--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is not a science. Anybody who…" description: "\"Acting is not a science. Anybody who believes that their success exists in relation to their goals is deluding themselves; unless you think of a career..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/val-kilmer-3242_acting_acting-is-not-a-science-anybody-who-beli_1092962.jpg" --- # Acting is not a science. Anybody who believes that their… ![“Acting is not a science. Anybody who believes that their success exists in relation to their goals is deluding themselves; unless you think of a career in terms of financial goals. I have nothing against Tom Cruise, but he must have a large capacity to deal with the business side of movies.” quote by Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/val-kilmer-3242_acting_acting-is-not-a-science-anybody-who-beli_1092962.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/val-kilmer-3242_acting_acting-is-not-a-science-anybody-who-beli_1092962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/val-kilmer-3242_acting_acting-is-not-a-science-anybody-who-beli_1092962.jpg) > “Acting is not a science. Anybody who believes that their success exists in relation to their goals is deluding themselves; unless you think of a career in terms of financial goals. I have nothing against Tom Cruise, but he must have a large capacity to deal with the business side of movies.” [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## 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 framed as an art, not a science; success depends on creative goals, not purely financial ones. **In simple terms:** Acting is art, not science. Key Takeaway Focus on creative goals. Themes art career misconception Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - audition preparation - career strategy - financial planning - networking - brand building Key Concepts creative process goal setting industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Are you prioritizing art over money? - How do you balance both? A Different Perspective Financial focus can limit artistic freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruise/) [Financial goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-goals/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Acting in more science fiction films would be fine by me. I love doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-douglas/acting-in-more-science-fiction-films-would-be-fine-by-me-i-love-doing/) Sarah Douglas > [“My theory is that it depends on how a person explains her success. If someone believes that her success is due to her brilliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-soat/my-theory-is-that-it-depends-on-how-a-person-explains-her-success-if/) Douglas Soat > [“I hope that teen moms realize that their path to success still exists, and the only way to achieve it is to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-t-bowens/i-hope-that-teen-moms-realize-that-their-path-to-success-still-exists/) Alicia T. Bowens > [The barrier to success is not something which exists in the real world; it is composed purely and simply of doubts about ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-barrier-to-success-is-not-something-which-exists-in-the-real/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Our success already exists on a spiritual level; it's a matter of pulling it into the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/our-success-already-exists-on-a-spiritual-level-it-s-a-matter-of/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [ ...no formula for success \[exists\] except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings." "I accept life unconditionally. Most people ask for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rubinstein/no-formula-for-success-exists-except-perhaps-an-unconditional/) [Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rubinstein/) > [Finding original source material is not easy, but when something special like 'Edge of Tomorrow' comes along, everybody recognized it. I wasn't swimming against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/finding-original-source-material-is-not-easy-but-when-something/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [My hope is to see Tom Cruise jumping on my couch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/my-hope-is-to-see-tom-cruise-jumping-on-my-couch/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [Tom Cruise is one of the most successful actors of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-koenig/tom-cruise-is-one-of-the-most-successful-actors-of-all-time/) [Ezra Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-koenig/) > [ Tom \[Cruise\] is a great producer himself. He's got great sense of story. It's always great to have the perspective of the person who's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-kosinski/tom-cruise-is-a-great-producer-himself-he-s-got-great-sense-of-story/) [Joseph Kosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-kosinski/) > [You get to shoot things, and things blow up, and you're jumping off of buildings. It's insane! And hot girls. And you get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-holloway/you-get-to-shoot-things-and-things-blow-up-and-you-re-jumping-off-of/) [Josh Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-holloway/) > [You know how many movies it took Tom Cruise before he was making 5, 6 million dollars? It probably took a billion dollars in box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-patric/you-know-how-many-movies-it-took-tom-cruise-before-he-was-making-5-6/) [Jason Patric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-patric/) > [Jennifer to Beth: Ech. I don't like Tom Cruise. Beth to Jennifer: Me neither. But I usually like Tom Cruise movies. Jennifer to Beth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/jennifer-to-beth-ech-i-don-t-like-tom-cruise-beth-to-jennifer-me/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I studied Tom Cruise running in all the Mission Impossibles. I think he's one of the best screen runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-studied-tom-cruise-running-in-all-the-mission-impossibles-i-think/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I was never the best-looking guy; I was never the Tom Cruise-looking guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sheffer/i-was-never-the-best-looking-guy-i-was-never-the-tom-cruise-looking/) [Craig Sheffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sheffer/) ## More by Val Kilmer > [I'm a better person when I'm preparing for a role, when I'm studying a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-better-person-when-i-m-preparing-for-a-role-when-i-m-studying-a/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [A lot of old guys in movies are like cowboys - they talk like cowboys and they dress like cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/a-lot-of-old-guys-in-movies-are-like-cowboys-they-talk-like-cowboys/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I'm very wary of news on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-very-wary-of-news-on-television/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Youth is seen as everything. You don't know anything when you're young. It's great being older, just having a more balanced perspective. I wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/youth-is-seen-as-everything-you-don-t-know-anything-when-you-re-young/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [It's a really weird thing, modern divorce. I found out I was getting divorced on television. That was kind of weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/it-s-a-really-weird-thing-modern-divorce-i-found-out-i-was-getting/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I was in love with Tina Goodman since I was three and her parents came popping out of the trash cans. I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-was-in-love-with-tina-goodman-since-i-was-three-and-her-parents/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/without-deadlines-and-restrictions-i-just-tend-to-become-preoccupied/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Do what you like to do so well that someone will pay you wages for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/do-what-you-like-to-do-so-well-that-someone-will-pay-you-wages-for-it/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Hollywood's like a warehouse. It's just a place that you go. What's interesting in the warehouse has to do with the creative people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/hollywood-s-like-a-warehouse-it-s-just-a-place-that-you-go-what-s/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I don't believe in death. I think it's just a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-don-t-believe-in-death-i-think-it-s-just-a-state-of-mind/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Acting is very immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/acting-is-very-immediate/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There are lots of actors who are awful people, but nobody talks about them being awful because they've made billions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-are-lots-of-actors-who-are-awful-people-but-nobody-talks-about/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Mark Twain had a way of telling stories that shifts your consciousness away from labels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/mark-twain-had-a-way-of-telling-stories-that-shifts-your/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I've found that Hollywood's a really honest business. They don't pull any punches. They tell you exactly what you want-I want the fake breasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-ve-found-that-hollywood-s-a-really-honest-business-they-don-t-pull/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There was such a relationship between the buffalo and the American Indian - the Indians would eat them, live inside their pelts, use every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-was-such-a-relationship-between-the-buffalo-and-the-american/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) [Explore all 135 Val Kilmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## 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 > [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": "Acting is not a science. Anybody who believes that their success exists in relation to their goals is deluding themselves; unless you think of a career in terms of financial goals. 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