--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actions are interesting to watch. I learn…" description: "\"Actions are interesting to watch. I learn about the actors. Their movements are emblems of the tensions in this internal landscape, which their actions..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/samuel-r-delany-2591_acting_actions-are-interesting-to-watch-i-learn_1895678.png" --- # Actions are interesting to watch. I learn about the… ![“Actions are interesting to watch. I learn about the actors. Their movements are emblems of the tensions in this internal landscape, which their actions resolve. About-to-act is an interesting state to experience, because I am conscious of just those tensions. Acting itself feels fairly dull; it…” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/samuel-r-delany-2591_acting_actions-are-interesting-to-watch-i-learn_1895678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/samuel-r-delany-2591_acting_actions-are-interesting-to-watch-i-learn_1895678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/samuel-r-delany-2591_acting_actions-are-interesting-to-watch-i-learn_1895678.png) > “Actions are interesting to watch. I learn about the actors. Their movements are emblems of the tensions in this internal landscape, which their actions resolve. About-to-act is an interesting state to experience, because I am conscious of just those tensions. Acting itself feels fairly dull; it not only resolves, it obliterates those tensions from my consciousness. Acting is only interesting as it leads to new tensions that, irrelevantly, cause me to act again.” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing actions reveals internal tensions; acting resolves them but creates new ones, prompting further action. **In simple terms:** Actions show inner conflict; acting settles it, then new conflict appears. Key Takeaway Embrace the cycle of tension and resolution. Themes psychology philosophy artistic expression Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - personal growth - mindfulness Key Concepts tension resolution self-awareness creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does tension drive creativity? - Can awareness of tension improve decision making? A Different Perspective Acting may feel dull if not linked to deeper purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever plane our consciousness may be acting in, both we and the things belonging to that plane are, for the time being, our only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/whatever-plane-our-consciousness-may-be-acting-in-both-we-and-the/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [I've realised that nobody's going to die if I don't get it right and that there are a number of things out there, beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-ve-realised-that-nobody-s-going-to-die-if-i-don-t-get-it-right-and/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [I'm just drawn towards music. That's where 99 per cent of my world is. 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It's an interesting challenge to make something that doesn't exist appear like it's happening, and to do it in a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-liotta/i-love-acting-it-s-an-interesting-challenge-to-make-something-that/) [Ray Liotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-liotta/) > [ I really just enjoy listening to talk \[to John Hurt and Charlotte Rampling\]... not even about acting or anything. It's interesting because I felt… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-really-just-enjoy-listening-to-talk-to-john-hurt-and-charlotte/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [Acting is interesting because you get to be involved in different stories and get to work with different people. 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Acting never feels like a chore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-mccormick/there-are-some-subjects-in-school-that-i-love-but-it-can-still-feel/) Sierra McCormick > [A word does not frighten the man who, in acting feels no fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-word-does-not-frighten-the-man-who-in-acting-feels-no-fear/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [I think as long as acting feels fulfilling and continues to feel fulfilling, it's worth it to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/i-think-as-long-as-acting-feels-fulfilling-and-continues-to-feel/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. 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Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## 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. 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