--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act." description: "\"We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.\" — Laurence Olivier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/laurence-olivier-11163_mimic_we-ape-we-mimic-we-mock-we-act-2137979_2137979.png" --- # We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act. ![“We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/laurence-olivier-11163_mimic_we-ape-we-mimic-we-mock-we-act-2137979_2137979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/laurence-olivier-11163_mimic_we-ape-we-mimic-we-mock-we-act-2137979_2137979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/laurence-olivier-11163_mimic_we-ape-we-mimic-we-mock-we-act-2137979_2137979.png) > “We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.” [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. Humans imitate and critique each other, revealing our social nature. **In simple terms:** We copy and mock, showing how we learn and judge. Key Takeaway Observe and refine your behavior through imitation. Themes imitation critique human nature performance learning Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - education - team dynamics - media analysis - personal growth - creative arts Key Concepts social psychology theatre cultural commentary Questions to Reflect On - In what ways do you imitate others? - When does mockery become harmful? A Different Perspective Mimicry can reinforce stereotypes rather than foster originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ape Mimic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ape-mimic-4438512/) [Mimic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mimic/) [Mimic Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mimic-mock-4438511/) [Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mock/) [Mock Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mock-act-4438513/) ## Related quotes > [You try to go with something that's familiar to people and that way they can jump on board with what you're trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-thompson/you-try-to-go-with-something-that-s-familiar-to-people-and-that-way/) [Kenan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-thompson/) > [Only Russ Tamblyn is Russ Tamblyn. I can't try to emulate or mimic what he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/only-russ-tamblyn-is-russ-tamblyn-i-can-t-try-to-emulate-or-mimic/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [TV is all about learning to write in someone else's voice, so if you do it long enough without selling your own project, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/tv-is-all-about-learning-to-write-in-someone-else-s-voice-so-if-you/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [There's never been a conscious decision to sound like anybody else. I can't mimic, I don't have that ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/there-s-never-been-a-conscious-decision-to-sound-like-anybody-else-i/) [KK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kk/) > [I can hear someone's voice once, and I can pretty much mimic them. Not to make fun, but I can do an impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-can-hear-someone-s-voice-once-and-i-can-pretty-much-mimic-them-not/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [I like to mimic accents. I don't even know if that's a talent. That's just a weird thing that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessia-cara/i-like-to-mimic-accents-i-don-t-even-know-if-that-s-a-talent-that-s/) [Alessia Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessia-cara/) > [“The Board would like to come back and see you tomorrow, Ariana,' she mimicked. 'Any more questions?' 'Yes,' she answered in the Warden's Irish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-merle/the-board-would-like-to-come-back-and-see-you-tomorrow-ariana-she/) [Claire Merle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-merle/) > [Yoga is the most boring exercise. It's for people who are too lazy to get on the elliptical. Bikram, where they heat up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noureen-dewulf/yoga-is-the-most-boring-exercise-it-s-for-people-who-are-too-lazy-to/) [Noureen DeWulf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noureen-dewulf/) > [I'm a huge mimic. That's how I learned to sing. I listened to a lot of Freddy Mercury, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/i-m-a-huge-mimic-that-s-how-i-learned-to-sing-i-listened-to-a-lot-of/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) > [“~Never mimic. Be true to yourself. Never give up on your dreams or your heart.~”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-r-cone/never-mimic-be-true-to-yourself-never-give-up-on-your-dreams-or-your/) [Sheila R. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-r-cone/) > [“The reason to copy your heroes and their style is so that you might somehow get a glimpse into their minds. That's what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/the-reason-to-copy-your-heroes-and-their-style-is-so-that-you-might/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [“Everybody has a little bit of the sun and moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/everybody-has-a-little-bit-of-the-sun-and-moon-in-them-everybody-has-2/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [I got through with my ability to mimic others and make people laugh. I swaggered through life, but, in reality, I lived in fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-considine/i-got-through-with-my-ability-to-mimic-others-and-make-people-laugh-i/) [Paddy Considine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-considine/) > [People are confusing me with a good actor when I'm just a good mimic. When someone asks me to play a nun from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-kirke/people-are-confusing-me-with-a-good-actor-when-i-m-just-a-good-mimic/) [Jemima Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-kirke/) > [You can't mimic my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z-2/you-can-t-mimic-my-life/) [Jay Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z-2/) ## 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 Mimic quotes > [You try to go with something that's familiar to people and that way they can jump on board with what you're trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-thompson/you-try-to-go-with-something-that-s-familiar-to-people-and-that-way/) [Kenan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-thompson/) > [People are confusing me with a good actor when I'm just a good mimic. When someone asks me to play a nun from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-kirke/people-are-confusing-me-with-a-good-actor-when-i-m-just-a-good-mimic/) [Jemima Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-kirke/) > [I got through with my ability to mimic others and make people laugh. I swaggered through life, but, in reality, I lived in fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-considine/i-got-through-with-my-ability-to-mimic-others-and-make-people-laugh-i/) [Paddy Considine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-considine/) > [“Everybody has a little bit of the sun and moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/everybody-has-a-little-bit-of-the-sun-and-moon-in-them-everybody-has-2/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“The reason to copy your heroes and their style is so that you might somehow get a glimpse into their minds. That's what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/the-reason-to-copy-your-heroes-and-their-style-is-so-that-you-might/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [“~Never mimic. Be true to yourself. Never give up on your dreams or your heart.~”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-r-cone/never-mimic-be-true-to-yourself-never-give-up-on-your-dreams-or-your/) [Sheila R. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-r-cone/) > [I'm a huge mimic. That's how I learned to sing. I listened to a lot of Freddy Mercury, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/i-m-a-huge-mimic-that-s-how-i-learned-to-sing-i-listened-to-a-lot-of/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) > [Yoga is the most boring exercise. It's for people who are too lazy to get on the elliptical. Bikram, where they heat up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noureen-dewulf/yoga-is-the-most-boring-exercise-it-s-for-people-who-are-too-lazy-to/) [Noureen DeWulf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noureen-dewulf/) > [“The Board would like to come back and see you tomorrow, Ariana,' she mimicked. 'Any more questions?' 'Yes,' she answered in the Warden's Irish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-merle/the-board-would-like-to-come-back-and-see-you-tomorrow-ariana-she/) [Claire Merle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-merle/) > [I like to mimic accents. I don't even know if that's a talent. That's just a weird thing that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessia-cara/i-like-to-mimic-accents-i-don-t-even-know-if-that-s-a-talent-that-s/) [Alessia Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessia-cara/) > [I can hear someone's voice once, and I can pretty much mimic them. Not to make fun, but I can do an impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-can-hear-someone-s-voice-once-and-i-can-pretty-much-mimic-them-not/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [There's never been a conscious decision to sound like anybody else. I can't mimic, I don't have that ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/there-s-never-been-a-conscious-decision-to-sound-like-anybody-else-i/) [KK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kk/) > [TV is all about learning to write in someone else's voice, so if you do it long enough without selling your own project, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/tv-is-all-about-learning-to-write-in-someone-else-s-voice-so-if-you/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Only Russ Tamblyn is Russ Tamblyn. I can't try to emulate or mimic what he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/only-russ-tamblyn-is-russ-tamblyn-i-can-t-try-to-emulate-or-mimic/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [You can't mimic my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z-2/you-can-t-mimic-my-life/) [Jay Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z-2/) [Browse all 61 Mimic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mimic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We ape, we mimic, we mock. 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