--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People have expectations from you - and…" description: "\"People have expectations from you - and the whole fun of acting is taking expectations and completely upending them. That's how you get laughs in comed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/john-lithgow-2438_acting_people-have-expectations-from-you-and-th_2896240.jpg" --- # People have expectations from you - and the whole fun of… ![“People have expectations from you - and the whole fun of acting is taking expectations and completely upending them. That's how you get laughs in comedy, and that's how you scare the daylights out of people in a horror film.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/john-lithgow-2438_acting_people-have-expectations-from-you-and-th_2896240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/john-lithgow-2438_acting_people-have-expectations-from-you-and-th_2896240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/john-lithgow-2438_acting_people-have-expectations-from-you-and-th_2896240.jpg) > “People have expectations from you - and the whole fun of acting is taking expectations and completely upending them. That's how you get laughs in comedy, and that's how you scare the daylights out of people in a horror film.” [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. Comedy and horror succeed by subverting audience expectations, turning predictability into surprise for humor or fear. **In simple terms:** Surprise makes people laugh or feel scared. Key Takeaway Use surprise to engage audiences. Themes creativity entertainment psychology Mood playful intense Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - horror movies - marketing campaigns - public speaking Key Concepts expectation subversion audience manipulation Questions to Reflect On - When does subverting expectations enhance versus hinder a story? - How can you balance surprise with coherence? A Different Perspective Overusing twists can alienate audiences if they feel manipulated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Horror film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror-film/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [If the people in horror movies listened to me, they would still be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-the-people-in-horror-movies-listened-to-me-they-would-still-be/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If the people in horror movies listened to me they would probably still be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-people-in-horror-movies-listened-to-me-they-would-probably/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If this is what death was like it's no wonder people had such a horror of the idea of ghosts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sheehan-miles/if-this-is-what-death-was-like-it-s-no-wonder-people-had-such-a/) [Charles Sheehan-Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sheehan-miles/) > [“A girl's bag is an abandoned warehouse. Stupid people in horror movies are the only ones to venture in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/a-girl-s-bag-is-an-abandoned-warehouse-stupid-people-in-horror-movies/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live. Boring damned people all over the earth, propagating more boring damned people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/some-people-never-go-crazy-what-truly-horrible-lives-they-must-live-2/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [You have to take the horror seriously but there's gags aplenty. Most people, when they do horror it's just grim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/you-have-to-take-the-horror-seriously-but-there-s-gags-aplenty-most/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [A lot of my friends are people who do horror films: Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Stephen King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/a-lot-of-my-friends-are-people-who-do-horror-films-wes-craven-john/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [Certainly, black horror movie fans have, you know, been particularly vocal. I mean, there's the whole Eddie Murphy routine about, you know, black people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/certainly-black-horror-movie-fans-have-you-know-been-particularly/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [With movies, you can do a lot more roles a lot faster. My favorite thing about acting is taking on new characters. It's fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammi-hanratty/with-movies-you-can-do-a-lot-more-roles-a-lot-faster-my-favorite/) [Sammi Hanratty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammi-hanratty/) > [ Acting for me sometimes is taking whatever personal experiences I have and try to apply that \[to a role\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/acting-for-me-sometimes-is-taking-whatever-personal-experiences-i/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Acting - you're taking someone else's visions and someone else's inspirations, and it's up to you to portray that to everyone watching the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dallas/acting-you-re-taking-someone-else-s-visions-and-someone-else-s/) [Cameron Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dallas/) > [Something I learned in the Marine Corps that I've applied to acting is, one, taking direction, and then working with a group of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/something-i-learned-in-the-marine-corps-that-i-ve-applied-to-acting/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I remember hearing someone say that good acting is more about taking off a mask than putting one on, and in movie acting, certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-remember-hearing-someone-say-that-good-acting-is-more-about-taking/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [The only thing that would deter me at the moment would be the idea of doing one thing for a very long time. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/the-only-thing-that-would-deter-me-at-the-moment-would-be-the-idea-of/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [I feel responsible, as many other people's lives hang on the success of a drama in which I appear. But in essence, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-hyung-sik/i-feel-responsible-as-many-other-people-s-lives-hang-on-the-success/) [Park Hyung-sik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-hyung-sik/) ## 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 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. 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