--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Emotions aren't doable. Actions are…" description: "\"Emotions aren't doable. Actions are doable, and if you do them correctly, they prompt the feelings.\" — Stella Adler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/stella-adler-11807_action_emotions-aren-t-doable-actions-are-doabl_794041.jpg" --- # Emotions aren't doable. Actions are doable, and if you do… ![“Emotions aren't doable. Actions are doable, and if you do them correctly, they prompt the feelings.” quote by Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/stella-adler-11807_action_emotions-aren-t-doable-actions-are-doabl_794041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/stella-adler-11807_action_emotions-aren-t-doable-actions-are-doabl_794041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/stella-adler-11807_action_emotions-aren-t-doable-actions-are-doabl_794041.jpg) > “Emotions aren't doable. Actions are doable, and if you do them correctly, they prompt the feelings.” [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feelings follow actions; by acting purposefully you generate the emotions you need. **In simple terms:** Do actions to create feelings. Key Takeaway Act first, feel later. Themes psychology performance emotion action Mood reflective pragmatic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - stage performance - personal confidence Key Concepts cognitive dissonance behavioral activation Questions to Reflect On - Which actions can you take to foster desired emotions? - Can you sustain feelings after the action ends? A Different Perspective Emotions may also arise spontaneously, not just from actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [Even though your emotions aren't wrong, that doesn't mean you have to stay stuck in a particular mood. 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We were all convinced they would filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atom-egoyan/i-think-in-the-80s-when-i-started-making-films-we-were-all-suspicious/) [Atom Egoyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atom-egoyan/) > [Our hearts don't always align with the visions we have for our lives; emotions aren't always vessels of simple manipulation and, try as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-hearts-don-t-always-align-with-the-visions-we-have-for-our-lives/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Emotions aren't a hindrance to wise decision-making, but are central to the Christian life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mahaney/emotions-aren-t-a-hindrance-to-wise-decision-making-but-are-central/) [Carolyn Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mahaney/) > [Never play with someones heart or emotions. They aren't toys. It might not hurt you but it's hurting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-play-with-someones-heart-or-emotions-they-aren-t-toys-it-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The emotions aren't always immediately subject to reason, but they are always immediately subject to action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-emotions-aren-t-always-immediately-subject-to-reason-but-they-are/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“The myth that “emotions are bad” puts the blame in the wrong place. Emotions aren’t inherently bad or unruly, but sin has devastated our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mahaney/the-myth-that-emotions-are-bad-puts-the-blame-in-the-wrong-place/) [Carolyn Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mahaney/) > [Emotions aren't the obstacles to a successful negotiation; they are the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/emotions-aren-t-the-obstacles-to-a-successful-negotiation-they-are/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [My emotions aren't toys don't play with them, and I'm not a game so don't play me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/my-emotions-aren-t-toys-don-t-play-with-them-and-i-m-not-a-game-so/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Either way, emotions aren't a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/either-way-emotions-aren-t-a-sign-of-weakness-but-a-sign-of-strength/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [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 > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) Marlin ## More by Stella Adler > [Acting is in everything but the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/acting-is-in-everything-but-the-words/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [To grow: that is your deepest and truest need when you say, 'I want to be an actor.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/to-grow-that-is-your-deepest-and-truest-need-when-you-say-i-want-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [The actor has to develop his body. The actor has to work on his voice. But the most important thing the actor has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-actor-has-to-develop-his-body-the-actor-has-to-work-on-his-voice/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Our heritage as actors goes back thousands of years, and we have to feel as comfortable in the clothes, and the language of Sophocles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/our-heritage-as-actors-goes-back-thousands-of-years-and-we-have-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Your curse is that you have chosen a form that requires endless study … It means you have to read, you have to observe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/your-curse-is-that-you-have-chosen-a-form-that-requires-endless-study/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [If you can't take both sides, it means you can only play yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/if-you-can-t-take-both-sides-it-means-you-can-only-play-yourself/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [“That spark has to be kept alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/that-spark-has-to-be-kept-alive/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [It's not enough to have talent. You have to have a talent for your talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/it-s-not-enough-to-have-talent-you-have-to-have-a-talent-for-your/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [It's not important to know who you are. It's important to know what you do, and then to do it like hercules!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/it-s-not-important-to-know-who-you-are-it-s-important-to-know-what/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Your job as actors is to understand the size of what you say, to understand what's beneath the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/your-job-as-actors-is-to-understand-the-size-of-what-you-say-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [You'll begin to act when you can forget your technique - when it is so securely inside you that you need not call upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/you-ll-begin-to-act-when-you-can-forget-your-technique-when-it-is-so/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Life is boring. The weather is boring. Actors must not be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/life-is-boring-the-weather-is-boring-actors-must-not-be-boring/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-word-theatre-comes-from-the-greeks-it-means-the-seeing-place-it/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [You act with your soul. That's why you all want to be actors, because your souls are not used up by life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/you-act-with-your-soul-that-s-why-you-all-want-to-be-actors-because/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Acting can be the healthiest profession in the world, because it allows you to do things you can't do in real life. It allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/acting-can-be-the-healthiest-profession-in-the-world-because-it/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) [Explore all 57 Stella Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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