---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I studied technique for ten years, from…"
description: "\"I studied technique for ten years, from age 7 to 17. I guess you could say I went more on the Stanislavski side than the Meisner side - there's always ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg"
---

#  I studied technique for ten years, from age 7 to 17. I…

![“I studied technique for ten years, from age 7 to 17. I guess you could say I went more on the Stanislavski side than the Meisner side - there's always that wide divide among actors when it comes to technique.” quote by Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg)

> “I studied technique for ten years, from age 7 to 17. I guess you could say I went more on the Stanislavski side than the Meisner side - there's always that wide divide among actors when it comes to technique.”

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choosing a specific acting methodology shapes an actor’s approach, but flexibility across methods can enhance versatility.

**In simple terms:** Pick a technique but stay adaptable.

Key Takeaway

Blend methods for richer performance.

Themes

acting technique flexibility

Mood

analytical creative

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- theatre
- film auditions
- workshops

Key Concepts

Stanislavski Meisner method acting

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you switch techniques?
- How does each method serve different roles?

A Different Perspective

Rigid adherence may limit creative expression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/)

## Related quotes

> [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/)

[Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/)

> [Cancer essentially lives in us and becomes activated at some point, and then cells begin to psychotically divide. Initially, the cancer cell looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cancer-essentially-lives-in-us-and-becomes-activated-at-some-point/)

[Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/)

> [Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inga-muscio/words-outlive-people-institutions-civilizations-words-spur-images/)

[Inga Muscio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inga-muscio/)

> [Grief can take of itself,but to get the full value from joy you must have somebody to divide it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/grief-can-take-of-itself-but-to-get-the-full-value-from-joy-you-must/)

[Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/)

> [Africa doesn't look like it's changed that much to me since I first went in '94. There is still a major economic divide, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/africa-doesn-t-look-like-it-s-changed-that-much-to-me-since-i-first/)

[Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/)

> [“So how you’re gonna play this?” Trenton asked. “Divide and conquer.” “Divide what?” “His head from the rest of his body.” Trenton nodded quickly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/so-how-you-re-gonna-play-this-trenton-asked-divide-and-conquer-divide/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“I’ve seen too many leaders misunderstand leadership for legacy. Even the most experienced leaders will divide instead of delegate and incite instead of unite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/i-ve-seen-too-many-leaders-misunderstand-leadership-for-legacy-even/)

[Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/)

> [I always divide people into two groups. Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those who live by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/i-always-divide-people-into-two-groups-those-who-live-by-what-they/)

[Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/)

> [The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-forces-that-divide-us-are-not-as-strong-as-those-that-unite-us/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [“The Republicrat Junta promotes our separation into fragmented ethnic, religious, and social groups, for well they know that to divide is to conquer. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-republicrat-junta-promotes-our-separation-into-fragmented-ethnic/)

[Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/)

> [But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/but-it-is-impossible-to-divide-a-cube-into-two-cubes-or-a-fourth/)

[Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/)

> [In my first remarks as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to the agency's terrific staff, I stressed that one of my top priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/in-my-first-remarks-as-chairman-of-the-federal-communications/)

[Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/)

> [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/)

[Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/)

> [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/)

Will Advise

> [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

## More by Thomas Ian Nicholas

> [When I was doing the first 'American Pie' movie, I was just happy to have a job. We had a good time, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/when-i-was-doing-the-first-american-pie-movie-i-was-just-happy-to/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [I'm a big fan of character actors like Johnny Depp and Gary Oldman. My goal is to continue playing character roles in indie films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-m-a-big-fan-of-character-actors-like-johnny-depp-and-gary-oldman-my/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [Whenever I'm doing any film, there's always three different things. There's the script, which is really just a blueprint. And then, you shoot the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/whenever-i-m-doing-any-film-there-s-always-three-different-things/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [The bigger the budget, the more you can afford to compromise with Mother Nature. The smaller the budget, the more you're like, "Okay, well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/the-bigger-the-budget-the-more-you-can-afford-to-compromise-with/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [There's something I really love about independent filmmaking. Everyone is a little bit more close-knit, and you rely on people a little bit more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/there-s-something-i-really-love-about-independent-filmmaking-everyone/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [Compromise is the key element. The more constraints you have, the more compromise you have to have. But, I personally believe that, when that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/compromise-is-the-key-element-the-more-constraints-you-have-the-more/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [I didn't really have the entire high school experience. I've been working since I was six years old, so I didn't go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-didn-t-really-have-the-entire-high-school-experience-i-ve-been/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [Whenever I'm doing any film, I'm always just happy to have a job and I always just put 110% of myself into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/whenever-i-m-doing-any-film-i-m-always-just-happy-to-have-a-job-and-i/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [Surprise, surprise! I have a band! I'm really excited that we have a song on the soundtrack of 'American Reunion' for that very reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/surprise-surprise-i-have-a-band-i-m-really-excited-that-we-have-a/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [If I had 10 ideas and people said yes to all of them, half of them could be crap. But, if I've got 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/if-i-had-10-ideas-and-people-said-yes-to-all-of-them-half-of-them/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [It's one of those things where people tell you that when you have kids it will change your perspective on life, and you're like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/it-s-one-of-those-things-where-people-tell-you-that-when-you-have/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [I don't like waiting around for work, and sometimes as an actor you're forced into that position, so that's sort of how I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-don-t-like-waiting-around-for-work-and-sometimes-as-an-actor-you-re/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [Making a movie is like getting married. You're like, "Am I going to marry this project? Am I ready for that kind of commitment?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/making-a-movie-is-like-getting-married-you-re-like-am-i-going-to/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [For me, as an actor, the most challenging thing is creating the character in the beginning because you have to write their backstory. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/for-me-as-an-actor-the-most-challenging-thing-is-creating-the/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

> [Everyone is a little bit more close-knit and you rely on people a little bit more. The bigger the budget gets, the more everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/everyone-is-a-little-bit-more-close-knit-and-you-rely-on-people-a/)

[Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

[Explore all 22 Thomas Ian Nicholas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/)

## 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. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/)

[Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. 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. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/)

[Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [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/)

> [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/)

[Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/)

> [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/)

[Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I studied technique for ten years, from age 7 to 17. I guess you could say I went more on the Stanislavski side than the Meisner side - there's always that wide divide among actors when it comes to technique.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Ian Nicholas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-age-7-to-17-i-guess-you-could/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-age-7-to-17-i-guess-you-could/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/thomas-ian-nicholas-25692_actor_i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-a_1454497.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I studied technique for ten years, from age 7 to 17. I guess you could say I went more on the Stanislavski…” — Thomas Ian Nicholas",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Thomas Ian Nicholas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I studied technique for ten years,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-age-7-to-17-i-guess-you-could/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-studied-technique-for-ten-years-from-age-7-to-17-i-guess-you-could/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
