--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Increasingly I've come to think that…" description: "\"Increasingly I've come to think that what's at the core of acting is thinking. Most people would say it's feeling.\" — Simon Callow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/simon-callow-17799_acting_increasingly-i-ve-come-to-think-that-wha_2438043.png" --- # Increasingly I've come to think that what's at the core of… ![“Increasingly I've come to think that what's at the core of acting is thinking. Most people would say it's feeling.” quote by Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/simon-callow-17799_acting_increasingly-i-ve-come-to-think-that-wha_2438043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/simon-callow-17799_acting_increasingly-i-ve-come-to-think-that-wha_2438043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/simon-callow-17799_acting_increasingly-i-ve-come-to-think-that-wha_2438043.png) > “Increasingly I've come to think that what's at the core of acting is thinking. Most people would say it's feeling.” [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True acting stems from intellectual engagement, not merely emotional expression. **In simple terms:** Acting is thinking, not just feeling. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental depth in performance. Themes acting creativity thought Mood analytical inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film auditions - character study Key Concepts method acting cognitive focus Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance thought and feeling in performance? - Can intellect enhance emotional truth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on intellect can hinder emotional authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-thinking-252124/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Core](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core/) [Core Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core-acting-461995/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The thing I learned about being in this industry is the core of hosting and the core of acting is authenticity. So if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-simone/the-thing-i-learned-about-being-in-this-industry-is-the-core-of/) [Hannah Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-simone/) > [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/) > [I don't think about the passing of time, but I think it would be great if I can have fun acting while thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shin-min-a/i-don-t-think-about-the-passing-of-time-but-i-think-it-would-be-great/) [Shin Min-a](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shin-min-a/) > [The only negative thing is that I got into acting thinking, "One day I'll be a cowboy, the next day I'll be an astronaut.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/the-only-negative-thing-is-that-i-got-into-acting-thinking-one-day-i/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [Acting is something I had been thinking about all the time, though not seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/acting-is-something-i-had-been-thinking-about-all-the-time-though-not/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [I try to not think too much about how stuff gets seen as it's being done by a woman. Because if you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/i-try-to-not-think-too-much-about-how-stuff-gets-seen-as-it-s-being/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [Good acting is thinking in front of the camera. I just do that and apply a sense of humor to it. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-grodin/good-acting-is-thinking-in-front-of-the-camera-i-just-do-that-and/) [Charles Grodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-grodin/) > [A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-man-of-knowledge-lives-by-acting-not-by-thinking-about-acting/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [You think when you don't want to do anything. Thinking is a poor alternative to acting. Your thinking is consuming all your energy. Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/you-think-when-you-don-t-want-to-do-anything-thinking-is-a-poor/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) > [A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-lives-by-acting-not-by-thinking-about-acting-nor-by/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [It is true that one has to think first and then to act - but it's also true that if one has no possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-true-that-one-has-to-think-first-and-then-to-act-but-it-s-also/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [When I'm acting, that's all I'm doing. When I'm not acting, I'm not thinking about acting. If I'm writing, I'm just writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/when-i-m-acting-that-s-all-i-m-doing-when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-not/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [Tradition is an explanation for acting without thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-mcgarvie/tradition-is-an-explanation-for-acting-without-thinking/) [Grace McGarvie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-mcgarvie/) > [Acting without thinking is like shooting without aiming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/acting-without-thinking-is-like-shooting-without-aiming/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Thinking before acting is wisdom but acting before thinking is regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/thinking-before-acting-is-wisdom-but-acting-before-thinking-is-regret/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More by Simon Callow > [To live another person's life is quite a weird thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/to-live-another-person-s-life-is-quite-a-weird-thing/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I don't have any big regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-don-t-have-any-big-regrets/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [The elderly are all someone's flesh and blood and we cannot just shut them in a cupboard and hand over the responsibility for taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/the-elderly-are-all-someone-s-flesh-and-blood-and-we-cannot-just-shut/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [When children have grieving parents it's also common for them to feel an obligation to cheer them up and make them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/when-children-have-grieving-parents-it-s-also-common-for-them-to-feel/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [He always describes his characters' voices and their physique so brilliantly. As people have said, they are cartoons, caricatures. They're grotesques really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/he-always-describes-his-characters-voices-and-their-physique-so/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I hated Sundays when I was growing up in Streatham, south London. Everything closed down and stopped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-hated-sundays-when-i-was-growing-up-in-streatham-south-london/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [Shakespeare speaks for the human heart but Dickens speaks for the social man and for injustices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/shakespeare-speaks-for-the-human-heart-but-dickens-speaks-for-the/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [You could say Shakespeare is so extraordinary precisely because he was so ordinary. He had all the usual anxieties and understandings of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/you-could-say-shakespeare-is-so-extraordinary-precisely-because-he/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [Artists probably should have some impenetrable aspects of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/artists-probably-should-have-some-impenetrable-aspects-of-themselves/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I actually wanted to be a writer long before I wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-actually-wanted-to-be-a-writer-long-before-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I've come to this conclusion: What makes a great actor is great need. A huge need of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-ve-come-to-this-conclusion-what-makes-a-great-actor-is-great-need-a/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [Childhood didn't have a big influence on me, really - in fact I spent most of it plotting how to escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/childhood-didn-t-have-a-big-influence-on-me-really-in-fact-i-spent/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I don't practise any religion but I am deeply interested in the answers that mankind has come up with to explain the human situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-don-t-practise-any-religion-but-i-am-deeply-interested-in-the/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [There is something essentially sanguine about me, which I am inclined to attribute to the fact that I was born by caesarean section. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/there-is-something-essentially-sanguine-about-me-which-i-am-inclined/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [I am never bored, never short of anything to do and I don't even ever feel lonely. I am quite gregarious and I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-am-never-bored-never-short-of-anything-to-do-and-i-don-t-even-ever/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) [Explore all 36 Simon Callow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) ## 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. 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