--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find that you can use an acting…" description: "\"I find that you can use an acting technique when the thing isn't working, not that you make the technique the end result of your work. You use the tech..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/richard-gere-3534_acting_i-find-that-you-can-use-an-acting-techni_778502.jpg" --- # I find that you can use an acting technique when the thing… ![“I find that you can use an acting technique when the thing isn't working, not that you make the technique the end result of your work. You use the technique when you're in trouble and things aren't flowing the way they should. It's a way of fooling yourself to make it work again.” quote by Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/richard-gere-3534_acting_i-find-that-you-can-use-an-acting-techni_778502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/richard-gere-3534_acting_i-find-that-you-can-use-an-acting-techni_778502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/richard-gere-3534_acting_i-find-that-you-can-use-an-acting-techni_778502.jpg) > “I find that you can use an acting technique when the thing isn't working, not that you make the technique the end result of your work. You use the technique when you're in trouble and things aren't flowing the way they should. It's a way of fooling yourself to make it work again.” [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Use acting techniques as tools in moments of creative block, not as the final product. **In simple terms:** Techniques help when stuck, not as the end goal. Key Takeaway Apply methods to overcome obstacles. Themes creativity process problem solving Mood reflective practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing - performance - design - project management Key Concepts artistic technique flow state Questions to Reflect On - When is a technique becoming a crutch? - How can we know when to let go? A Different Perspective Relying too much on technique may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-technique-1606935/) [End result](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-result/) [End results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-results/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Fooling yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fooling-yourself/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Technique Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique-thing-6003111/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-acting-817937/) [Use Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-technique-852438/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [You are you. be nothing less than true. Do what it is you do. From your head to your shoe. You are unique. Use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-c/you-are-you-be-nothing-less-than-true-do-what-it-is-you-do-from-your/) [Gabrielle C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-c/) > [Don't have a fixed idea in your head (that you have to use this or that technique). Use everything you've learned until now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-hatsumi/don-t-have-a-fixed-idea-in-your-head-that-you-have-to-use-this-or/) [Masaaki Hatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-hatsumi/) > [Yes. I tried to use the same technique with you. I didn't want to pass out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/yes-i-tried-to-use-the-same-technique-with-you-i-didn-t-want-to-pass/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [What I use when I'm acting comes from what I learn about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/what-i-use-when-i-m-acting-comes-from-what-i-learn-about-myself/) [Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/) > [I like to use all of myself, and acting wasn't doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-like-to-use-all-of-myself-and-acting-wasn-t-doing-that/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [One of the great tools we use in acting is the idea of immediacy, that the audience gets to see you witness something apparently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crudup/one-of-the-great-tools-we-use-in-acting-is-the-idea-of-immediacy-that/) [Billy Crudup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crudup/) > [I have no problem doing the same type of roles. But those who understand acting technique, and watched me in 'Mardaani 2,' might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishal-jethwa/i-have-no-problem-doing-the-same-type-of-roles-but-those-who/) [Vishal Jethwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishal-jethwa/) > [My acting technique is to look up at God just before the camera rolls and say, 'Give me a break.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/my-acting-technique-is-to-look-up-at-god-just-before-the-camera-rolls/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [When you're shooting at 9 A.M. at a club, you have to use all of your acting skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/when-you-re-shooting-at-9-a-m-at-a-club-you-have-to-use-all-of-your/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I use acting to get away from myself and to live in someone else's skin, and I do singing to get inside my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-haun/i-use-acting-to-get-away-from-myself-and-to-live-in-someone-else-s/) [Lindsey Haun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-haun/) > [I still think you shouldn't use acting as therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-still-think-you-shouldn-t-use-acting-as-therapy/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [Despite the fact Hollywood classes me as a 'type,' I find the roles broad enough to handle all the acting technique I can summon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lorre/despite-the-fact-hollywood-classes-me-as-a-type-i-find-the-roles/) [Peter Lorre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lorre/) > [While voicing animations I use the same acting muscles, even more because you have to channel all into your voice, whereas when you're live-action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-najimy/while-voicing-animations-i-use-the-same-acting-muscles-even-more/) [Kathy Najimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-najimy/) > [My acting technique is a combination of a lot of different ones. A lot of it is Meisner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-butler/my-acting-technique-is-a-combination-of-a-lot-of-different-ones-a-lot/) [Ross Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-butler/) > [Ballet has really helped me in every acting role. You have to be very disciplined, you have to be able to control your nerves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/ballet-has-really-helped-me-in-every-acting-role-you-have-to-be-very/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) ## More by Richard Gere > [Anything that's expanding the mind and heart is happiness. But it's not a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/anything-that-s-expanding-the-mind-and-heart-is-happiness-but-it-s/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [ Julia \[Roberts\]. She's got two kids and animals, and I think she's a night nibbler. There'd be crumbs everywhere. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/julia-roberts-she-s-got-two-kids-and-animals-and-i-think-she-s-a/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meditate. Daily practice is essential to my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-meditate-daily-practice-is-essential-to-my-life/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Things come out of nowhere, and you start evaluating the director, the cast, and all those other things going into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/things-come-out-of-nowhere-and-you-start-evaluating-the-director-the/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I'm a 50 year-old guy and I'm not in shape like I was when I was 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-m-a-50-year-old-guy-and-i-m-not-in-shape-like-i-was-when-i-was-30/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [It's nice to have money, but the first thing I did with money was buy my father a snow-blower, because my job was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/it-s-nice-to-have-money-but-the-first-thing-i-did-with-money-was-buy/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meet human beings who are flawed, who are mentally ill and have enormous problems, but I don't think I've ever met someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-meet-human-beings-who-are-flawed-who-are-mentally-ill-and-have/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Relationships are like sharks. They've got to keep going into deeper, colder water, sometimes scarier, darker territories ... to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/relationships-are-like-sharks-they-ve-got-to-keep-going-into-deeper/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [One of the joys of being an actor is that you're always learning new things. And I've been doing this since I was 19,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/one-of-the-joys-of-being-an-actor-is-that-you-re-always-learning-new/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I think people do want to relate their entertainment to what's going on in their lives. Not everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-people-do-want-to-relate-their-entertainment-to-what-s-going/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I can see the character in a photograph, in the way a guy stands or holds his hands, the way he buckles his belt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-can-see-the-character-in-a-photograph-in-the-way-a-guy-stands-or/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Certainly there have been better actors than me who have had no careers. Why? I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/certainly-there-have-been-better-actors-than-me-who-have-had-no/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma-would-be-in-my-early-20s-like/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [The reality is, we can change. We can change ourselves. We can change our minds. We can change our hearts... and therefore the Universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/the-reality-is-we-can-change-we-can-change-ourselves-we-can-change/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) [Explore all 128 Richard Gere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## 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. 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": "I find that you can use an acting technique when the thing isn't working, not that you make the technique the end result of your work. You use the technique when you're in trouble and things aren't flowing the way they should. 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