--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some actors are brilliant in David Mamet…" description: "\"Some actors are brilliant in David Mamet, but they would crash and burn in my plays and visa-versa. You either have my music in your body, or you don't..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/john-patrick-shanley-13888_actor_some-actors-are-brilliant-in-david-mamet_1775951.jpg" --- # Some actors are brilliant in David Mamet, but they would… ![“Some actors are brilliant in David Mamet, but they would crash and burn in my plays and visa-versa. You either have my music in your body, or you don't.” quote by John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/john-patrick-shanley-13888_actor_some-actors-are-brilliant-in-david-mamet_1775951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/john-patrick-shanley-13888_actor_some-actors-are-brilliant-in-david-mamet_1775951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/john-patrick-shanley-13888_actor_some-actors-are-brilliant-in-david-mamet_1775951.jpg) > “Some actors are brilliant in David Mamet, but they would crash and burn in my plays and visa-versa. You either have my music in your body, or you don't.” [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Different artistic mediums demand distinct talents; success in one does not guarantee success in another. **In simple terms:** Artistic success varies by medium. Key Takeaway Respect each medium’s unique demands. Themes art creativity talent Mood analytical encouraging Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre casting - film casting - music composition Key Concepts dramatic structure musicality Questions to Reflect On - What strengths do you bring to each medium? - How can you develop new skills? A Different Perspective Cross‑disciplinary work can be limiting without adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-brilliant-1820892/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn/) [Burn Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn-plays-1820891/) [Crash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crash/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/david/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/david-mamet-330353/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Mamet Crash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mamet-crash-1820893/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) [Your body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-body/) ## Related quotes > [David Mamet's writing is pretty spectacular, obviously. I like the honesty of it; I like how funny it is and how sad it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-knight/david-mamet-s-writing-is-pretty-spectacular-obviously-i-like-the/) [T. R. Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-knight/) > [I studied acting in NYU's graduate program, in which we covered everything from Ibsen and Chekov to August Wilson and David Mamet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-studied-acting-in-nyu-s-graduate-program-in-which-we-covered/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [People who do not have funny in them are not funny when they read funny lines. Sorry. Just doesn't work that way. Seriously, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobkin/people-who-do-not-have-funny-in-them-are-not-funny-when-they-read/) [David Dobkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobkin/) > [If there are actors that are brilliant, people often wonder whether it's intimidating working alongside them, but it really isn't. It just makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mison/if-there-are-actors-that-are-brilliant-people-often-wonder-whether-it/) [Tom Mison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-mison/) > [Some actors are brilliant character guys. They submerge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/some-actors-are-brilliant-character-guys-they-submerge/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [It's easy to see why 'American Horror' is freaking people out. The ultraviolent hallucinations never pause long enough to make sense. In terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/it-s-easy-to-see-why-american-horror-is-freaking-people-out-the/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [My husband is a graduate of two Ivy League universities - with a degree in Classics! - and he sounds like a David Mamet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-salie/my-husband-is-a-graduate-of-two-ivy-league-universities-with-a-degree/) [Faith Salie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-salie/) > [Bill Pullman is older than Aaron Eckhart - although I was older too - and the age difference changes the play. My perspective on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/bill-pullman-is-older-than-aaron-eckhart-although-i-was-older-too-and/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [Any time you get to do a David Mamet play, it's a great opportunity. His writing is such that I think it's a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/any-time-you-get-to-do-a-david-mamet-play-it-s-a-great-opportunity/) [Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/) > [There's nobody who loves being around actors working more than David Mamet, especially actors bringing his tremendous dialogue to life. I've never seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/there-s-nobody-who-loves-being-around-actors-working-more-than-david/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [My first acting class was taught by a little known playwright, David Mamet, who then cast me in my first play, opposite John Malkovich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mahoney/my-first-acting-class-was-taught-by-a-little-known-playwright-david/) [John Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mahoney/) > [ \[David\] Mamet's the writer I admire most but he's way off from when he tries to talk about what the moral appeal of liberal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/david-mamet-s-the-writer-i-admire-most-but-he-s-way-off-from-when-he/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [You've never seen anything until you've seen David Mamet be an Edwardian lady. He always conveys what he means, but he's so... masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/you-ve-never-seen-anything-until-you-ve-seen-david-mamet-be-an/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [David Mamet gives me great heart. When I ask myself, 'I don't know if I can do this again,' Mamet would say, 'Oh yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/david-mamet-gives-me-great-heart-when-i-ask-myself-i-don-t-know-if-i/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [ David Mamet, Tim Kazurinsky, and Denise DeClue, who adapted \[ About Last Night\]. Between the three of them... I mean, it's always down to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/david-mamet-tim-kazurinsky-and-denise-declue-who-adapted-about-last/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) ## More by John Patrick Shanley > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I did 'Doubt' as a film, a play and an opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-did-doubt-as-a-film-a-play-and-an-opera/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [“i don't know what your situation is but i wanted you to know what mine is not just to explain some rude behavior, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-don-t-know-what-your-situation-is-but-i-wanted-you-to-know-what/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'd like to thank everybody who ever punched or kissed me in my life and everybody who I ever punched or kissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-d-like-to-thank-everybody-who-ever-punched-or-kissed-me-in-my-life/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [It wasn't until I was 35 or 36, when I wrote 'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,' that I began to get some notoriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/it-wasn-t-until-i-was-35-or-36-when-i-wrote-danny-and-the-deep-blue/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [dear god, whose name i do not know. thank you for my life. i forgot... how BIG... thank you. thank you for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/dear-god-whose-name-i-do-not-know-thank-you-for-my-life-i-forgot-how/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I became a playwright and screenwriter. Italian-Americans were my particular specialty. I liked the way they talked. There was something free in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-became-a-playwright-and-screenwriter-italian-americans-were-my/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other. My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-m-irish-as-hell-kelly-on-one-side-shanley-on-the-other-my-father/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but its not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works-but-its-not-enough/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [People ask me if I believe in things: in God, in astrology, and I say, absolutely! I believe in everything! And I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/people-ask-me-if-i-believe-in-things-in-god-in-astrology-and-i-say/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of the conversation. Doubt is an open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-think-that-certainty-is-a-closed-door-it-s-the-end-of-the/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Back when you were doing plays like 'The Miracle Worker,' you had 20, 25 people in the cast. When you go to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/back-when-you-were-doing-plays-like-the-miracle-worker-you-had-20-25/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Where the terror is, you must go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/where-the-terror-is-you-must-go/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > ['The Miracle Worker' is just such an incredibly powerful play on stage, and is so kinetic, and athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/the-miracle-worker-is-just-such-an-incredibly-powerful-play-on-stage/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Conscience is the most dangerous thing you possess. If you wake it up, it may destroy you. To live a life of total moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/conscience-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-you-possess-if-you-wake-it-up/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) [Explore all 48 John Patrick Shanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## 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. 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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. 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