--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [the only acting advice he would give]…" description: "\"“[the only acting advice he would give] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?”\" — Laurence Olivier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png" --- # \[the only acting advice he would give\] What is acting but… ![“[the only acting advice he would give] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png) > ““\[the only acting advice he would give\] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?”” [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting involves deception; its art lies in making falsehoods believable. **In simple terms:** Acting is convincing falsehood. Key Takeaway Master believable deception. Themes performance truth illusion Mood dramatic ethical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - film - improvisation - role preparation Key Concepts method acting authenticity ethics Questions to Reflect On - When is convincing deception harmful? - How does authenticity balance deception? A Different Perspective Ethical concerns arise when deception blurs reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-lying-1113745/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Advice Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-acting-2607069/) [Convincing Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convincing-lying-3882151/) [Good Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-lying-1008775/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Convincing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-convincing-4444957/) ## Related quotes > [What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/what-is-acting-but-lying-and-what-is-good-lying-but-convincing-lying/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I am far from sure when I am acting and when I am not or, should I more frankly put it, when I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-am-far-from-sure-when-i-am-acting-and-when-i-am-not-or-should-i/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [A lot of girls ask for advice on how to get into acting, and I'm kind of the worst person to ask, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-bledel/a-lot-of-girls-ask-for-advice-on-how-to-get-into-acting-and-i-m-kind/) [Alexis Bledel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-bledel/) > [I never got any advice in acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/i-never-got-any-advice-in-acting/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [The only advice I give to acting students is, 'Be nice to your underclassmen. You never know who might be in a position to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-benjamin-hickey/the-only-advice-i-give-to-acting-students-is-be-nice-to-your/) [John Benjamin Hickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-benjamin-hickey/) > [You ask my advice about acting? Speak clearly, don't bump into the furniture and if you must have motivation, think of your pay packet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/you-ask-my-advice-about-acting-speak-clearly-don-t-bump-into-the/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [“With every part you act, there must be a little of yourself in it. If there isn't, it's not acting. It's lying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-every-part-you-act-there-must-be-a-little-of-yourself-in-it-if/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“It's acting, not lying, so I will not be sent to hell for saying these sorts of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/it-s-acting-not-lying-so-i-will-not-be-sent-to-hell-for-saying-these/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [I'm not a big fan of training, at all. I really don't like it. I've done a few acting classes and I've just hated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callan-mcauliffe/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-training-at-all-i-really-don-t-like-it-i-ve-done/) [Callan McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callan-mcauliffe/) > [A combination of acting, lying, begging, and cheating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/a-combination-of-acting-lying-begging-and-cheating/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Early on, someone had told me, 'You know, the camera can always tell when you're lying.' And, Jesus, that intimidated me. 'The camera can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/early-on-someone-had-told-me-you-know-the-camera-can-always-tell-when/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [People with two faces, don't they ever get tired of acting and lying ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jooj/people-with-two-faces-don-t-they-ever-get-tired-of-acting-and-lying/) [Jooj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jooj/) > [With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-any-part-you-play-there-is-a-certain-amount-of-yourself-in-it/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm not very good at lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-m-not-very-good-at-lying/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [“There was nothing particularly special about her, except that she was good with numbers, and very good at lying, and she made her home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/there-was-nothing-particularly-special-about-her-except-that-she-was/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by Laurence Olivier > [I often think that could we creep behind the actor's eyes, we would find an attic of forgotten toys and a copy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-often-think-that-could-we-creep-behind-the-actor-s-eyes-we-would/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/autograph-hunting-is-the-most-unattractive-manifestation-of-sex/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Acting is an everlasting search for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/acting-is-an-everlasting-search-for-truth/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I believe in the theater; I believe in it as the first glamorizer of thought. It restores dramatic dynamics and their relations to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-believe-in-the-theater-i-believe-in-it-as-the-first-glamorizer-of/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I suppose, unconsciously, I used all my wives to further my journey up the ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-suppose-unconsciously-i-used-all-my-wives-to-further-my-journey-up/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [ “\[in 1979\] You must have - besides intuition and sensitivity - a cutting edge that allows you to reach what you need. Also, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/in-1979-you-must-have-besides-intuition-and-sensitivity-a-cutting/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Acting, is not a profession for adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/acting-is-not-a-profession-for-adults/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Life is enthusiasm, zest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/life-is-enthusiasm-zest/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [If I wasn't an actor, I think I'd have gone mad. You have to have extra voltage, some extra temperament to reach certain heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/if-i-wasn-t-an-actor-i-think-i-d-have-gone-mad-you-have-to-have-extra/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [ \[on whether he harbored any resentment at his forced retirement from the stage after he was fired by Britain's National Theater\] I should be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/on-whether-he-harbored-any-resentment-at-his-forced-retirement-from/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I have to act to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-have-to-act-to-live/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/if-he-was-lost-for-a-moment-he-would-dive-straight-back-into-its-honey/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [If you're an artist, you've got to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/if-you-re-an-artist-you-ve-got-to-prove-it/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/lead-the-audience-by-the-nose-to-the-thought/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [A sexual athlete is not likely to find sufficient energy for work of another athletic kind, and the acting of great parts most definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/a-sexual-athlete-is-not-likely-to-find-sufficient-energy-for-work-of/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) [Explore all 61 Laurence Olivier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[the only acting advice he would give] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurence Olivier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-what-is-acting-but-lying-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-what-is-acting-but-lying-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-wha_1327736.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[the only acting advice he would give] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?” — Laurence Olivier", "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": "Laurence Olivier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“[the only acting advice he would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-what-is-acting-but-lying-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-what-is-acting-but-lying-and/#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 } } ] } ```