--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like acting better than anything else…" description: "\"I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.\" — Tommy Wiseau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png" --- # I like acting better than anything else, but, you know… ![“I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.” quote by Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png) > “I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.” [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is his preferred craft, yet directing also holds value for him. **In simple terms:** He loves acting most, but directing is good too. Key Takeaway Balance passion with exploring related roles. Themes creativity career film self‑expression Mood enthusiastic reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - film projects - career transitions - skill development - collaborative work Key Concepts acting directing writing producing Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate both acting and directing? - What benefits arise from diversifying creative roles? A Different Perspective Focusing on one role may limit broader growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-better-510535/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-good-689991/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Know Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-directing-482533/) [Like Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-acting-245613/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing that gets me back to directing is good scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-only-thing-that-gets-me-back-to-directing-is-good-scripts/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I am capable of directing, and I am good at that. In order to have longevity as actors, you have to keep changing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-nelson/i-am-capable-of-directing-and-i-am-good-at-that-in-order-to-have/) [Kirsten Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-nelson/) > [I've never changed my approach to acting. I've always felt like I've gotten better. I think that all of us can get better. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-ve-never-changed-my-approach-to-acting-i-ve-always-felt-like-i-ve/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [To write, you have to know how to act and know about directing. To act, you also need to know how to write and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-taylor/to-write-you-have-to-know-how-to-act-and-know-about-directing-to-act/) [Tate Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-taylor/) > [For many years I thought, "Well, I need to know a lot more to direct." But I looked around and watched all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/for-many-years-i-thought-well-i-need-to-know-a-lot-more-to-direct-but/) [Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/) > [I don't want to sound arrogant and say that I know everything about directing and I've got it cracked, but it was just all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-don-t-want-to-sound-arrogant-and-say-that-i-know-everything-about/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [Directing ain't about drawing a neat little picture and showing it to the cameraman. I didn't want to go to film school. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/directing-ain-t-about-drawing-a-neat-little-picture-and-showing-it-to/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks with you for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old-when-you-say-something-and/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [Good directing is good writing and good casting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zemeckis/good-directing-is-good-writing-and-good-casting/) [Robert Zemeckis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zemeckis/) > [I think the only directing I'd be any good at is theatre directing. It's the only thing I can see myself doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-think-the-only-directing-i-d-be-any-good-at-is-theatre-directing-it/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I enjoy directing, but I really like acting more. The idea of controlling the whole thing is not something that really appeals to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-keach/i-enjoy-directing-but-i-really-like-acting-more-the-idea-of/) [Stacy Keach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-keach/) > [But I didn't know much about directing a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-alexander/but-i-didn-t-know-much-about-directing-a-movie/) [Jason Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-alexander/) > [I pretty much know that directing means that you have to answer about a thousand questions every day and you have to answer them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/i-pretty-much-know-that-directing-means-that-you-have-to-answer-about/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [I don't know anything about directing, but if you love actors, know your story and hire a great company, then anyone can direct a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-but-if-you-love-actors-know/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) ## More by Tommy Wiseau > [I am actually working on The Neighbors sitcom. We are starting from scratch. I am also working on a comedy movie and a vampire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-am-actually-working-on-the-neighbors-sitcom-we-are-starting-from/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [Think about who you are. Think about how nice you can be to another person. By the same token then, to have your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/think-about-who-you-are-think-about-how-nice-you-can-be-to-another/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > ['The Room' is relationships. The room is you and me and everyone in America. That's basically what 'The Room' is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/the-room-is-relationships-the-room-is-you-and-me-and-everyone-in/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [I personally think that all the scene that you see, love scene, is pretty real, almost 100 percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-personally-think-that-all-the-scene-that-you-see-love-scene-is/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [As a filmmaker and an actor, my job is to react towards people, but I want a reaction from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/as-a-filmmaker-and-an-actor-my-job-is-to-react-towards-people-but-i/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [I have been doing this for eight years now so the negative things do not effect me as much as they did at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-have-been-doing-this-for-eight-years-now-so-the-negative-things-do/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [The emotion, and the other aspect is that this relate to many different obstacle in life. Emotion, yes, I love emotion, for your information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/the-emotion-and-the-other-aspect-is-that-this-relate-to-many/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [My take on it, like a filmmaker or actor, is if you have much more colors within your creation, eventually people will appreciate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/my-take-on-it-like-a-filmmaker-or-actor-is-if-you-have-much-more/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [I inspire myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-inspire-myself/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [I always say that you don't have to like 'The Room', but you will discover something - maybe a tiny little thing - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-always-say-that-you-don-t-have-to-like-the-room-but-you-will/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [We live in America, one of the good things what we have with all the people is we have dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/we-live-in-america-one-of-the-good-things-what-we-have-with-all-the/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [People bring flowers and that's pretty memorable. I actually got a rose from one girl. She was so beautiful! I love all the screenings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/people-bring-flowers-and-that-s-pretty-memorable-i-actually-got-a/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [I usually don't like to talk about money, but I talk about the movie, and the other aspects of directing, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-usually-don-t-like-to-talk-about-money-but-i-talk-about-the-movie/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [I like rock music. I also like classical, if you ask me. I'm very adaptable, they say that. But I have certain preference too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-rock-music-i-also-like-classical-if-you-ask-me-i-m-very/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [As a director, it's my job to provoke, and when people decided 'The Room' be called a phenomenon, or whatever you call it, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/as-a-director-it-s-my-job-to-provoke-and-when-people-decided-the-room/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) [Explore all 77 Tommy Wiseau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Wiseau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/tommy-wiseau-8831_acting_i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else_2302445.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.” — Tommy Wiseau", "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": "Tommy Wiseau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like acting better than anything...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/#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 } } ] } ```