--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an actor, I always feel you basically…" description: "\"As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.\" — Paul Dano" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg" --- # As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able… ![“As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.” quote by Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg) > “As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.” [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors must master self‑deception to embody roles convincingly, blurring the line between reality and performance. **In simple terms:** Actors need to trick themselves to act well. Key Takeaway Practice self‑deception for authentic performance. Themes acting psychology identity performance creativity Mood introspective creative serious Type artistic psychological philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - improv workshops - personal development Key Concepts self‑delusion method acting role immersion Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate role from self? - What limits self‑deception? A Different Perspective Self‑deception may affect mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Delude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delude/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“Why do I feel this alone? Basically, because I’ve always been alone. I’ve always been alone. And alone I’ll be. It’s about time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/why-do-i-feel-this-alone-basically-because-i-ve-always-been-alone-i/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I'm a sucker for period pieces. There is always great opportunity for research and to delude yourself into feeling like you are in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-m-a-sucker-for-period-pieces-there-is-always-great-opportunity-for/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Tolerance, openness to argument, openness to self-doubt, willingness to see other people's points of view - these are very liberal and enlightened values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/tolerance-openness-to-argument-openness-to-self-doubt-willingness-to/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Mistakes live in the neighborhood of truth and therefore delude us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/mistakes-live-in-the-neighborhood-of-truth-and-therefore-delude-us/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Mistakes live in the neighbourhood of truth and therefore delude us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/mistakes-live-in-the-neighbourhood-of-truth-and-therefore-delude-us/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [But no one is easier to delude than a parent; they see only what they wish to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-joy-fowler/but-no-one-is-easier-to-delude-than-a-parent-they-see-only-what-they/) [Karen Joy Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-joy-fowler/) > [“We are solitary. We can delude ourselves about this and act as if it were not true. That is all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/we-are-solitary-we-can-delude-ourselves-about-this-and-act-as-if-it/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-certainly-don-t-delude-myself-that-there-aren-t-certainly-more/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Coolidge believed that government officials who tell themselves that spending benefits the economy delude themselves and the citizens. Government budgets promote human freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/coolidge-believed-that-government-officials-who-tell-themselves-that/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [“You have to delude yourself if you want to carry on in this life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/you-have-to-delude-yourself-if-you-want-to-carry-on-in-this-life/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [“If I have attached anything to sacrifice other than loss, I have at some level assumed a pay-off. And if I’ve assumed a pay-off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-have-attached-anything-to-sacrifice-other-than-loss-i-have-at/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I'm a very conservative businessman. I don't work on credit. My father was the guy who taught me how to think straight, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/i-m-a-very-conservative-businessman-i-don-t-work-on-credit-my-father/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [“Don't create unbelief or doubt in people's minds. When you do so you ruin their lives and you have nothing to give them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/don-t-create-unbelief-or-doubt-in-people-s-minds-when-you-do-so-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“We delude ourselves if we think that decency is not rewarded in other people simply because we refuse to practice it ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-scheele/we-delude-ourselves-if-we-think-that-decency-is-not-rewarded-in-other/) [Sarah Scheele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-scheele/) > [Man's ability to delude himself is infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/man-s-ability-to-delude-himself-is-infinite/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) ## More by Paul Dano > [When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play-with-george-c-scott-i-m-like/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ Of course I think it's a movie for everybody \[Insane Farting Corpse\], but that's probably just because it's a movie for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/of-course-i-think-it-s-a-movie-for-everybody-insane-farting-corpse/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Some projects go as you hope or imagine, and some change or reveal themselves in a different way; it depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/some-projects-go-as-you-hope-or-imagine-and-some-change-or-reveal/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It's almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-try-to-leave-my-work-at-the-door-when-i-leave-the-set-it-s-almost/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I dont normally like getting dressed up, but when I go to events, I like to look put together. Ive got to say, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-dont-normally-like-getting-dressed-up-but-when-i-go-to-events-i/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Nobody is a perfect actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/nobody-is-a-perfect-actor/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The better the acting is, the harder it is to see what the process is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-better-the-acting-is-the-harder-it-is-to-see-what-the-process-is/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ If you could call me buff, my version of buff was when I finished that film \[Swiss Army Man\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/if-you-could-call-me-buff-my-version-of-buff-was-when-i-finished-that/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The only constant I can find is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-only-constant-i-can-find-is-hard-work/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ Reading the script \[Insane Farting Corpse\], by page two or three, I felt that way. I thought, I'm in. It was so beautiful and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/reading-the-script-insane-farting-corpse-by-page-two-or-three-i-felt/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I went to tranny bars and kind of got used to being around that and then getting dressed up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-went-to-tranny-bars-and-kind-of-got-used-to-being-around-that-and/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ I'm really excited to share the movie \[Swiss Army Man\] with people, so I'm glad that people are seeing it. And I want them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-m-really-excited-to-share-the-movie-swiss-army-man-with-people-so-i/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I want to do some bigger films, so long as there's some sort of exciting creative element or a good filmmaker behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-want-to-do-some-bigger-films-so-long-as-there-s-some-sort-of/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [People have asked me about playing outsiders. I don't consider myself an outsider. Maybe that's why I'm interested in that. I'm not really sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/people-have-asked-me-about-playing-outsiders-i-don-t-consider-myself/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [New York is kind of a mythological city in may ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/new-york-is-kind-of-a-mythological-city-in-may-ways/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) [Explore all 160 Paul Dano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Dano" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/paul-dano-2579_able_as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically_149681.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.” — Paul Dano", "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": "Paul Dano", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As an actor, I always feel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/#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 } } ] } ```