting anything, I met these Italian guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-came-out-here-to-do-the-acting-and-then-after-a-year-of-auditions/)

[Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/)

> [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [When I came into the acting profession, it was quite hierarchical. You didn't sit at the same table as the leading actor. Sir Laurence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-i-came-into-the-acting-profession-it-was-quite-hierarchical-you/)

[Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/)

## More by Joan Rivers

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I was getting dressed and a peeping tom looked in the window, took a look and pulled down the shade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-was-getting-dressed-and-a-peeping-tom-looked-in-the-window-took-a/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [All my way through college, I worked my way as a window dresser for Lord &amp; Taylor, so I always liked fashion. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/all-my-way-through-college-i-worked-my-way-as-a-window-dresser-for/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [Everyone thinks Angelina Jolie was the first celebrity baby hoarder, but she wasn't. Before Angelina there was Mia Farrow. Mia had an entire farm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/everyone-thinks-angelina-jolie-was-the-first-celebrity-baby-hoarder/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I have no sex appeal, which kills me. The only way I can ever hear heavy breathing from my husband's side of the bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-have-no-sex-appeal-which-kills-me-the-only-way-i-can-ever-hear/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [Life goes by fast. Enjoy it. Calm down. It's all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/life-goes-by-fast-enjoy-it-calm-down-it-s-all-funny/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [If you hate something, you hate it, and if you like something or somebody, you like it, but tell the truth. And most celebrities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/if-you-hate-something-you-hate-it-and-if-you-like-something-or/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I have no line. If I think it's funny, it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-have-no-line-if-i-think-it-s-funny-it-s-funny/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I know now that everybody in the arts is forever a beginner. Experience counts for a great deal and very little. Every night onstage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-know-now-that-everybody-in-the-arts-is-forever-a-beginner/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [Why women don't blink during foreplay... not enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/why-women-don-t-blink-during-foreplay-not-enough-time/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [My breasts are so low now I can have a mammogram and a pedicure at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/my-breasts-are-so-low-now-i-can-have-a-mammogram-and-a-pedicure-at/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I love Vines. You make this 6.4-second drama, and you can reach 6 million viewer, and make people laugh. I find it so fabulous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-love-vines-you-make-this-6-4-second-drama-and-you-can-reach-6/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [Grandchildren can be annoying - how many times can you go: "And the cow goes moo and the pig goes oink"? It's like talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/grandchildren-can-be-annoying-how-many-times-can-you-go-and-the-cow/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I'm a New York girl. I come out of New York theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-m-a-new-york-girl-i-come-out-of-new-york-theater/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [All babies look like Renée Zellweger pushed against a glass window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/all-babies-look-like-ren-e-zellweger-pushed-against-a-glass-window/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

[Explore all 417 Joan Rivers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

## 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. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. 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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look like you just came up with it, that's acting.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joan Rivers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times-and-making-it-look-like-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times-and-making-it-look-like-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/joan-rivers-669_acting_if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times_1257311.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look like you just came up with it, that's acting.” — Joan Rivers",
                "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": "Joan Rivers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you're saying the same line...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times-and-making-it-look-like-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/if-you-re-saying-the-same-line-10-times-and-making-it-look-like-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
