--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the things you learn as an actor…" description: "\"One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything. I'm sort of in the business of illustrating that fact.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg" --- # One of the things you learn as an actor is that human… ![“One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything. I'm sort of in the business of illustrating that fact.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg) > “One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything. I'm sort of in the business of illustrating that fact.” [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors explore the vast range of human capability, showing that people can do almost anything. **In simple terms:** Humans can do almost anything. Key Takeaway Recognize and showcase human potential. Themes creativity human nature performance exploration Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - personal growth - education - coaching Key Concepts psychology potential identity Questions to Reflect On - How can we responsibly portray human extremes? - What limits exist on human capability? A Different Perspective Not all human actions are positive or ethical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) ## Related quotes > [Human beings are capable of great good, but also of the basest evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/human-beings-are-capable-of-great-good-but-also-of-the-basest-evil/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [I always tell that to young people - go to college, do theater, work with an audience. Don't try to learn how to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-always-tell-that-to-young-people-go-to-college-do-theater-work-with/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/although-we-might-settle-for-less-heavenly-father-won-t-for-he-sees/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Don't be an actor. Be a human being who works off what exists under imaginary circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-meisner/don-t-be-an-actor-be-a-human-being-who-works-off-what-exists-under/) [Sanford Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanford-meisner/) > [There's so much to learn as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/there-s-so-much-to-learn-as-an-actor/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [I always learn from my co-actor and give my hundred per cent to my character. It's totally teamwork which makes not only a film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-always-learn-from-my-co-actor-and-give-my-hundred-per-cent-to-my/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [I love theatre, and you learn too much as an actor and enjoy too much of it not to want to go back a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-love-theatre-and-you-learn-too-much-as-an-actor-and-enjoy-too-much/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I think acting is a mixture of instinct, imagination and inventiveness. All you can learn as an actor is basic technique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/i-think-acting-is-a-mixture-of-instinct-imagination-and-inventiveness/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [Every project you do, you hope you learn something more as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jeong/every-project-you-do-you-hope-you-learn-something-more-as-an-actor/) [Ken Jeong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jeong/) > [I feel like everything you learn as an actor growing up is wrong. You're supposed to hit your mark, find your light and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-feel-like-everything-you-learn-as-an-actor-growing-up-is-wrong-you/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [The longer you stay in the job that you do the more you learn about what those around you do. As an actor I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bateman/the-longer-you-stay-in-the-job-that-you-do-the-more-you-learn-about/) [Jason Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bateman/) > [I face the camera every day as a student as there is a lot to learn. You become an actor when you put emphasis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suniel-shetty/i-face-the-camera-every-day-as-a-student-as-there-is-a-lot-to-learn/) [Suniel Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suniel-shetty/) > [One of the first lessons you learn as an actor is to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frankenheimer/one-of-the-first-lessons-you-learn-as-an-actor-is-to-listen/) [John Frankenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frankenheimer/) > [I just want to continue to learn as an actor and as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-just-want-to-continue-to-learn-as-an-actor-and-as-a-person/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I always learn something from every actor I've ever worked with. I always pick something from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-huntington/i-always-learn-something-from-every-actor-i-ve-ever-worked-with-i/) [Sam Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-huntington/) ## More by John Lithgow > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The Broadway audience is made up of a greater percentage of tourists now. There's not nearly as much variety and danger and challenge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-broadway-audience-is-made-up-of-a-greater-percentage-of-tourists/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My sense of myself is that I'm a character actor, and character actors are ready, willing, and able to do anything, to be totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-sense-of-myself-is-that-i-m-a-character-actor-and-character-actors/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The essence of comedy, drama, and horror is surprise. I have an uncanny ability to surprise people because they look at my face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-essence-of-comedy-drama-and-horror-is-surprise-i-have-an-uncanny/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I never get tired of hearing compliments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I think there are all sorts of ways of turning into an actor, and there are a vast variety of different actors. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-think-there-are-all-sorts-of-ways-of-turning-into-an-actor-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'd sleep under a Vermeer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-d-sleep-under-a-vermeer/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm an avid Boston Red Sox fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-an-avid-boston-red-sox-fan/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My very first role was when I was 2 1/2 years old; I was one of Nora's children in 'A Doll's House,' with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-very-first-role-was-when-i-was-2-1-2-years-old-i-was-one-of-nora-s/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm as flighty as anybody. You put a lot out there. I've been through the process a lot. When I play a major role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-as-flighty-as-anybody-you-put-a-lot-out-there-i-ve-been-through/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [We all grow up with inherited genes and inherited sensibilities, and they run very, very deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/we-all-grow-up-with-inherited-genes-and-inherited-sensibilities-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I don't deal with the nuts and bolts of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-don-t-deal-with-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-life/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My worst audition was for Tim Burton for 'Batman.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-worst-audition-was-for-tim-burton-for-batman/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I gave up shame a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-gave-up-shame-a-long-time-ago/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/time-sneaks-up-on-you-like-a-windshield-on-a-bug/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) [Explore all 166 John Lithgow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## 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. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything. I'm sort of in the business of illustrating that fact.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lithgow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor-is-that-human-beings-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor-is-that-human-beings-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/john-lithgow-2438_actor_one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor_1263730.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything. I'm sort of in…” — John Lithgow", "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": "John Lithgow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the things you learn...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor-is-that-human-beings-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/one-of-the-things-you-learn-as-an-actor-is-that-human-beings-are/#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 } } ] } ```