--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The actor must know that since he…" description: "\"The actor must know that since he, himself, is the instrument, he must play on it to serve the character with the same effortless dexterity with which ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/uta-hagen-19916_actors_the-actor-must-know-that-since-he-himsel_576647.png" --- # The actor must know that since he, himself, is the… ![“The actor must know that since he, himself, is the instrument, he must play on it to serve the character with the same effortless dexterity with which the violinist makes music on his. Just because he doesn't look like a violin is no reason to assume his techniques should be thought of as less…” quote by Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/uta-hagen-19916_actors_the-actor-must-know-that-since-he-himsel_576647.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/uta-hagen-19916_actors_the-actor-must-know-that-since-he-himsel_576647.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/uta-hagen-19916_actors_the-actor-must-know-that-since-he-himsel_576647.png) > “The actor must know that since he, himself, is the instrument, he must play on it to serve the character with the same effortless dexterity with which the violinist makes music on his. Just because he doesn't look like a violin is no reason to assume his techniques should be thought of as less difficult.” [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor must treat his own body as the instrument, mastering it with the same ease a musician has with his instrument. **In simple terms:** Actors need to master their own bodies. Key Takeaway Cultivate body awareness. Themes craft performance self-discipline Mood inspirational reflective Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - acting workshops - solo performance Key Concepts embodiment technique musical metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How do you train your body for a role? - What parallels exist between music and acting? A Different Perspective Mastery requires ongoing practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dexterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dexterity/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) [Violinist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violinist/) ## Related quotes > [Friendship is like a violin .. Music may stop , but strings will always stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/friendship-is-like-a-violin-music-may-stop-but-strings-will-always/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I had studied the violin to a certain amount of success. At some point, I realized that I didn't really like the violin. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-studied-the-violin-to-a-certain-amount-of-success-at-some-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yet everything that touches us, me and you, takes us together like a violin's bow, which draws one voice out of two separate strings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/yet-everything-that-touches-us-me-and-you-takes-us-together-like-a/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [A computer is like a violin. You can imagine a novice trying first a phonograph and then a violin. The latter, he says, sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/a-computer-is-like-a-violin-you-can-imagine-a-novice-trying-first-a/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [Love is like a violin. The music may stop now and then, but the strings remain forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-masters-bacher/love-is-like-a-violin-the-music-may-stop-now-and-then-but-the-strings/) [June Masters Bacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-masters-bacher/) > [Friendship is like a violin;the music may stop now and then,but the strings last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reynold/friendship-is-like-a-violin-the-music-may-stop-now-and-then-but-the-2/) [Reynold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reynold/) > [Marriage is like a violin. After the music is over, you still have the strings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/marriage-is-like-a-violin-after-the-music-is-over-you-still-have-the/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [The soul is like a violin string: it makes music only when it is stretched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-soul-is-like-a-violin-string-it-makes-music-only-when-it-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Happiness is a thing to be practiced, like the violin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/happiness-is-a-thing-to-be-practiced-like-the-violin/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [She played me like a violin broken strings Trying to survive all this time But all she could do was break me in two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/she-played-me-like-a-violin-broken-strings-trying-to-survive-all-this/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Love is like a roller coaster: When it's good you don't want to get off, and when it isn't, you can't wait to throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-masters-bacher/love-is-like-a-roller-coaster-when-it-s-good-you-don-t-want-to-get/) [June Masters Bacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-masters-bacher/) > [Friendship is like a violin; the music may stop now and then, but the strings will last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friendship-is-like-a-violin-the-music-may-stop-now-and-then-but-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is like a violin, the strings are always there, but sometimes the music gets lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-a-violin-the-strings-are-always-there-but-sometimes-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Marriage is like a violin. After the beautiful music is over, the strings are still attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-braude/marriage-is-like-a-violin-after-the-beautiful-music-is-over-the/) [Jacob Braude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-braude/) > [We at ya kneck like a violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-money/we-at-ya-kneck-like-a-violin/) [Young Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-money/) ## More by Uta Hagen > [All tedious research is worth one inspired moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/all-tedious-research-is-worth-one-inspired-moment/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [I won't go to England because they won't let my dog in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/i-won-t-go-to-england-because-they-won-t-let-my-dog-in/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [The need to be loved and protected is at a peak when we feel abandoned and are particularly vulnerable to difficult circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/the-need-to-be-loved-and-protected-is-at-a-peak-when-we-feel/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [One cannot demand of art that it pay you in any other way than in the satisfaction of the work itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/one-cannot-demand-of-art-that-it-pay-you-in-any-other-way-than-in-the/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [Theoretically, the actor ought to be more sound in mind and body than other people, since he learns to understand the psychological problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/theoretically-the-actor-ought-to-be-more-sound-in-mind-and-body-than/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [The knowledge that every day there is something more to learn, something higher to reach for, something new to make for others, makes each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/the-knowledge-that-every-day-there-is-something-more-to-learn/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [We had a relationship that lasted 44 years. Herbert and I lived together 10 years before we were married. He always gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/we-had-a-relationship-that-lasted-44-years-herbert-and-i-lived/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [To rebel or revolt against the status quo is in the very nature of an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/to-rebel-or-revolt-against-the-status-quo-is-in-the-very-nature-of-an/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [I love going to the movies; I love watching good movie actors. They must know something I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/i-love-going-to-the-movies-i-love-watching-good-movie-actors-they/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [I think, by and large, the level of acting is mediocre. When I go to the theatre, I get so angry. I don't go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/i-think-by-and-large-the-level-of-acting-is-mediocre-when-i-go-to-the/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [Maybe the one I enjoyed playing most was A Month in the Country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/maybe-the-one-i-enjoyed-playing-most-was-a-month-in-the-country/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [We were not allowed to say, Screw, but we could say, Hump the hostess, because hump is in Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/we-were-not-allowed-to-say-screw-but-we-could-say-hump-the-hostess/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [Usually, someone who's in a show gets me a ticket. I feel cornered. I can't walk out if I don't like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/usually-someone-who-s-in-a-show-gets-me-a-ticket-i-feel-cornered-i/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [Keep pace with the present. Take a trip to the moon. envision the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/keep-pace-with-the-present-take-a-trip-to-the-moon-envision-the-future/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [I love playing Chekhov. That's the hardest; that's why I love it most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/i-love-playing-chekhov-that-s-the-hardest-that-s-why-i-love-it-most/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) [Explore all 31 Uta Hagen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The actor must know that since he, himself, is the instrument, he must play on it to serve the character with the same effortless dexterity with which the violinist makes music on his. 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