---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to drive myself crazy by thinking…"
description: "\"I used to drive myself crazy by thinking, three days later, 'Ugh, why didn't I play it like that? Ugh, now that line makes sense to me.'\" — Laurie Metcalf"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg"
---

#  I used to drive myself crazy by thinking, three days…

![“I used to drive myself crazy by thinking, three days later, 'Ugh, why didn't I play it like that? Ugh, now that line makes sense to me.'” quote by Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg)

> “I used to drive myself crazy by thinking, three days later, 'Ugh, why didn't I play it like that? Ugh, now that line makes sense to me.'”

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑criticism after performances can lead to over‑analysis, hindering natural expression.

**In simple terms:** Over‑thinking past lines creates anxiety.

Key Takeaway

Trust your instincts during performance.

Themes

performance self‑critique growth

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- rehearsals
- live theater
- film sets
- improvisation

Key Concepts

over‑analysis confidence creative flow

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance critique and confidence?
- What routines calm performance nerves?

A Different Perspective

Self‑criticism can also drive improvement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Crazy Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-thinking-495314/) [Drive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drive/) [Drive Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drive-crazy/) [Makes Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-sense/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-like/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-days-1226606/)

## Related quotes

> [I lie awake, I drive myself crazy, Drive myself crazy, Thinking of you,,,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nsync/i-lie-awake-i-drive-myself-crazy-drive-myself-crazy-thinking-of-you/)

[Nsync](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nsync/)

> [I lay awake I drive myself crazy Drive myself crazy thinking of you.. ª«ª«](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee/i-lay-awake-i-drive-myself-crazy-drive-myself-crazy-thinking-of-you/)

[Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee/)

> [“You’ll drive yourself crazy looking for something that’s not there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eowyn-ivey/you-ll-drive-yourself-crazy-looking-for-something-that-s-not-there/)

[Eowyn Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eowyn-ivey/)

> [“I like Saturdays. They are my best thinking days. It is my day to try to find that one special thought that turns into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/i-like-saturdays-they-are-my-best-thinking-days-it-is-my-day-to-try/)

[Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/)

> [Some days, I practice positive thinking. Other days, I'm not positive I am thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/some-days-i-practice-positive-thinking-other-days-i-m-not-positive-i/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [There are some days I practice positive thinking, and other days I'm not positive I am thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-eades/there-are-some-days-i-practice-positive-thinking-and-other-days-i-m/)

[John M Eades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-eades/)

> [Some days I cant stop thinking about you, and other days I wonder why Im wasting my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/some-days-i-cant-stop-thinking-about-you-and-other-days-i-wonder-why/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [Some days I cant stop thinking about you. Other days I wonder why I waste my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-days-i-cant-stop-thinking-about-you-other-days-i-wonder-why-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some days I cant stop thinking about you and other days I wonder why am I wasting my time ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beronica-limon/some-days-i-cant-stop-thinking-about-you-and-other-days-i-wonder-why-2/)

[Beronica Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beronica-limon/)

> [Call me crazy but I'm thinking to myself that I can't do this anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-rocket-to-the-moon/call-me-crazy-but-i-m-thinking-to-myself-that-i-can-t-do-this-anymore/)

[A Rocket To The Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-rocket-to-the-moon/)

> [Whenever something gets in the way of me making music, I go crazy - cut -my-hair-off-and-glue-it-to-the-walls level of crazy. Thinking God is talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/whenever-something-gets-in-the-way-of-me-making-music-i-go-crazy-cut/)

[CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/)

> [“I didn't peg you for a fighter.' 'I'm not. It just made me crazy thinking about you with anyone but me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-lawson/i-didn-t-peg-you-for-a-fighter-i-m-not-it-just-made-me-crazy-thinking/)

[Piper Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-lawson/)

> [“Am I crazy for thinking I could have a chance with her?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-cates/am-i-crazy-for-thinking-i-could-have-a-chance-with-her/)

[Georgia Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-cates/)

> [It's crazy, I'm thinking, just knowing that the world is round, And here I'm dancing on the ground Am I right-side-up or upside-down, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews-band/it-s-crazy-i-m-thinking-just-knowing-that-the-world-is-round-and-here/)

[Dave Matthews Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews-band/)

> [I'm kinda crazy thinking of you!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/strawberry/i-m-kinda-crazy-thinking-of-you/)

[Strawberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/strawberry/)

## More by Laurie Metcalf

> ['Three Tall Women' is kind of fascinating. I had never seen it itself, and I imagine the audience will find it very intriguing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/three-tall-women-is-kind-of-fascinating-i-had-never-seen-it-itself/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I'm happy whenever I'm in a rehearsal room. I've always gotten all my energy and creativity in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-m-happy-whenever-i-m-in-a-rehearsal-room-i-ve-always-gotten-all-my/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I'm so thrilled to be here on the set of 'Supergirl!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-m-so-thrilled-to-be-here-on-the-set-of-supergirl/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [When one thing ends, you put it away and start from scratch on the next thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/when-one-thing-ends-you-put-it-away-and-start-from-scratch-on-the/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I don't like the camera. I get very self-conscious with it and then spend way too much time not looking self-conscious instead of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-don-t-like-the-camera-i-get-very-self-conscious-with-it-and-then/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I gravitated back to theatre again, and when I heard about this little independent movie called 'Lady Bird,' I thought, 'This will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-gravitated-back-to-theatre-again-and-when-i-heard-about-this-little/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I work just as hard and have just as much fun whether in a 50-seat house or in a 1000-seat house. It's a luxury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-work-just-as-hard-and-have-just-as-much-fun-whether-in-a-50-seat/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [Really, I'll go anywhere at any time to continue working in theater - it's a passion that I'm thankful I still have. It keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/really-i-ll-go-anywhere-at-any-time-to-continue-working-in-theater-it/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [My profession is about as far away from growing up in southern Illinois as you can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/my-profession-is-about-as-far-away-from-growing-up-in-southern/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [When I get a beautifully written piece of material, I immediately start imagining how I would interpret it. I love just daydreaming about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/when-i-get-a-beautifully-written-piece-of-material-i-immediately/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [No matter how many times you've done it, the early stages of getting a show up on its feet is very hit and miss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/no-matter-how-many-times-you-ve-done-it-the-early-stages-of-getting-a/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I was too practical to major in theater. Acting - what was I going to do with acting? There was no future in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-was-too-practical-to-major-in-theater-acting-what-was-i-going-to-do/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I can't even call it work. I'm a creative-a-holic. I love the tearing into new material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-can-t-even-call-it-work-i-m-a-creative-a-holic-i-love-the-tearing/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [When I go to see something I'm in, or my friends are in, it's like a home movie. When I just go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/when-i-go-to-see-something-i-m-in-or-my-friends-are-in-it-s-like-a/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

> [I don't know if ISU helped me become what I am, but I know that if I hadn't gone there, I wouldn't be what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-don-t-know-if-isu-helped-me-become-what-i-am-but-i-know-that-if-i/)

[Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

[Explore all 44 Laurie Metcalf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/)

## More Crazy quotes

> [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/)

[Dot Dot Curve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-dot-curve/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/)

[Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/)

> [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/)

[Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/)

> [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

> [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

[Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I used to drive myself crazy by thinking, three days later, 'Ugh, why didn't I play it like that? Ugh, now that line makes sense to me.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laurie Metcalf"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking-three-days-later-ugh-why/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Crazy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking-three-days-later-ugh-why/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/laurie-metcalf-14981_crazy_i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking_2797599.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I used to drive myself crazy by thinking, three days later, 'Ugh, why didn't I play it like that? Ugh, now…” — Laurie Metcalf",
                "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": "Laurie Metcalf",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I used to drive myself crazy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking-three-days-later-ugh-why/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-used-to-drive-myself-crazy-by-thinking-three-days-later-ugh-why/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
