--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If in an actor there appears an utter…" description: "\"If in an actor there appears an utter vacancy of meaning, a frigid equality, a stupid languor, a torpid apathy, the greatest kindness that can be shown..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/samuel-johnson-50_actor_if-in-an-actor-there-appears-an-utter-va_1873219.png" --- # If in an actor there appears an utter vacancy of meaning… ![“If in an actor there appears an utter vacancy of meaning, a frigid equality, a stupid languor, a torpid apathy, the greatest kindness that can be shown him is a speedy sentence of expulsion.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/samuel-johnson-50_actor_if-in-an-actor-there-appears-an-utter-va_1873219.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/samuel-johnson-50_actor_if-in-an-actor-there-appears-an-utter-va_1873219.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/samuel-johnson-50_actor_if-in-an-actor-there-appears-an-utter-va_1873219.png) > “If in an actor there appears an utter vacancy of meaning, a frigid equality, a stupid languor, a torpid apathy, the greatest kindness that can be shown him is a speedy sentence of expulsion.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When an actor lacks depth and vitality, the kindest response is to remove them swiftly. **In simple terms:** Empty performances deserve quick removal. Key Takeaway Avoid hollow contributions. Themes theatre performance critique Mood critical reflective Type artistic evaluative When to use this quote - casting decisions - director feedback - audience expectations - creative workshops Key Concepts authenticity engagement Questions to Reflect On - Can a harsh dismissal inspire improvement? - When is patience preferable to expulsion? A Different Perspective Removing talent may overlook potential for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Appears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-appears-2599136/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Appears Utter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appears-utter-2599135/) [Expulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expulsion/) [Frigid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frigid/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Sentence Expulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentence-expulsion-2599132/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Speedy Sentence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speedy-sentence-2599134/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Utter Vacancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utter-vacancy-2599133/) [Vacancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacancy/) ## Related quotes > [...No one died from infection under Keen. ...He (Keen) began to chronicle the results in statistical articles. 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Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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