--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was used to putting on a performance in…" description: "\"I was used to putting on a performance in order to be loved. And it took me a long time to get used to not having to do anything but be there with anot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/simon-amstell-4347_human_i-was-used-to-putting-on-a-performance-i_2673168.png" --- # I was used to putting on a performance in order to be… ![“I was used to putting on a performance in order to be loved. And it took me a long time to get used to not having to do anything but be there with another human being.” quote by Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/simon-amstell-4347_human_i-was-used-to-putting-on-a-performance-i_2673168.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/simon-amstell-4347_human_i-was-used-to-putting-on-a-performance-i_2673168.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/simon-amstell-4347_human_i-was-used-to-putting-on-a-performance-i_2673168.png) > “I was used to putting on a performance in order to be loved. And it took me a long time to get used to not having to do anything but be there with another human being.” [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He moved from performing for love to simply being present with others. **In simple terms:** Shifted from performance to authentic presence. Key Takeaway Value genuine connection over performance. Themes authenticity relationships self‑acceptance vulnerability Mood introspective hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - dating - friendships - therapy sessions - public speaking Key Concepts psychology social interaction personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you stop performing in daily life? - What steps help you be present with others? A Different Perspective Performance habits can linger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Having Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-human-2519303/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Loved Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-took-453045/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Took Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-long/) [Used Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-having-2134954/) [Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year/) ## Related quotes > [Human sexuality is not always about being labeled. It's about having a human moment, an emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/human-sexuality-is-not-always-about-being-labeled-it-s-about-having-a/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [“We are not human beings having a human experience. Our bodies are temporary. We are souls. We are immortal; we are eternal. We never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-human-beings-having-a-human-experience-our-bodies-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am so used to having a comfortable life. 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Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-jackson/) > [It took so long to write 'Benjamin' that by the time we were shooting it, I understood what the film was about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/it-took-so-long-to-write-benjamin-that-by-the-time-we-were-shooting/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [It took a long time, and a lot of years, for me to get comfortable with myself, like the way I am now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/it-took-a-long-time-and-a-lot-of-years-for-me-to-get-comfortable-with/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) > [“It was then I saw thy mother, and loved her, and took her away in my secret heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/it-was-then-i-saw-thy-mother-and-loved-her-and-took-her-away-in-my/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [I was in love with her before. I was loved by her before. I took care of her ever since from the start. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/i-was-in-love-with-her-before-i-was-loved-by-her-before-i-took-care/) [Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/) > [You made it so easy to love you, because you loved what no one else took the time to see in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaoru-shinmon/you-made-it-so-easy-to-love-you-because-you-loved-what-no-one-else/) [Kaoru Shinmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaoru-shinmon/) ## More by Simon Amstell > [I don't see the point of doing comedy unless it comes from pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-don-t-see-the-point-of-doing-comedy-unless-it-comes-from-pain/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [My mum makes me laugh a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/my-mum-makes-me-laugh-a-lot/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I quite like being cheeky and naughty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-quite-like-being-cheeky-and-naughty/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [The first time I got into therapy was when I was 29 - it's always when I'm about to hit a number. There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/the-first-time-i-got-into-therapy-was-when-i-was-29-it-s-always-when/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I am more interested in finding peace than upsetting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-am-more-interested-in-finding-peace-than-upsetting-anyone/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [If you are somebody who is going to at some point be revealed as not like everyone else, then to be in an insular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/if-you-are-somebody-who-is-going-to-at-some-point-be-revealed-as-not/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I got my first job in television when I was 18, on the kids' cable channel Nickelodeon, introducing the 'Rugrats' and other programs. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-got-my-first-job-in-television-when-i-was-18-on-the-kids-cable/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [Everything I try to do is about slaying that dragon of shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/everything-i-try-to-do-is-about-slaying-that-dragon-of-shame/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [If I'd have been really good at dancing as a kid, if I'd have achieved more than my certificate in preparatory tap, then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/if-i-d-have-been-really-good-at-dancing-as-a-kid-if-i-d-have-achieved/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I don't feel broken anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-don-t-feel-broken-anymore/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [If you are the sort of comedian who's interested in sort of the mundane, then there's something in that and then it's wonderful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/if-you-are-the-sort-of-comedian-who-s-interested-in-sort-of-the/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I watched a film called 'Earthlings' years ago and it helped to upset me into veganism, so I thought what I could do was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-watched-a-film-called-earthlings-years-ago-and-it-helped-to-upset/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [You can't think your way to being in love, or able to be loved. However, intellect is also useful for things like understanding books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/you-can-t-think-your-way-to-being-in-love-or-able-to-be-loved-however/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [As a teenager, I found a lot of courage through people on the television being funny or subversive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/as-a-teenager-i-found-a-lot-of-courage-through-people-on-the/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) [Explore all 112 Simon Amstell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) ## More Human quotes > [There is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/there-is-no-human-nature-since-there-is-no-god-to-conceive-it/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/to-hurry-through-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fine-full-sentence-is-like/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. 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