--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But at a certain point, and I don't…" description: "\"But at a certain point, and I don't really know... people have asked me this. I don't know exactly what it was that pushed me towards directing, but I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg" --- # But at a certain point, and I don't really know... people… ![“But at a certain point, and I don't really know... people have asked me this. I don't know exactly what it was that pushed me towards directing, but I think it was a naive notion that if I directed I would be able to play all the roles. A kind of greed.” quote by Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg) > “But at a certain point, and I don't really know... people have asked me this. I don't know exactly what it was that pushed me towards directing, but I think it was a naive notion that if I directed I would be able to play all the roles. A kind of greed.” [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The desire to control all creative aspects can stem from youthful ambition and a craving for comprehensive expression. **In simple terms:** Desire to direct stems from wanting to play all roles. Key Takeaway Recognize limits, collaborate wisely. Themes ambition creativity control Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical career When to use this quote - film projects - theatre productions - personal ventures Key Concepts self‑actualization role theory Questions to Reflect On - What roles truly fulfill you? - How can teamwork enhance your vision? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout from overextension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Directed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directed/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-think-371090/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Naive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naive/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Notion Directed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion-directed-4562552/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Pushed Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushed-directing-4562551/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [There should be more women directing; I think there's just not the awareness that it's really possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/there-should-be-more-women-directing-i-think-there-s-just-not-the/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [I do have weird habits when I'm directing, or even think as a director, like when I move a cup, I make sure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-do-have-weird-habits-when-i-m-directing-or-even-think-as-a-director/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [Everyone that I meet always wants me to direct, but whenever I think of directing, I think of aligning shots. I'd definitely have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/everyone-that-i-meet-always-wants-me-to-direct-but-whenever-i-think/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [This kind of directing, I think, is very similar to being a football coach. You prepare your players and place them in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/this-kind-of-directing-i-think-is-very-similar-to-being-a-football/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't really differentiate between the writing and directing. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-way-i-don-t-really/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [I don't think there is any one route to directing… Other than that I think you just have to think 'By any means possible'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/i-don-t-think-there-is-any-one-route-to-directing-other-than-that-i/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [While my megalomania knows no bounds, directing is one thing I have never really done. I directed a couple of plays. That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-earl-brown/while-my-megalomania-knows-no-bounds-directing-is-one-thing-i-have/) [W. Earl Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-earl-brown/) > [Directing's the best part. Whenever I've directed something, there's this feeling of demand and focus that I like. And secondly, it means that you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-s-the-best-part-whenever-i-ve-directed-something-there-s/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [My M.F.A was in directing, and all the films I've made, for film school and after, I've written, directed and shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-s-fletcher/my-m-f-a-was-in-directing-and-all-the-films-i-ve-made-for-film-school/) [Geoffrey S. Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-s-fletcher/) > [What government has been doing, we've got major programmes now, of billions of pounds, which are directed by central government into these areas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prescott/what-government-has-been-doing-we-ve-got-major-programmes-now-of/) [John Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prescott/) > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I've followed Gary Oldman his whole career... I've watched the movies he's directed, like 'Nil by Mouth' - I've seen that five times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-ve-followed-gary-oldman-his-whole-career-i-ve-watched-the-movies-he/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I've also directed, shot, and edited several music videos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/i-ve-also-directed-shot-and-edited-several-music-videos/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) ## More by Peter Bogdanovich > [I had been an abject fan of Martin and Lewis when I was a kid. I just thought they were terribly funny. None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-had-been-an-abject-fan-of-martin-and-lewis-when-i-was-a-kid-i-just/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I loved Keaton. In fact, when I made the chase sequence in 'What's Up, Doc,' I said, 'This is a Buster Keaton chase.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-loved-keaton-in-fact-when-i-made-the-chase-sequence-in-what-s-up/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [There are no “old” movies-only movies you have already seen and ones you haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/there-are-no-old-movies-only-movies-you-have-already-seen-and-ones/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [During the Hollywood studio system, they looked for people who were unusual. The stars had peculiarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/during-the-hollywood-studio-system-they-looked-for-people-who-were/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I think one of the reasons younger people don't like older films, films made say before the '60s, is that they've never seen them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-think-one-of-the-reasons-younger-people-don-t-like-older-films/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [If filmmakers are ignorant of the past, they laborto re-invent the wheel in every picture. You sit and think, 'Well,we're back to 1903 here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/if-filmmakers-are-ignorant-of-the-past-they-laborto-re-invent-the/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Drama is easy. Comedy's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/drama-is-easy-comedy-s-hard/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Love is a lot more complicated than people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/love-is-a-lot-more-complicated-than-people-think/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I started acting in 'The Sopranos' around 1999 and 2000. I did that for six years. That was quite a job, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-started-acting-in-the-sopranos-around-1999-and-2000-i-did-that-for/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Comedy is the hardest thing to get right. I remember a joke we did in 'What's Up, Doc?' that didn't get a single laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/comedy-is-the-hardest-thing-to-get-right-i-remember-a-joke-we-did-in/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > ['Jaws' was the first A-list picture that was released like an exploitation picture. They made a lot of money with that picture because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/jaws-was-the-first-a-list-picture-that-was-released-like-an/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [The actors are in control, getting outrageous amounts of money. The reason they're getting this kind of money is because the studios don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/the-actors-are-in-control-getting-outrageous-amounts-of-money-the/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [For a while, all the studios had their art-house divisions, but that went by the by pretty quickly. Now, they're really focusing on these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/for-a-while-all-the-studios-had-their-art-house-divisions-but-that/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [There's good directors and bad directors. Some of the critics are really conscientious and really try to do what they can popularize the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/there-s-good-directors-and-bad-directors-some-of-the-critics-are/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I certainly had an arrogant streak. And I certainly was defensive in certain cases. Maybe I'm still arrogant, but I try not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-certainly-had-an-arrogant-streak-and-i-certainly-was-defensive-in/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) [Explore all 36 Peter Bogdanovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) ## 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. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But at a certain point, and I don't really know... people have asked me this. I don't know exactly what it was that pushed me towards directing, but I think it was a naive notion that if I directed I would be able to play all the roles. A kind of greed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Bogdanovich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-really-know-people-have-asked-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-really-know-people-have-asked-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/peter-bogdanovich-17576_able_but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-reall_2969233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But at a certain point, and I don't really know... people have asked me this. I don't know exactly what it…” — Peter Bogdanovich", "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": "Peter Bogdanovich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But at a certain point, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-really-know-people-have-asked-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/but-at-a-certain-point-and-i-don-t-really-know-people-have-asked-me/#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 } } ] } ```