---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really don't know what I'm doing... I…"
description: "\"I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's terrible. I go in there and I learn how to be like the character and do the best I can, and that's ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg"
---

#  I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's…

![“I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's terrible. I go in there and I learn how to be like the character and do the best I can, and that's all I really do.” quote by Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg)

> “I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's terrible. I go in there and I learn how to be like the character and do the best I can, and that's all I really do.”

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

## 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 admits uncertainty about his craft, emphasizing learning through embodying characters and doing his best despite confusion.

**In simple terms:** He learns by acting and doing his best despite not knowing.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty and keep learning.

Themes

art self‑doubt growth

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- acting workshops
- career development
- personal challenges
- creative projects

Key Concepts

psychology performance art

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you cope with not knowing?
- What strategies help you improve despite doubt?

A Different Perspective

Uncertainty can hinder confidence and decision‑making.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

## Related quotes

> [Anyone I'm with has to give me freedom. I like to be with someone who has character and style and someone who is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/anyone-i-m-with-has-to-give-me-freedom-i-like-to-be-with-someone-who/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [I like to write first-person because I like to become the character I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-like-to-write-first-person-because-i-like-to-become-the-character-i/)

[Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/)

> [I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-always-ready-to-learn-although-i-do-not-always-like-being-taught/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-nolte/if-children-live-with-approval-they-learn-to-like-themselves/)

[Dorothy Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-nolte/)

> [“Learn to like what doesn't cost much. Learn to like reading, conversation, music. Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking. Learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-bennion/learn-to-like-what-doesn-t-cost-much-learn-to-like-reading/)

Lowell Bennion

> [I'm, like, finishing up high school. I don't know how you can learn anything from me because I'm still, like, a teenager. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/i-m-like-finishing-up-high-school-i-don-t-know-how-you-can-learn/)

[Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/)

> [Fashion is a language. Some know it, some learn it, some never will - like an instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/fashion-is-a-language-some-know-it-some-learn-it-some-never-will-like/)

[Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/)

> [The world is as good as you are. You've got to learn to like yourself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/the-world-is-as-good-as-you-are-you-ve-got-to-learn-to-like-yourself/)

[Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/)

> [When your teeth are gone, learn to like mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/when-your-teeth-are-gone-learn-to-like-mush/)

[Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/)

> [Just learn to like cats. -Cinderella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disney-princess/just-learn-to-like-cats-cinderella/)

Disney Princess

> [For me, there are always things to learn. It's like the next movie is going to be the good one, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maiwenn/for-me-there-are-always-things-to-learn-it-s-like-the-next-movie-is/)

[Maiwenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maiwenn/)

> [I am about to learn what it's like to live here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/i-am-about-to-learn-what-it-s-like-to-live-here/)

[David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/)

> [One of my strengths is I learn, and I like to learn from all sorts of people in all walks of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/one-of-my-strengths-is-i-learn-and-i-like-to-learn-from-all-sorts-of/)

[Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/)

> [If you can learn to like how you look, and not the way you think you look, it can set you free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/if-you-can-learn-to-like-how-you-look-and-not-the-way-you-think-you/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

## More by Leonardo DiCaprio

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I've gotten to go to far-off places in the world, have very unique, isolated, intense experiences for four or five months at a time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-ve-gotten-to-go-to-far-off-places-in-the-world-have-very-unique/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [It gets to the point where you're hot, you're hot, and when you're not, you're not. It's so true. I have to slow down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/it-gets-to-the-point-where-you-re-hot-you-re-hot-and-when-you-re-not/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I did imitations of anyone who came to my parents' house, and that was my identity at school - if there were ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-did-imitations-of-anyone-who-came-to-my-parents-house-and-that-was/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I think people read the tabloids because they want to see you eating a burger, or out of your makeup or doing something stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-think-people-read-the-tabloids-because-they-want-to-see-you-eating/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [When I can't immediately define the character, and there's an element of mystery to it and still a lot to be explored, that's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/when-i-can-t-immediately-define-the-character-and-there-s-an-element/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I remember when I first started having these interpretations of these images, these clichés of what movie stars are and this and that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-remember-when-i-first-started-having-these-interpretations-of-these/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [It's my first sort of commercial attempt, but it made sense for me because I'm not that kind of guy and I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/it-s-my-first-sort-of-commercial-attempt-but-it-made-sense-for-me/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [We must all move shoulder to shoulder in a unified front to show this administration that the true majority of people are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/we-must-all-move-shoulder-to-shoulder-in-a-unified-front-to-show-this/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I get unhappy doing things that I'm not passionate about. Because I feel like I'm squandering this incredible gift I've been given to finance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-get-unhappy-doing-things-that-i-m-not-passionate-about-because-i/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I haven't died in a movie in a while,'The Departed,' 'Body of Lies,' 'Revolutionary Road,' 'Shutter Island' and 'Inception.' I guess I did die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-haven-t-died-in-a-movie-in-a-while-the-departed-body-of-lies/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [Obviously people don't want other people to tell them how to think or what to believe, or to tell them what's right politically and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/obviously-people-don-t-want-other-people-to-tell-them-how-to-think-or/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I've always been spontaneous and outgoing... I've tried lots of things so I've got some good life experiences, which is great 'cause it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-ve-always-been-spontaneous-and-outgoing-i-ve-tried-lots-of-things/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

[Explore all 311 Leonardo DiCaprio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

## More Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

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

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's terrible. I go in there and I learn how to be like the character and do the best I can, and that's all I really do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leonardo DiCaprio"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don-t-it-s-terrible-i-go-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don-t-it-s-terrible-i-go-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/leonardo-dicaprio-997_quote_i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don_1051107.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's terrible. I go in there and I learn how to be like the…” — Leonardo DiCaprio",
                "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": "Leonardo DiCaprio",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I really don't know what I'm...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don-t-it-s-terrible-i-go-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-really-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-i-don-t-it-s-terrible-i-go-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
