--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is acting but lying and what is good…" description: "\"What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?\" — Laurence Olivier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_what-is-acting-but-lying-and-what-is-goo_2288863.png" --- # What is acting but lying and what is good lying but… ![“What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_what-is-acting-but-lying-and-what-is-goo_2288863.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_what-is-acting-but-lying-and-what-is-goo_2288863.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/laurence-olivier-11163_acting_what-is-acting-but-lying-and-what-is-goo_2288863.png) > “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. Explores the moral ambiguity of deception in performance and truth-telling. **In simple terms:** Deception can be both acting and honesty. Key Takeaway Question motives behind lies. Themes ethics performance truth Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical dramatic When to use this quote - theatre - political speech - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy dramatic arts Questions to Reflect On - When is a lie justified? - How does persuasion differ from deception? A Different Perspective Lies can erode trust if used manipulatively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Good acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-acting/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[the only acting advice he would give\] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/the-only-acting-advice-he-would-give-what-is-acting-but-lying-and/) [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 man who strains himself on the stage is bound, if he is any good, to strain all the people sitting in the stalls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/a-man-who-strains-himself-on-the-stage-is-bound-if-he-is-any-good-to/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [The actors today really need the whip hand. They're so lazy. They haven't got the sense of pride in their profession that the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-actors-today-really-need-the-whip-hand-they-re-so-lazy-they-haven/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 > [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/) > [“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/) > [Just because she comes off STRONG doesn't mean she didnt fall asleep CRYING and even though she acts like EVERYTHING is fine maybe, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-she-comes-off-strong-doesn-t-mean-she-didnt-fall-asleep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most times we only see things for the way we are. But we're good at lying to ourselves. Sometimes we need somebody who's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/most-times-we-only-see-things-for-the-way-we-are-but-we-re-good-at/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [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 > [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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