--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One must know a bad performance to know a…" description: "\"“One must know a bad performance to know a good one. You can't be middle-of-the-road about it, just as you can't be middle-of-the-road about life. I me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/patricia-bosworth-42574_acting_one-must-know-a-bad-performance-to-know_3136335.jpg" --- # One must know a bad performance to know a good one. You… ![“One must know a bad performance to know a good one. You can't be middle-of-the-road about it, just as you can't be middle-of-the-road about life. I mean, you can't say about Hitler, I can take him or leave him. Well, I can't be middle-of-the-road about a performance, especially my own. I feel that…” quote by Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/patricia-bosworth-42574_acting_one-must-know-a-bad-performance-to-know_3136335.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/patricia-bosworth-42574_acting_one-must-know-a-bad-performance-to-know_3136335.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/patricia-bosworth-42574_acting_one-must-know-a-bad-performance-to-know_3136335.jpg) > ““One must know a bad performance to know a good one. You can't be middle-of-the-road about it, just as you can't be middle-of-the-road about life. I mean, you can't say about Hitler, I can take him or leave him. Well, I can't be middle-of-the-road about a performance, especially my own. I feel that if I can vomit at seeing a bad performance, I'm ahead of the game.”” [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experiencing terrible art sharpens appreciation for excellence; mediocrity is unacceptable. **In simple terms:** Bad art teaches good art. Key Takeaway Demand excellence, reject mediocrity. Themes art criticism personal standards integrity Mood critical intense Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - theatre reviews - music listening - creative work - self‑evaluation Key Concepts aesthetic judgment emotional reaction growth Questions to Reflect On - Can you find balance without disdain? - What limits does strong aversion impose? A Different Perspective Not everyone can tolerate extreme reactions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-the-game/) [Artistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistry/) [Bad performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-performance/) [High standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-standards/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I used to think I needed to have drama at all times, or I wouldn't have the fuel for the performance. Now I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-used-to-think-i-needed-to-have-drama-at-all-times-or-i-wouldn-t/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [As long as I give the best performance I can give, I know I can't do any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/as-long-as-i-give-the-best-performance-i-can-give-i-know-i-can-t-do/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [When you are acting in a film, you have no idea what scene the editor is going to choose. For instance, after you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/when-you-are-acting-in-a-film-you-have-no-idea-what-scene-the-editor/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [“The funniest part of that joke is, 'say what you will about Hitler.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/the-funniest-part-of-that-joke-is-say-what-you-will-about-hitler/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed.' 'I suppose one could say that Hitler didn't betray his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-human-race-is-unimportant-it-is-the-self-that-must-not-be-2/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [I say that Hitler ought to have the peace prize, because he is removing all the elements of contest and of struggle from Germany.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-say-that-hitler-ought-to-have-the-peace-prize-because-he-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [One thing I'll say about Hitler that many people don't realize - and I don't mean to besmirch the industry - but he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/one-thing-i-ll-say-about-hitler-that-many-people-don-t-realize-and-i/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) > [I mean one of the basic rules when you're acting is that you mustn't stand in judgement on a character, you mustn't say Hitler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-suzman/i-mean-one-of-the-basic-rules-when-you-re-acting-is-that-you-mustn-t/) [Janet Suzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-suzman/) > [“Why do some people—so many—need to control others, tell them what to do, use them if they can, destroy those who won’t be used?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/why-do-some-people-so-many-need-to-control-others-tell-them-what-to/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Cheer for your teammates, regardless of whether they're fast or slow, veteran or neophyte, varsity or JV. Or rally the spirits of someone who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/cheer-for-your-teammates-regardless-of-whether-they-re-fast-or-slow/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [That's what international football is all about - be able to bounce after a bad performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/that-s-what-international-football-is-all-about-be-able-to-bounce/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [Film is such a director's medium; you're really in their hands in terms of the real storytelling. As an actor, you can give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/film-is-such-a-director-s-medium-you-re-really-in-their-hands-in/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Hint: money flows into most funds after good performance, and goes out when bad performance follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/hint-money-flows-into-most-funds-after-good-performance-and-goes-out/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [“Unjust responses to failure are almost never the result of bad performance. They are the result of bad relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-dekker/unjust-responses-to-failure-are-almost-never-the-result-of-bad/) [Sidney Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-dekker/) > [There are so many great actors, but I really have a lot of respect for Johnny Depp. I've seen a lot of movies with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-speleers/there-are-so-many-great-actors-but-i-really-have-a-lot-of-respect-for/) [Ed Speleers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-speleers/) ## More by Patricia Bosworth > [“I can’t defend this position, but I think I take photographs because there are things that nobody would see unless I photographed them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/i-can-t-defend-this-position-but-i-think-i-take-photographs-because/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [I believe no matter how much you research a person's life. No matter how long you spend, the person always remains a mystery. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/i-believe-no-matter-how-much-you-research-a-person-s-life-no-matter/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [“As far as she was concerned, aristocracy had nothing to do with money or social position. Aristocracy was linked to a nobility of mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/as-far-as-she-was-concerned-aristocracy-had-nothing-to-do-with-money/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [Photographers are always voyeuristic, and they do sort of live vicariously. I think every artist does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/photographers-are-always-voyeuristic-and-they-do-sort-of-live/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [“The camera is an instrument of detection…we photograph what we know and what we don’t know… when I point my camera at something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/the-camera-is-an-instrument-of-detection-we-photograph-what-we-know/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [“In close-up, Monty was absolutely riveting. One was practically absorbed into his eyes, which were clearly formidable and perhaps his best asset as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/in-close-up-monty-was-absolutely-riveting-one-was-practically/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [“Once out of work, Monty, like many actors, lost his confidence, and his sense of identity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/once-out-of-work-monty-like-many-actors-lost-his-confidence-and-his/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [So much has changed about the culture, it's so much more about money and celebrity. Celebrity not in the sense of people who achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/so-much-has-changed-about-the-culture-it-s-so-much-more-about-money/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) > [“So it was with the various eccentrics she discovered in the next years. Some she went home with, some she didn't; some she photographed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-bosworth/so-it-was-with-the-various-eccentrics-she-discovered-in-the-next/) [Patricia Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) [Explore all 10 Patricia Bosworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-bosworth/) ## 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": "“One must know a bad performance to know a good one. You can't be middle-of-the-road about it, just as you can't be middle-of-the-road about life. I mean, you can't say about Hitler, I can take him or leave him. Well, I can't be middle-of-the-road about a performance, especially my own. 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