--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone's taste is different. But I…" description: "\"Everyone's taste is different. But I think the best way to defend against regrets after opening night is to try your best to tell the story you want to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/stephen-karam-10010_actor_everyone-s-taste-is-different-but-i-thin_2361341.jpg" --- # Everyone's taste is different. But I think the best way to… ![“Everyone's taste is different. But I think the best way to defend against regrets after opening night is to try your best to tell the story you want to tell. In terms of smaller changes over time, I think good plays are like poems. Every syllable counts.” quote by Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/stephen-karam-10010_actor_everyone-s-taste-is-different-but-i-thin_2361341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/stephen-karam-10010_actor_everyone-s-taste-is-different-but-i-thin_2361341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/stephen-karam-10010_actor_everyone-s-taste-is-different-but-i-thin_2361341.jpg) > “Everyone's taste is different. But I think the best way to defend against regrets after opening night is to try your best to tell the story you want to tell. In terms of smaller changes over time, I think good plays are like poems. Every syllable counts.” [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote advises staying true to your artistic vision, accepting varied tastes, and focusing on precise, purposeful storytelling to avoid regret. **In simple terms:** Stay authentic, craft carefully, and accept diverse opinions. Key Takeaway Prioritize your story and meticulous language. Themes artistic integrity storytelling regret avoidance precision personal vision Mood reflective determined creative Type advice philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre productions - writing workshops - directing rehearsals - script revisions - personal creative projects Key Concepts authenticity craftsmanship audience perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which elements of your work to sacrifice for audience appeal? - What techniques help you ensure every line serves the story? A Different Perspective It may be hard to balance personal vision with commercial pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Changes over time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changes-over-time/) [Defend Regrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-regrets-5782036/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Good Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-plays-536732/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening/) [Opening night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-night/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regrets Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regrets-opening-5782037/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Syllables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syllables/) [Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Try your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-your-best/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [In terms of smaller changes over time, I think good plays are like poems. Every syllable counts. So I wrestle with word choice, rhythm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/in-terms-of-smaller-changes-over-time-i-think-good-plays-are-like/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [ I was really happy with Mike \[Green\]. Not only was he contributing offensively, but he was really making good plays, good decisions. Defensively, he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-trotz/i-was-really-happy-with-mike-green-not-only-was-he-contributing/) [Barry Trotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-trotz/) > [I like to get the ball on the ground, make good plays and move the ball around the pitch quickly at a good tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-krkic/i-like-to-get-the-ball-on-the-ground-make-good-plays-and-move-the/) [Bojan Krkic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-krkic/) > [When I'm able to see the ice ahead of time when I get the puck, I'm able to make some pretty good plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lemieux/when-i-m-able-to-see-the-ice-ahead-of-time-when-i-get-the-puck-i-m/) [Mario Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lemieux/) > [There's going to be good plays that happen and bad plays that happen, but at the end of the day, when you have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dalton/there-s-going-to-be-good-plays-that-happen-and-bad-plays-that-happen/) [Andy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dalton/) > [Anytime I get the opportunity to get the ball, I just want to make good plays and help my team win the game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/anytime-i-get-the-opportunity-to-get-the-ball-i-just-want-to-make/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [Our job is to unleash the play. It's not just about your character or interaction with the other characters. There's an energy in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/our-job-is-to-unleash-the-play-it-s-not-just-about-your-character-or/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [It's my job to get us in good plays, or more importantly, out of bad plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-brees/it-s-my-job-to-get-us-in-good-plays-or-more-importantly-out-of-bad/) [Drew Brees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-brees/) > [Eat good dinners and drink good wine; read good novels if you have the leisure and see good plays; fall in love, if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/eat-good-dinners-and-drink-good-wine-read-good-novels-if-you-have-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [A great many quite good plays could be performed with rhythmic howls in the place of dialogue and lose almost nothing by the change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/a-great-many-quite-good-plays-could-be-performed-with-rhythmic-howls/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [I'm just going to continue to make good plays. Making the right decisions, good decisions with the ball so my team can play with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-moore/i-m-just-going-to-continue-to-make-good-plays-making-the-right/) [Maya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-moore/) > [I don't believe really good plays - interesting plays, complicated plays - can mean just one thing to every single person in the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/i-don-t-believe-really-good-plays-interesting-plays-complicated-plays/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [My '60s plays were as good as most of the other plays I've written ... except I wasn't in a condition to refine them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/my-60s-plays-were-as-good-as-most-of-the-other-plays-i-ve-written/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Good plays drive bad playgoers crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/good-plays-drive-bad-playgoers-crazy/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [Once you get a couple good plays, you get confidence and it carries over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gostkowski/once-you-get-a-couple-good-plays-you-get-confidence-and-it-carries/) [Stephen Gostkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gostkowski/) ## More by Stephen Karam > [I've always viewed 'Sons of the Prophet' as the first part of a larger trilogy - not three plays dependent on each other but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-ve-always-viewed-sons-of-the-prophet-as-the-first-part-of-a-larger/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [Until I have a family or a mortgage, I'm trying to keep my lifestyle simple and my apartment affordable so that I can continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/until-i-have-a-family-or-a-mortgage-i-m-trying-to-keep-my-lifestyle/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I worry that I will lose control over the projects I get to work on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-worry-that-i-will-lose-control-over-the-projects-i-get-to-work-on/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I don't think I could write a good play if I was setting out to write about the death of the American middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-don-t-think-i-could-write-a-good-play-if-i-was-setting-out-to-write/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [Under Todd Haimes' leadership, Roundabout created a black-box theater whose sole mission was to house premieres by writers who are just starting out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/under-todd-haimes-leadership-roundabout-created-a-black-box-theater/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I didn't quite fit in in any particular, specific way. I was a gay teenager who was into drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-didn-t-quite-fit-in-in-any-particular-specific-way-i-was-a-gay/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I'm still learning so much with every play I write. So I wrestle with word choice, rhythm in final drafts. I think you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-m-still-learning-so-much-with-every-play-i-write-so-i-wrestle-with/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I'm always very self-conscious and assume the way faith or religion might come up in my plays will seem very harsh to people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-m-always-very-self-conscious-and-assume-the-way-faith-or-religion/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [To be totally honest, I thought I would have a Broadway debut in the distant, distant future, maybe in my 60s or 70s when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/to-be-totally-honest-i-thought-i-would-have-a-broadway-debut-in-the/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [Coming home for me isn't, like, one family dinner. It's about am I gonna see 50 relatives, or am I gonna see 85?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/coming-home-for-me-isn-t-like-one-family-dinner-it-s-about-am-i-gonna/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [When you're the artsy, weirdo, introverted outsider growing up, you don't fit into your community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/when-you-re-the-artsy-weirdo-introverted-outsider-growing-up-you-don/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [Writing plays for me is often an act of looking at basement-level fears in terms of where they come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/writing-plays-for-me-is-often-an-act-of-looking-at-basement-level/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I don't come from a family of artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-don-t-come-from-a-family-of-artists/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [ Suddenly you're at church and you hear someone pray, "For gays and lesbians, that they might realize their \[sins\]…" That's happening less and less… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/suddenly-you-re-at-church-and-you-hear-someone-pray-for-gays-and/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [Janet Carroll and Robert Pine, Chris Pine's dad, were in my first play, and they were so astonishingly good, I felt it raised my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/janet-carroll-and-robert-pine-chris-pine-s-dad-were-in-my-first-play/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) [Explore all 68 Stephen Karam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. 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In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. 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