--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your work isn't just to learn and say the…" description: "\"Your work isn't just to learn and say the lines. Your work is to figure out what the chatter in your brain is, that's going on under the lines. It does..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/sarah-wayne-callies-16347_brain_your-work-isn-t-just-to-learn-and-say-th_2565077.jpg" --- # Your work isn't just to learn and say the lines. Your work… ![“Your work isn't just to learn and say the lines. Your work is to figure out what the chatter in your brain is, that's going on under the lines. It doesn't matter whether you're speaking or not speaking because your mind is working the way your character's mind would work.” quote by Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/sarah-wayne-callies-16347_brain_your-work-isn-t-just-to-learn-and-say-th_2565077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/sarah-wayne-callies-16347_brain_your-work-isn-t-just-to-learn-and-say-th_2565077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/sarah-wayne-callies-16347_brain_your-work-isn-t-just-to-learn-and-say-th_2565077.jpg) > “Your work isn't just to learn and say the lines. Your work is to figure out what the chatter in your brain is, that's going on under the lines. It doesn't matter whether you're speaking or not speaking because your mind is working the way your character's mind would work.” [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting requires understanding inner mental dialogue, not just reciting lines; authenticity comes from internal character work. **In simple terms:** Acting is about inner truth, not just words. Key Takeaway Explore your character’s inner voice. Themes acting authenticity self-awareness psychology craft Mood reflective motivational Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - Rehearsals - auditions - improvisation - character workshops Key Concepts Method acting character development mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does inner dialogue shape your performance? - Can you balance thought and action on stage? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on internal focus can hinder spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Acting isn't that hard, really. I mean, I think that people make a big deal about it, but you just kind of try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/acting-isn-t-that-hard-really-i-mean-i-think-that-people-make-a-big/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I don't want to say the same lines every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-don-t-want-to-say-the-same-lines-every-night/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [When you act for a living, you are lucky enough to get to say things you really want to say. You get lines that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cranham/when-you-act-for-a-living-you-are-lucky-enough-to-get-to-say-things/) [Kenneth Cranham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cranham/) > [I'm not into that method acting thing. I just turn up, say my lines and go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-warren/i-m-not-into-that-method-acting-thing-i-just-turn-up-say-my-lines-and/) [Marc Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-warren/) > [You can't tell any kind of a story without having some kind of a theme, something to say between the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/you-can-t-tell-any-kind-of-a-story-without-having-some-kind-of-a/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [I think people moving through space and the way they say lines, it's a puzzle to be solved every time. But there's a right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-miller/i-think-people-moving-through-space-and-the-way-they-say-lines-it-s-a/) [Timothy Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-miller/) > [Pray to God and say the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/pray-to-god-and-say-the-lines/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Very rarely have I had the opportunity to say lines which I would have said even if I wasn't working in a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/very-rarely-have-i-had-the-opportunity-to-say-lines-which-i-would/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [Just say the lines and don't trip over the furniture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/just-say-the-lines-and-don-t-trip-over-the-furniture/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [You can't just replace someone with a regular-looking guy who didn't say any of the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/you-can-t-just-replace-someone-with-a-regular-looking-guy-who-didn-t/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [My memorization skills aren't that great so I need help in that area. As far as everything else, I listen to the director. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morse/my-memorization-skills-aren-t-that-great-so-i-need-help-in-that-area/) [Robert Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morse/) > [Some people just don't want to put in the effort. I just show up and say some lines and I'm famous. Anyone living below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/some-people-just-don-t-want-to-put-in-the-effort-i-just-show-up-and/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [My dad never took himself too seriously. He always treated everyone with respect, and he made sure I was like that, too. I show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-eastwood/my-dad-never-took-himself-too-seriously-he-always-treated-everyone/) [Scott Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-eastwood/) > [With comedy, don't try to be funny. That's really helped me. Just say the lines as you would say them, interact with other characters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-winter/with-comedy-don-t-try-to-be-funny-that-s-really-helped-me-just-say/) [Ariel Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-winter/) > [I really struggle to fight and say lines at the same time. It's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/i-really-struggle-to-fight-and-say-lines-at-the-same-time-it-s-hard/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) ## More by Sarah Wayne Callies > [I think I'm probably much better at the boots and pocket knife thing than I am at the high heels and martini thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-think-i-m-probably-much-better-at-the-boots-and-pocket-knife-thing/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [You certainly never know when you're reading a script if it might be your last. But I'm not afraid, because this experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/you-certainly-never-know-when-you-re-reading-a-script-if-it-might-be/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I'm growing as an artist and expanding my range,and not pigeonholing myself by doing the same thing, over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-m-growing-as-an-artist-and-expanding-my-range-and-not-pigeonholing/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I think intimacy is a word that's used more physically than it needs to be. There are times in your life, sometimes it's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-think-intimacy-is-a-word-that-s-used-more-physically-than-it-needs/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I found the researching academic's life was really lonely. It drove me crazy, also because I fell in love and married a more social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-found-the-researching-academic-s-life-was-really-lonely-it-drove-me/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [You don't take a job in acting at all expecting 25 years in and a pension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/you-don-t-take-a-job-in-acting-at-all-expecting-25-years-in-and-a/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I don't watch horror movies because they scare me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-don-t-watch-horror-movies-because-they-scare-me/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I'm not a person who flies away with a hot guy and is away from my husband for 3 months. We travel together. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-m-not-a-person-who-flies-away-with-a-hot-guy-and-is-away-from-my/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I would prefer to keep my child as far away from the entertainment industry as I possibly can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-would-prefer-to-keep-my-child-as-far-away-from-the-entertainment/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [It's amazing to me. With a cast that is not only so big but so young and good-looking, usually you'd think there'd be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/it-s-amazing-to-me-with-a-cast-that-is-not-only-so-big-but-so-young/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I'm very critical of myself and my own work, it's part of my academic background...I feel I'm still on the bottom of the learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-m-very-critical-of-myself-and-my-own-work-it-s-part-of-my-academic/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I come to work, get someone to put makeup on me and then kiss Wentworth Miller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-come-to-work-get-someone-to-put-makeup-on-me-and-then-kiss/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [What serialized cable dramas have given us is the opportunity to not simply tell the same story with slightly different words and different costumes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/what-serialized-cable-dramas-have-given-us-is-the-opportunity-to-not/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [I am a rather lucky girl when it comes to costars. The nice thing for me is that they are as kind and professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-am-a-rather-lucky-girl-when-it-comes-to-costars-the-nice-thing-for/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [Hollywood has completely changed in that regard and I think is nice that women aren't asked as much to choose between a career and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/hollywood-has-completely-changed-in-that-regard-and-i-think-is-nice/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) [Explore all 40 Sarah Wayne Callies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your work isn't just to learn and say the lines. Your work is to figure out what the chatter in your brain is, that's going on under the lines. 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