--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm not excited, it makes acting…" description: "\"When I'm not excited, it makes acting very hard for me.\" — Paul Dano" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/paul-dano-2579_acting_when-i-m-not-excited-it-makes-acting-ver_2694531.jpg" --- # When I'm not excited, it makes acting very hard for me. ![“When I'm not excited, it makes acting very hard for me.” quote by Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/paul-dano-2579_acting_when-i-m-not-excited-it-makes-acting-ver_2694531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/paul-dano-2579_acting_when-i-m-not-excited-it-makes-acting-ver_2694531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/paul-dano-2579_acting_when-i-m-not-excited-it-makes-acting-ver_2694531.jpg) > “When I'm not excited, it makes acting very hard for me.” [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. Lack of excitement hampers performance, highlighting the need for intrinsic motivation. **In simple terms:** Excitement fuels acting; without it, work feels hard. Key Takeaway Find personal drive before acting. Themes motivation performance psychology creativity Mood reflective analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - pre‑performance routine - creative block coping - acting workshops Key Concepts intrinsic motivation emotional regulation artistic process Questions to Reflect On - What sparks your enthusiasm? - How can you sustain motivation? A Different Perspective Excitement alone may be unreliable motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-hard-365273/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Excited Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited-makes-2684878/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Makes Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-acting-387809/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [As human beings, we aren't as individual as we'd like to believe we are. And I think that's what makes acting possible. Despite the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-human-beings-we-aren-t-as-individual-as-we-d-like-to-believe-we/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [I just want to do work that gets people excited and makes them feel things, no matter their economic or racial background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-just-want-to-do-work-that-gets-people-excited-and-makes-them-feel/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I can't become another person, no matter how much makeup I wear. Something of your own past, your experiences and personality always comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-watanabe/i-can-t-become-another-person-no-matter-how-much-makeup-i-wear/) [Ken Watanabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-watanabe/) > [I always say what makes acting so much easier is when you get to act off of good actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-schnapp/i-always-say-what-makes-acting-so-much-easier-is-when-you-get-to-act/) [Noah Schnapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-schnapp/) > [That's the joy of acting, to bring something to it. That's what makes acting exciting. Just saying lines is not terribly exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/that-s-the-joy-of-acting-to-bring-something-to-it-that-s-what-makes/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [Acting is a hard profession. More than anything, it takes fortitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/acting-is-a-hard-profession-more-than-anything-it-takes-fortitude/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I had been asked to start going out for roles here and there throughout my career, but I know that acting is a hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-miller/i-had-been-asked-to-start-going-out-for-roles-here-and-there/) [Marisa Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-miller/) > [Acting is hard enough in English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/acting-is-hard-enough-in-english/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [It always annoys me when stars grumble about fans coming up to them in the street. I love it. These young stars today with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/it-always-annoys-me-when-stars-grumble-about-fans-coming-up-to-them/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [Acting is a hard way to make a living, and there's a kind of dark, somewhat seedy side to the whole aspect of fame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-schreiber/acting-is-a-hard-way-to-make-a-living-and-there-s-a-kind-of-dark/) [Pablo Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-schreiber/) > [I feel like I can do any kind of acting. It's hard to convince other people of that. I feel very confident that most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-wells/i-feel-like-i-can-do-any-kind-of-acting-it-s-hard-to-convince-other/) [Noel Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-wells/) > [It’s fun to watch someone like John Goodman, and yet it takes work. People say ‘he’s not acting, he’s being himself.’ Well it’s hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/it-s-fun-to-watch-someone-like-john-goodman-and-yet-it-takes-work/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [So, I certainly subscribe to what Bette said about acting being very hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-windsor/so-i-certainly-subscribe-to-what-bette-said-about-acting-being-very/) [Marie Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-windsor/) > [You always look so beautiful... Then why can't you believe it...when I say it... You are always kind hearted... Then why don't you accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrinal/you-always-look-so-beautiful-then-why-can-t-you-believe-it-when-i-say/) [Mrinal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrinal/) > [What I've noticed is that when people win huge and they have those huge, huge successes, sometimes they forget about the actual acting of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/what-i-ve-noticed-is-that-when-people-win-huge-and-they-have-those/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) ## 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/) > [As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/) [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/) [Explore all 160 Paul Dano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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