---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If someone has an ability to impress an…"
description: "\"If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just that.\" — Michael Sheen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg"
---

#  If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a…

![“If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just that.” quote by Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg)

> “If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just that.”

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

## About This Quote

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

Talent can tempt performers to prioritize self-promotion over genuine connection.

**In simple terms:** Skill tempts self‑showoff.

Key Takeaway

Balance ego with audience focus.

Themes

performance ego authenticity

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

theatrical inspirational

When to use this quote

- acting
- public speaking
- leadership
- coaching

Key Concepts

self‑presentation audience engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay authentic on stage?
- When does confidence become arrogance?

A Different Perspective

Audience expectations differ; humility may be undervalued.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Impress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-impress-5391194/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-tendency-5151792/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Impress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impress/) [Impress Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impress-audience-1948621/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Tempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempted/) [Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendency/) [Tendency Tempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendency-tempted-5391195/)

## Related quotes

> [I think in our culture there's been a tendency for people to blame the audience. There is a tendency in our industry to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-paulus/i-think-in-our-culture-there-s-been-a-tendency-for-people-to-blame/)

[Diane Paulus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-paulus/)

> [ As a filmmaker you have to keep asking yourself the question are we really going to impress them \[audience\] either by the wow factor,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-di-bonaventura/as-a-filmmaker-you-have-to-keep-asking-yourself-the-question-are-we/)

[Lorenzo di Bonaventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-di-bonaventura/)

> [One of the major things in any dance-based reality show is how smartly you can impress the audience and keep your cool throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithvik-dhanjani/one-of-the-major-things-in-any-dance-based-reality-show-is-how/)

[Rithvik Dhanjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithvik-dhanjani/)

> [From a director's point of view, if I can create different characters which impress the audience, that's fantastic for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/from-a-director-s-point-of-view-if-i-can-create-different-characters/)

[Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/)

> [We pass for what we are. Character teaches above our wills. Men imagine that they communicate thier virtue or vice by overt actions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-pass-for-what-we-are-character-teaches-above-our-wills-men-imagine/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I actually have a weird tendency to say things to people that they were just about to say. I always freak my best friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lee-smith/i-actually-have-a-weird-tendency-to-say-things-to-people-that-they/)

[Lauren Lee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lee-smith/)

> [It's tricky, performing the show live. Because when you're in a big auditorium, in front of 700 people, the natural tendency is to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-s-tricky-performing-the-show-live-because-when-you-re-in-a-big/)

[Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/)

> [My short stature may have something to do with my tendency to shout when enraged. How else is anyone going to hear me way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/my-short-stature-may-have-something-to-do-with-my-tendency-to-shout/)

[Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/)

> [I have a terrible tendency to lick my fingers when I cook. So much so that I got a telling off from my pastry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/i-have-a-terrible-tendency-to-lick-my-fingers-when-i-cook-so-much-so/)

[Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/)

> [I've got to overcome that tendency to hide what I write or throw it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-darwish/i-ve-got-to-overcome-that-tendency-to-hide-what-i-write-or-throw-it/)

[Tiffany Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-darwish/)

> [There is a tendency among men as well as women ... so soon as they have acquired a little knowledge of some kind, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/there-is-a-tendency-among-men-as-well-as-women-so-soon-as-they-have/)

[Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/)

> [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/)

[Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/)

> [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/)

[Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/)

> [Nonresidents have a tendency to rush their visits to Harlem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gondelman/nonresidents-have-a-tendency-to-rush-their-visits-to-harlem/)

[Josh Gondelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gondelman/)

> [Pettiness is the tendency of people without large purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pettiness-is-the-tendency-of-people-without-large-purposes/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

## More by Michael Sheen

> [I don't want to do something that I've done before; I can't see the point of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-don-t-want-to-do-something-that-i-ve-done-before-i-can-t-see-the/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [A lot of the times when I've auditioned for parts in America, the answer is, 'Sorry, we need a bigger name.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/a-lot-of-the-times-when-i-ve-auditioned-for-parts-in-america-the/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [Everyone deserves compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/everyone-deserves-compassion/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I'm always aware that there are, broadly speaking, two different ways to act: there is acting, and then there's being, and I'm always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-m-always-aware-that-there-are-broadly-speaking-two-different-ways/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I always say if I'm not good at something it's just because I've not had time to focus on it... it's just uncrafted, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-always-say-if-i-m-not-good-at-something-it-s-just-because-i-ve-not/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/the-first-thing-when-i-read-the-script-is-that-i-need-to-care-about/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I think the story of 'Alice in Wonderland' in a way is a reminder that life is frightening, it can shift on you at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-think-the-story-of-alice-in-wonderland-in-a-way-is-a-reminder-that/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [For me, what makes life enjoyable is having a shared culture and shared references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/for-me-what-makes-life-enjoyable-is-having-a-shared-culture-and/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I perceive and relate to the world through where I grew up; that's part of me. It's what I judge everything else against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-perceive-and-relate-to-the-world-through-where-i-grew-up-that-s/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I'm not a Tony Blair impersonator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-m-not-a-tony-blair-impersonator/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [You don't want to get into doing the same thing, over and over again. I know I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/you-don-t-want-to-get-into-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-i/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [We see death constantly on film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/we-see-death-constantly-on-film/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [Getting older is a struggle. I always feel that just under the surface of acceptance and enjoyment of the ageing process is a terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/getting-older-is-a-struggle-i-always-feel-that-just-under-the-surface/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [Wherever you come from, you carry the place with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/wherever-you-come-from-you-carry-the-place-with-you/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I live a very Kenneth Williams-like existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-live-a-very-kenneth-williams-like-existence/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

[Explore all 116 Michael Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Sheen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an-audience-there-s-a-tendency/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an-audience-there-s-a-tendency/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/michael-sheen-4062_ability_if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an_1479881.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just that.” — Michael Sheen",
                "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": "Michael Sheen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If someone has an ability to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an-audience-there-s-a-tendency/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/if-someone-has-an-ability-to-impress-an-audience-there-s-a-tendency/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
