--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It had been drilled into us that when an…" description: "\"It had been drilled into us that when an audience pays to see a performance, it is entitled to the best performance you can give.Nothing in your person..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png" --- # It had been drilled into us that when an audience pays to… ![“It had been drilled into us that when an audience pays to see a performance, it is entitled to the best performance you can give.Nothing in your personal life must interfere, neither fatigue, illness, nor anxiety--not even joy.” quote by Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png) > “It had been drilled into us that when an audience pays to see a performance, it is entitled to the best performance you can give.Nothing in your personal life must interfere, neither fatigue, illness, nor anxiety--not even joy.” [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performers must give their best despite personal hardships, separating art from life. **In simple terms:** Artists should deliver top performance regardless of personal issues. Key Takeaway Prioritize professionalism. Themes dedication performance personal sacrifice artistry Mood determined serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - stage performance - film shooting - live concerts Key Concepts professionalism audience expectation self-discipline Questions to Reflect On - Can you truly separate personal life from work? - When is it okay to pause for health? A Different Perspective Personal issues can affect quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Best performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-performance/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Personal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-life/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) ## Related quotes > [You find out your mistakes from an audience that pays admission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bergen/you-find-out-your-mistakes-from-an-audience-that-pays-admission/) [Edgar Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bergen/) > [Maybe at the core of me, I'm a survivor, but I don't do it on purpose. Sometimes, in acting of course with your performance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/maybe-at-the-core-of-me-i-m-a-survivor-but-i-don-t-do-it-on-purpose/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [It's not all the time, but you get a sense when you're reading something that it's no longer about boxing or the performance. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/it-s-not-all-the-time-but-you-get-a-sense-when-you-re-reading/) [Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/) > [The audience only pays attention as long as you know where you are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/the-audience-only-pays-attention-as-long-as-you-know-where-you-are/) [Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/) > [I always have to pretend I'm somebody else to give the best performance. It kind of feels like I'm acting; it's definitely an exaggerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/i-always-have-to-pretend-i-m-somebody-else-to-give-the-best/) [Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/) > [I've always seemed to have my best performances when I'm under the most pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-ve-always-seemed-to-have-my-best-performances-when-i-m-under-the/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [I really love watching the 70s live performance TV series "The Midnight Special" and "The Old Grey Whistle Test". Those are the best performances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/i-really-love-watching-the-70s-live-performance-tv-series-the/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [I consider that my best performance ever was as Peer Gynt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-mckern/i-consider-that-my-best-performance-ever-was-as-peer-gynt/) Leo McKern > [Best performance of the year: Aston Villa v. Milan, September 1994](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-guinness/best-performance-of-the-year-aston-villa-v-milan-september-1994/) [Alec Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-guinness/) > [If I'm on the pitch, I want to just try to give my best performance every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-heung-min/if-i-m-on-the-pitch-i-want-to-just-try-to-give-my-best-performance/) [Son Heung-min](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/son-heung-min/) > [I have been doing this since I was nine years old. So whatever the role is, I am going to do the best I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-mccrary/i-have-been-doing-this-since-i-was-nine-years-old-so-whatever-the/) [Darius McCrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-mccrary/) > [We measure areas of performance that are often ignored: jumping in pursuit of every rebound even if you don't get it, swatting at every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/we-measure-areas-of-performance-that-are-often-ignored-jumping-in/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I don't really like to arrange shows by best performances. That's why Emmy season is kind of a chore for me. Unlike movies, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-stuever/i-don-t-really-like-to-arrange-shows-by-best-performances-that-s-why/) [Hank Stuever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-stuever/) > [Our best performances are so stained with sin, that it is hard to know whether they are good works or bad works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/our-best-performances-are-so-stained-with-sin-that-it-is-hard-to-know/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [How much we like ourselves governs our performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/how-much-we-like-ourselves-governs-our-performance/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Lillian Gish > [You can get through life with bad manners, but it's easier with good manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/you-can-get-through-life-with-bad-manners-but-it-s-easier-with-good/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [Young man, if God had wanted you to see me that way, he would have put your eyes in your bellybutton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/young-man-if-god-had-wanted-you-to-see-me-that-way-he-would-have-put/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [I've never been in style, so I can't go out of style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/i-ve-never-been-in-style-so-i-can-t-go-out-of-style/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [It's a hard world for little things,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/it-s-a-hard-world-for-little-things/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [“I've never been in style, so I can never go out of style.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/i-ve-never-been-in-style-so-i-can-never-go-out-of-style/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [Never get caught acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/never-get-caught-acting/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [As long as you are curious, you will never be bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/as-long-as-you-are-curious-you-will-never-be-bored/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [Hollywood has turned into an emotional Detroit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/hollywood-has-turned-into-an-emotional-detroit/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [Love is a hard rock between two people and can't be torn apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/love-is-a-hard-rock-between-two-people-and-can-t-be-torn-apart/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [I can't remember a time when I wasn't acting, so I can't imagine what I would do if I stopped now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/i-can-t-remember-a-time-when-i-wasn-t-acting-so-i-can-t-imagine-what/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [You know, when I first went into the movies Lionel Barrymore played my grandfather. Later he played my father and finally he played my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/you-know-when-i-first-went-into-the-movies-lionel-barrymore-played-my/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [The older I get, the more I believe in what I can't explain or understand, even more than the things that are explainable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-believe-in-what-i-can-t-explain-or/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [Fans always write asking why I didn't smile more in films. I smiled in 'Annie Laurie', but I can't recall that it helped much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/fans-always-write-asking-why-i-didn-t-smile-more-in-films-i-smiled-in/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [The stage was our school, our home, our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/the-stage-was-our-school-our-home-our-life/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) > [Hollywood - an emotional Detroit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/hollywood-an-emotional-detroit/) [Lillian Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) [Explore all 19 Lillian Gish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/) ## 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. 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": "It had been drilled into us that when an audience pays to see a performance, it is entitled to the best performance you can give.Nothing in your personal life must interfere, neither fatigue, illness, nor anxiety--not even joy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lillian Gish" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an-audience-pays-to-see-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an-audience-pays-to-see-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/lillian-gish-27995_acting_it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an_310531.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It had been drilled into us that when an audience pays to see a performance, it is entitled to the best…” — Lillian Gish", "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": "Lillian Gish", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gish/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It had been drilled into us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an-audience-pays-to-see-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gish/it-had-been-drilled-into-us-that-when-an-audience-pays-to-see-a/#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 } } ] } ```