--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have the confidence that I can take…" description: "\"I have the confidence that I can take anybody and have them give a good performance, because I don't think there's anything to acting except expressing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/john-cassavetes-12820_able_i-have-the-confidence-that-i-can-take-an_481472.jpg" --- # I have the confidence that I can take anybody and have… ![“I have the confidence that I can take anybody and have them give a good performance, because I don't think there's anything to acting except expressing, being able to converse. So if I can just convince somebody not to clean themselves up, and not to be someone that they're not, and just be what…” quote by John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/john-cassavetes-12820_able_i-have-the-confidence-that-i-can-take-an_481472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/john-cassavetes-12820_able_i-have-the-confidence-that-i-can-take-an_481472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/john-cassavetes-12820_able_i-have-the-confidence-that-i-can-take-an_481472.jpg) > “I have the confidence that I can take anybody and have them give a good performance, because I don't think there's anything to acting except expressing, being able to converse. So if I can just convince somebody not to clean themselves up, and not to be someone that they're not, and just be what they are in given circumstances, that's all that acting is to me, and I don't think it's very difficult.” [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is about authentic expression, not technique; genuine conversation reveals truth in performance. **In simple terms:** Acting is honest expression, not skill. Key Takeaway Focus on truth, not polish. Themes authenticity expression performance Mood introspective creative Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - theatre auditions - film directing - improvisation workshops Key Concepts method acting conversational truth Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate genuine presence on stage? - What barriers prevent honest expression? A Different Perspective Assumes all actors can be equally authentic, which may ignore training needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You gotta have confidence in yourself first before anybody else will. I've always had that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/you-gotta-have-confidence-in-yourself-first-before-anybody-else-will/) [Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/) > [It is a big mistake to think that the best way to express yourself is to do whatever you want, acting as you please.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/it-is-a-big-mistake-to-think-that-the-best-way-to-express-yourself-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Acting is about expressing emotions, which varies from one person to other. If I were to force my co-stars to act the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalaivasal-vijay/acting-is-about-expressing-emotions-which-varies-from-one-person-to/) [Thalaivasal Vijay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalaivasal-vijay/) > [I don't get much studio stuff. I'm usually on location, and I know that some people think that acting is so glamorous, but believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/i-don-t-get-much-studio-stuff-i-m-usually-on-location-and-i-know-that/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [To me, I didn't think of acting as being a young thing only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/to-me-i-didn-t-think-of-acting-as-being-a-young-thing-only/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I think that's part of acting - to still get nervous and control that fear. I don't know how to get rid of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-molla/i-think-that-s-part-of-acting-to-still-get-nervous-and-control-that/) [Jordi Molla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-molla/) > [I think that acting could be a talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-tjay/i-think-that-acting-could-be-a-talent/) [Lil Tjay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-tjay/) > [I think acting can be very frustrating, and there's no experience that doesn't make you a better actor. So people may choose to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-think-acting-can-be-very-frustrating-and-there-s-no-experience-that/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [While some of us act without thinking, too many of us think without acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/while-some-of-us-act-without-thinking-too-many-of-us-think-without/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [I do think that acting is such an unpredictable job, and you're away a lot. If you're dating somebody outside the industry, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-do-think-that-acting-is-such-an-unpredictable-job-and-you-re-away-a/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I was very shy about acting. I thought you had to be confident. I was confident with my friends, but I would never think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarita-choudhury/i-was-very-shy-about-acting-i-thought-you-had-to-be-confident-i-was/) [Sarita Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarita-choudhury/) > [You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks with you for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old-when-you-say-something-and/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [I just think, in every acting choice that you make, you've got to go for the least obvious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-foy/i-just-think-in-every-acting-choice-that-you-make-you-ve-got-to-go/) [Claire Foy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-foy/) > [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/) ## More by John Cassavetes > [I think I probably have the philosophy of a poor man. You know, like maybe I'd steal the pennies off a dead man's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-think-i-probably-have-the-philosophy-of-a-poor-man-you-know-like/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I have a one-track mind. That's all that I'm interested in - love. And the lack of it. When it stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-have-a-one-track-mind-that-s-all-that-i-m-interested-in-love-and/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [(Acting) is an extension of life. How you're capable of performing in your life, that's how you're capable of performing on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/acting-is-an-extension-of-life-how-you-re-capable-of-performing-in/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I hate entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-hate-entertainment/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [My mother and father were never frightened of anything. They always felt that they should go through life happily and without fear, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/my-mother-and-father-were-never-frightened-of-anything-they-always/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [People don't know what they are doing most of the time. They don't know what they want. 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I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-like-to-act-in-films-i-like-to-shoot-em-i-like-to-direct-em-i-like/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [People have said that my films are very difficult to watch, that they're experiences you are put through rather than ones you enjoy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/people-have-said-that-my-films-are-very-difficult-to-watch-that-they/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I would put my pictures up against anybody's in this world. Certainly in my own day I bow to no one. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-would-put-my-pictures-up-against-anybody-s-in-this-world-certainly/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [People who are making films today are too concerned with mechanics - technical things instead of feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/people-who-are-making-films-today-are-too-concerned-with-mechanics/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I’m very worried about the depiction of women on the screen. It’s gotten worse than ever and it’s related to their being either high-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-m-very-worried-about-the-depiction-of-women-on-the-screen-it-s/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I'm not good at comparing and contrasting. I take what's in front of me for what it is, although I guess there's something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-m-not-good-at-comparing-and-contrasting-i-take-what-s-in-front-of/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [Films today show only a dream world and have lost touch with the way people really are... In this country, people die at 21.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/films-today-show-only-a-dream-world-and-have-lost-touch-with-the-way/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [Commercial movies have no feeling, no sensitivity. Most people tell me people won't understand films with feeling. But everyone can feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/commercial-movies-have-no-feeling-no-sensitivity-most-people-tell-me/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) [Explore all 53 John Cassavetes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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