--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I got, unconsciously, from admiring…" description: "\"What I got, unconsciously, from admiring Fred Astaire was that he didn't want what he was doing to look difficult. What was difficult, in my opinion, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/stanley-donen-31001_admiring_what-i-got-unconsciously-from-admiring-f_781702.jpg" --- # What I got, unconsciously, from admiring Fred Astaire was… ![“What I got, unconsciously, from admiring Fred Astaire was that he didn't want what he was doing to look difficult. What was difficult, in my opinion, was making it look so genuine, so effortless. I equally have tried to remain unseen on the screen.” quote by Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/stanley-donen-31001_admiring_what-i-got-unconsciously-from-admiring-f_781702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/stanley-donen-31001_admiring_what-i-got-unconsciously-from-admiring-f_781702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/stanley-donen-31001_admiring_what-i-got-unconsciously-from-admiring-f_781702.jpg) > “What I got, unconsciously, from admiring Fred Astaire was that he didn't want what he was doing to look difficult. What was difficult, in my opinion, was making it look so genuine, so effortless. I equally have tried to remain unseen on the screen.” [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admired Astaire's effortless grace, striving for genuine, unseen performance. **In simple terms:** He wanted genuine, effortless performance. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in skill. Themes authenticity effortlessness performance Mood thoughtful appreciative Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - acting - dance - public speaking - leadership Key Concepts craftsmanship visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance effort with naturalness? - When does polished performance feel artificial? A Different Perspective True effort may be perceived as insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiring/) [Admiring Fred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiring-fred-6021502/) [Astaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astaire/) [Astaire Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astaire-didn-6021501/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Effortless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effortless/) [Fred astaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fred-astaire/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kelly/) [Look Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-difficult-3380720/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Unseen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unseen/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [When Fred Astaire danced, everything in this world was perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/when-fred-astaire-danced-everything-in-this-world-was-perfect/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [I started dancing when I saw Fred Astaire in 'Flying Down to Rio,' at approximately nine years old. Fred Astaire influenced me, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/i-started-dancing-when-i-saw-fred-astaire-in-flying-down-to-rio-at/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [An uncle I loved got me into Fred Astaire when I was young. We had a scratchy old album of the 'Top Hat' musical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-fitzgerald/an-uncle-i-loved-got-me-into-fred-astaire-when-i-was-young-we-had-a/) [Tara Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-fitzgerald/) > [I loved Fred Astaire's way of dancing. He led you into the dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-loved-fred-astaire-s-way-of-dancing-he-led-you-into-the-dance/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [Over the years, myths were built up about my relationship with Fred Astaire. The general public thought he was a Svengali, who snapped his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/over-the-years-myths-were-built-up-about-my-relationship-with-fred/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [Fred Astaire is my hero. I love him because he was willing to kill himself to make his art look effortless. And because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/fred-astaire-is-my-hero-i-love-him-because-he-was-willing-to-kill/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [Fred Astaire is the Carioca, the Continental, the very Piccolino of romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fred-astaire-is-the-carioca-the-continental-the-very-piccolino-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor - those were my idols. All I ever wanted to be was a motion picture song-and-dance man. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-berry/fred-astaire-gene-kelly-donald-o-connor-those-were-my-idols-all-i/) [Ken Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-berry/) > [Did any artist ever bring more pure joy to more people than Fred Astaire?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kroll/did-any-artist-ever-bring-more-pure-joy-to-more-people-than-fred/) [Jack Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kroll/) > [I thought Fred Astaire was the most chic man. I loved the way he dressed. Never mind his dancing, which was beyond - he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-allen-mellen/i-thought-fred-astaire-was-the-most-chic-man-i-loved-the-way-he/) [Polly Allen Mellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-allen-mellen/) > [Fred Astaire was my dream dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/fred-astaire-was-my-dream-dancer/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I wish I was born in that era: dancing with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, going to work at the studio dressed in beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-wish-i-was-born-in-that-era-dancing-with-fred-astaire-and-gene/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [If Fred Astaire is the Cary Grant of dance, I'm the Marlon Brando.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/if-fred-astaire-is-the-cary-grant-of-dance-i-m-the-marlon-brando/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Obviously, Fred Astaire was a legend. I've tried to copy some of his movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/obviously-fred-astaire-was-a-legend-i-ve-tried-to-copy-some-of-his/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [As a dancer, obviously, we are all inspired by Michael Jackson, and I always looked up to Gene Kelly. He was a bigger version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maksim-chmerkovskiy/as-a-dancer-obviously-we-are-all-inspired-by-michael-jackson-and-i/) [Maksim Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maksim-chmerkovskiy/) ## More by Stanley Donen > [What we think about Paris is a part of how we feel about it. Our idea of Paris is our idea and we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/what-we-think-about-paris-is-a-part-of-how-we-feel-about-it-our-idea/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [There's no more film. Film is gone. We photograph digitally and electronically. We don't really use film the same way anymore - it's disappearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/there-s-no-more-film-film-is-gone-we-photograph-digitally-and/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [Jean-Luc Godard said that cinema is the truth 24 frames a second. I think cinema is lies 24 frames a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/jean-luc-godard-said-that-cinema-is-the-truth-24-frames-a-second-i/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [I started dancing when I saw Fred Astaire in 'Flying Down to Rio,' at approximately nine years old. Fred Astaire influenced me, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/i-started-dancing-when-i-saw-fred-astaire-in-flying-down-to-rio-at/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [There was never any point in my life when I wasn't called Mr. Donen. I'm told my first words were, 'Call me Mr. Donen.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/there-was-never-any-point-in-my-life-when-i-wasn-t-called-mr-donen-i/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [What we all like in life, I think, is the challenge of making something... that is not easy to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/what-we-all-like-in-life-i-think-is-the-challenge-of-making-something/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [My childhood wasn't very happy. It's a long, grim story about being a Jew in a small southern town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/my-childhood-wasn-t-very-happy-it-s-a-long-grim-story-about-being-a/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [When Fred Astaire danced, everything in this world was perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/when-fred-astaire-danced-everything-in-this-world-was-perfect/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [You know, sound was still a fairly new thing when I came into movies. And the reason musicals happened is because of sound. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/you-know-sound-was-still-a-fairly-new-thing-when-i-came-into-movies/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [It was very hard to make 'Funny Face' in Paris because making movies is difficult and making a movie in a city that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/it-was-very-hard-to-make-funny-face-in-paris-because-making-movies-is/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [I can still dance a little, yes, but I like singing better. It's more fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/i-can-still-dance-a-little-yes-but-i-like-singing-better-it-s-more-fun/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [I don't have too many friends. I have only a few people who I really love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/i-don-t-have-too-many-friends-i-have-only-a-few-people-who-i-really/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [I think of myself as a meat-and-potatoes kind of director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/i-think-of-myself-as-a-meat-and-potatoes-kind-of-director/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [You see, it took me so long, it was such a struggle, to move myself out of musicals - because I had had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/you-see-it-took-me-so-long-it-was-such-a-struggle-to-move-myself-out/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) > [The funniest thing is not who influenced me positively, but who influenced me negatively. I had such an aversion to what Busby Berkeley did;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-donen/the-funniest-thing-is-not-who-influenced-me-positively-but-who/) [Stanley Donen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) [Explore all 17 Stanley Donen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-donen/) ## More Admiring quotes > [The hidden child wants to be able to participate and to co-create in art, rather than being simply an admiring viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-morgenstern/the-hidden-child-wants-to-be-able-to-participate-and-to-co-create-in/) [Christian Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-morgenstern/) > [Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/hillary-clinton-was-in-rural-america-during-the-iowa-caucuses-but-i/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [“Start admiring and noticing your beautiful nature, body, talents, and intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/start-admiring-and-noticing-your-beautiful-nature-body-talents-and/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-never-was-a-liar-that-had-not-a-spot-in-him-where-he-could-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I've grown up watching and admiring Norm. Sherie actually starred in the first off-Broadway show I ever saw in New York, which was The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-ve-grown-up-watching-and-admiring-norm-sherie-actually-starred-in/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [“Miles couldn't help admiring women for their ability to dismiss the evidence of their senses. If that's what explained it. If it wasn't simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/miles-couldn-t-help-admiring-women-for-their-ability-to-dismiss-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [If I ever let my head fall.. I promise , I would be simply admiring my shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/if-i-ever-let-my-head-fall-i-promise-i-would-be-simply-admiring-my/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-take-all-day-to-climb-mountains-and-then-spend-about-10-minutes-at/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Great geniuses have the shortest biographies. Their cousins can tell you nothing about them. They lived in their writings, and sotheir house and street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/great-geniuses-have-the-shortest-biographies-their-cousins-can-tell/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Because I'm a musician aspiring to write good stuff and put on good shows, I'm hyperaware of what they're doing and what they're putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harmer/because-i-m-a-musician-aspiring-to-write-good-stuff-and-put-on-good/) [Sarah Harmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harmer/) > [Juan gave Bones the most admiring look he’d bestowed on him yet. “You talked her into going without panties all these years? Madre de…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/juan-gave-bones-the-most-admiring-look-he-d-bestowed-on-him-yet-you/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [I've been an admirer of Helen Mirren for a long time. As I get older, I find myself admiring older women who have poise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-ve-been-an-admirer-of-helen-mirren-for-a-long-time-as-i-get-older-i/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [You grow up watching certain films or admiring certain filmmakers, and to write a love letter to one and have them validate it, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/you-grow-up-watching-certain-films-or-admiring-certain-filmmakers-and/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [In the candle's flickering light, the library's thousands of books emerged from the shadows, and for a moment Nicholas could not help admiring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/in-the-candle-s-flickering-light-the-library-s-thousands-of-books/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) [Browse all 177 Admiring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I got, unconsciously, from admiring Fred Astaire was that he didn't want what he was doing to look difficult. 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