--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can play anyone if you're open…" description: "\"You can play anyone if you're open enough. It's a form of possession. Each time you work on something, you allow yourself to be possessed by creating t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/stephen-lang-12082_allow_you-can-play-anyone-if-you-re-open-enoug_2355588.jpg" --- # You can play anyone if you're open enough. It's a form of… ![“You can play anyone if you're open enough. It's a form of possession. Each time you work on something, you allow yourself to be possessed by creating the environment for it. Then you allow the possession to happen - but not at the expense of your sanity or of your identity.” quote by Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/stephen-lang-12082_allow_you-can-play-anyone-if-you-re-open-enoug_2355588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/stephen-lang-12082_allow_you-can-play-anyone-if-you-re-open-enoug_2355588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/stephen-lang-12082_allow_you-can-play-anyone-if-you-re-open-enoug_2355588.jpg) > “You can play anyone if you're open enough. It's a form of possession. Each time you work on something, you allow yourself to be possessed by creating the environment for it. Then you allow the possession to happen - but not at the expense of your sanity or of your identity.” [Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being open allows one to be “possessed” by creative work, but must retain self‑control and identity. **In simple terms:** Openness invites creative possession, but keep self. Key Takeaway Stay open yet protect your sense of self. Themes creativity openness identity control mindset Mood inspirational cautious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - art projects - software development - writing - musical improvisation Key Concepts psychology flow state creative process Questions to Reflect On - When does openness become loss of self? - How do you safeguard sanity while immersing? A Different Perspective Risk of losing personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Mothers sometimes are overly possessive, but not all children allow themselves to be possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/mothers-sometimes-are-overly-possessive-but-not-all-children-allow/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) > [Allow yourself to be possessed by God by receiving Jesus, and you will never be possessed by anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/allow-yourself-to-be-possessed-by-god-by-receiving-jesus-and-you-will/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [When I play, I open up. I'm in the heat of the performance and it's a healing thing. It's great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nathanson/when-i-play-i-open-up-i-m-in-the-heat-of-the-performance-and-it-s-a-2/) [Matt Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nathanson/) > [When I was 13 my dream was to play the U.S. Open. Now it's to win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/when-i-was-13-my-dream-was-to-play-the-u-s-open-now-it-s-to-win-it/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [My courses do not intimidate. Instead, they encourage the player to play well and become more open to the enjoyable aspects of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weiskopf/my-courses-do-not-intimidate-instead-they-encourage-the-player-to/) Tom Weiskopf > [If you play well, you can open doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/if-you-play-well-you-can-open-doors/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [I don't like to fall short. It's tough. Just make the right play when I'm open, and I'll thrust to the rim and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-gobert/i-don-t-like-to-fall-short-it-s-tough-just-make-the-right-play-when-i/) [Rudy Gobert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-gobert/) > [“When you play, you must open your heart to its magic. 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There are people who don't like that and I understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-del-rio/what-s-funny-is-funny-it-doesn-t-matter-what-expense-it-s-at-there/) [Bianca Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-del-rio/) > [“I will go tell him of Hermia's flight: Then to the wood will he to-morrow night Pursue her; and for this intelligence If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-will-go-tell-him-of-hermia-s-flight-then-to-the-wood-will-he-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“If a problem can be solved by writing a check, it's not a problem, it's an expense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/if-a-problem-can-be-solved-by-writing-a-check-it-s-not-a-problem-it-s/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) ## More by Stephen Lang > [I have a penchant for playing God's clowns. Actually, I played Nijinsky once, and he used to call himself God's clown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lang/i-have-a-penchant-for-playing-god-s-clowns-actually-i-played-nijinsky/) [Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lang/) > [I love the stage. It's terrifying in a way that film and television is not. When you're about to go out, and you're adrenaline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lang/i-love-the-stage-it-s-terrifying-in-a-way-that-film-and-television-is/) [Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lang/) > [I get a lot of people coming up to me and saying, 'I really hate you.' 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