--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is not rocket science, but it is…" description: "\"Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not.\" — Viola Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/viola-davis-1174_acting_acting-is-not-rocket-science-but-it-is-a_475573.png" --- # Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What… ![“Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/viola-davis-1174_acting_acting-is-not-rocket-science-but-it-is-a_475573.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/viola-davis-1174_acting_acting-is-not-rocket-science-but-it-is-a_475573.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/viola-davis-1174_acting_acting-is-not-rocket-science-but-it-is-a_475573.png) > “Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting requires skill and creativity, illuminating humanity, though its impact can vary. **In simple terms:** Acting is skilled, artistic, and sometimes uncertain. Key Takeaway Recognize the artistic effort in performance. Themes art creativity humanity Mood thoughtful reflective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - personal growth Key Concepts expression interpretation Questions to Reflect On - What does acting reveal about society? - When does art fail to illuminate? A Different Perspective Impact may be limited by audience reception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Rocket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-rocket-386872/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Illuminating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-illuminating-4101110/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Illuminating Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illuminating-humanity-4101109/) [Rocket science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocket-science/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [I've never thought of acting as rocket science - you put on the costume, get your hair cut, and that's it, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-warren/i-ve-never-thought-of-acting-as-rocket-science-you-put-on-the-costume/) [Marc Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-warren/) > [When you hit someone back with understanding or love it stops the cycle of friction. Its not always easy to do, but when youre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/when-you-hit-someone-back-with-understanding-or-love-it-stops-the/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [We need to reform the political system, or we'll lose the democracy. I don't think it's that hard. It doesn't take rocket science. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/we-need-to-reform-the-political-system-or-we-ll-lose-the-democracy-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [People always overestimate how complex business is. This isn't rocket science. We've chosen one of the world's simplest professions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/people-always-overestimate-how-complex-business-is-this-isn-t-rocket/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“(And while I’m on the subject, why don’t those folks at Crayola either add some vitamins and minerals to their product, or make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-o-bryant/and-while-i-m-on-the-subject-why-don-t-those-folks-at-crayola-either/) [Robin O'Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-o-bryant/) > [If shallow people don't find your body type good looking, then look for non-shallow people. It's not rocket science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-shallow-people-don-t-find-your-body-type-good-looking-then-look/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In general, I tend to laugh too much. I always try to tell myself not to, but I think that's just part of getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woodlee/in-general-i-tend-to-laugh-too-much-i-always-try-to-tell-myself-not/) [Zach Woodlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woodlee/) > [It's not rocket science. It's not super high technology to construct border barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-not-rocket-science-it-s-not-super-high-technology-to-construct/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Just to keep my mind sharp. When you have like one job, you want to think about it enough to do well, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gostkowski/just-to-keep-my-mind-sharp-when-you-have-like-one-job-you-want-to/) [Stephen Gostkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gostkowski/) > [“I’ve learned that most problems aren’t rocket science, but when they are rocket science, you should ask a rocket scientist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kelly/i-ve-learned-that-most-problems-aren-t-rocket-science-but-when-they/) [Scott Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kelly/) > [It turns out that understanding the British public is not rocket science. The British appreciate honesty and they also have a bonkers, off-the-wall sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/it-turns-out-that-understanding-the-british-public-is-not-rocket/) [Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/) > [“It doesn't take rocket science to realize your define purpose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabiso-monkoe/it-doesn-t-take-rocket-science-to-realize-your-define-purpose/) [Thabiso Monkoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabiso-monkoe/) > [It takes right decisions and where you want to go to - what kind of players, what kind of manager - and then in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-rangnick/it-takes-right-decisions-and-where-you-want-to-go-to-what-kind-of/) [Ralf Rangnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralf-rangnick/) > [I put my school uniform on the radiator for like 10 minutes before I get changed, it makes me warm, it's like rocket science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-put-my-school-uniform-on-the-radiator-for-like-10-minutes-before-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Puppy, I am getting so tired of listening to you whine about this,” he snarled at Zeke. “This isn’t rocket science. If you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/puppy-i-am-getting-so-tired-of-listening-to-you-whine-about-this-he/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## 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": "Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. 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