--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason I act is because I'm trying to…" description: "\"The reason I act is because I'm trying to understand why people are as they are.\" — Kelly Reilly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg" --- # The reason I act is because I'm trying to understand why… ![“The reason I act is because I'm trying to understand why people are as they are.” quote by Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg) > “The reason I act is because I'm trying to understand why people are as they are.” [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acts to grasp human behavior, seeking insight into why people behave as they do. **In simple terms:** Acting to understand people. Key Takeaway Seek empathy through observation. Themes psychology empathy self‑awareness Mood curious reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - team meetings - personal relationships Key Concepts human nature motivation behavioral analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do your assumptions shape your actions? - What methods help you uncover true motivations? A Different Perspective Understanding motives can be limited by bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [Judgment is contained in the act of trying to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-naipaul/judgment-is-contained-in-the-act-of-trying-to-understand/) [V. S. Naipaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-naipaul/) > [“Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/ideas-must-be-distinct-before-reason-can-act-upon-them/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I've given up trying to understand what people think about me. It seems like a lot of people don't like the music we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-given-up-trying-to-understand-what-people-think-about-me-it/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I gave up trying to understand people long ago. Now I let them try to understand me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-gave-up-trying-to-understand-people-long-ago-now-i-let-them-try-to/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Whenever I'm trying to understand people that I don't understand, or things in people or even in myself, I'll say, 'When did this negativity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dacus/whenever-i-m-trying-to-understand-people-that-i-don-t-understand-or/) [Lucy Dacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-dacus/) > [I've given up trying to understand what people think about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-given-up-trying-to-understand-what-people-think-about-me/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Trying to understand some people ls like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-understand-some-people-ls-like-trying-to-pick-up-a-turd-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I suppose for a very long time I've been trying to understand how it is that people might make sense out of their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/i-suppose-for-a-very-long-time-i-ve-been-trying-to-understand-how-it/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [“We tend to give up so easy in trying to understand people so we end up judging them !!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-fawzi/we-tend-to-give-up-so-easy-in-trying-to-understand-people-so-we-end/) [Hisham Fawzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-fawzi/) > [A lot of the offers I get are for these innocent 16-year-olds, and I turn down a lot of stuff because it's the same-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-murray/a-lot-of-the-offers-i-get-are-for-these-innocent-16-year-olds-and-i/) Jillian Murray > [I've always thought that the act of playing the guitar was the act of trying to make a point of playing the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-ronson/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-act-of-playing-the-guitar-was-the-act-of/) Mick Ronson > [“Hanging on to it a little, are you? … There’s a trick to letting it go, in case you’re interested… You can’t try. Trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/hanging-on-to-it-a-little-are-you-there-s-a-trick-to-letting-it-go-in/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“The act of 'trying' is success on its own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/the-act-of-trying-is-success-on-its-own/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) > [While I support making improvements in the Affordable Care Act, trying to enact them while holding the government and our economic recovery hostage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/while-i-support-making-improvements-in-the-affordable-care-act-trying/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [“You can't try. Trying is a struggle and doing is an act. You can't witness the act of trying, but you can see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/you-can-t-try-trying-is-a-struggle-and-doing-is-an-act-you-can-t/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) ## More by Kelly Reilly > [I don't like the word celebrity. If I become a good actress and be in movies where I'm expected to be a good actress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-don-t-like-the-word-celebrity-if-i-become-a-good-actress-and-be-in/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [As an actor, you always want to keep it different, change it up, and, you know, just to keep yourself inspired and work with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/as-an-actor-you-always-want-to-keep-it-different-change-it-up-and-you/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [Being at the pinnacle of my career is not to turn up in some multiplex blockbuster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/being-at-the-pinnacle-of-my-career-is-not-to-turn-up-in-some/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [Auditioning is a horrible experience because you know you are being absolutely scrutinized and judged. There are days where you can do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/auditioning-is-a-horrible-experience-because-you-know-you-are-being/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I'd prefer to go under the radar and just do the acting without being famous for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-d-prefer-to-go-under-the-radar-and-just-do-the-acting-without-being/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [Every job feels like my first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/every-job-feels-like-my-first/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [You put yourself on tape as an actor a lot - and you send them off, they go out into the ether, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/you-put-yourself-on-tape-as-an-actor-a-lot-and-you-send-them-off-they/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [At my school, Shakespeare wasn't on the syllabus - at least not for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/at-my-school-shakespeare-wasn-t-on-the-syllabus-at-least-not-for-me/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [Obviously, education is hugely important, along with healthcare. They're the basics and you're hurting your own country if you don't pour money into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/obviously-education-is-hugely-important-along-with-healthcare-they-re/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I act because I have to, because I need to find out whether I can do it or not - that's what drives me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-act-because-i-have-to-because-i-need-to-find-out-whether-i-can-do/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [When I was younger, I used to write to directors when I was unsure I could play a role. I'd say: 'You've made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-write-to-directors-when-i-was-unsure-i/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I'm not temperamentally into high comedy. I'm not a Noel Coward kind of girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-m-not-temperamentally-into-high-comedy-i-m-not-a-noel-coward-kind/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I've no wish to appear in celebrity magazines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-ve-no-wish-to-appear-in-celebrity-magazines/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I love strong women in films that are allowed to play women and not male fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-love-strong-women-in-films-that-are-allowed-to-play-women-and-not/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I'm a theater actress. I love rehearsal. I could have six weeks of rehearsal and think it's not enough. But on film, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-m-a-theater-actress-i-love-rehearsal-i-could-have-six-weeks-of/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) [Explore all 37 Kelly Reilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) ## More People quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) [Browse all 211,607 People quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason I act is because I'm trying to understand why people are as they are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelly Reilly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-to-understand-why-people-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "People" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-to-understand-why-people-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/kelly-reilly-17400_people_the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-t_2173426.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The reason I act is because I'm trying to understand why people are as they are.” — Kelly Reilly", "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": "Kelly Reilly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The reason I act is because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-to-understand-why-people-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/the-reason-i-act-is-because-i-m-trying-to-understand-why-people-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 } } ] } ```