--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think back story can help guide your…" description: "\"I think back story can help guide your choices, but when you're playing a scene, you're not making choices; you're just intuitive.\" — Willem Dafoe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/willem-dafoe-4486_back_i-think-back-story-can-help-guide-your-c_1267115.jpg" --- # I think back story can help guide your choices, but when… ![“I think back story can help guide your choices, but when you're playing a scene, you're not making choices; you're just intuitive.” quote by Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/willem-dafoe-4486_back_i-think-back-story-can-help-guide-your-c_1267115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/willem-dafoe-4486_back_i-think-back-story-can-help-guide-your-c_1267115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/willem-dafoe-4486_back_i-think-back-story-can-help-guide-your-c_1267115.jpg) > “I think back story can help guide your choices, but when you're playing a scene, you're not making choices; you're just intuitive.” [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Story background informs choices, but acting is intuitive, not a decision‑making process. **In simple terms:** Acting is instinct, not choice. Key Takeaway Trust intuition in performance. Themes creativity intuition acting storytelling Mood reflective artistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre - film rehearsal - improvisation Key Concepts psychology performance art Questions to Reflect On - How can actors balance intuition with preparation? - When does intuition hinder a performance? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on intuition may ignore useful analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Intuitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuitive/) [Making choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-choices/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [The wonderful thing about Apple technology is just how intuitive it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/the-wonderful-thing-about-apple-technology-is-just-how-intuitive-it-is/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [I have always hated movies that preach at me, that try to manipulate me and tell me what to think about a story rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-searcy/i-have-always-hated-movies-that-preach-at-me-that-try-to-manipulate/) [Nick Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-searcy/) > [I think that any story that intends on being culturally authentic and true to life experiences will be a great story. Even if that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-shaheed-muhammad/i-think-that-any-story-that-intends-on-being-culturally-authentic-and/) [Ali Shaheed Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-shaheed-muhammad/) > [“Humans are caught -- in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/humans-are-caught-in-their-lives-in-their-thoughts-in-their-hungers/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I think sometimes you can think up a story, but it's because you're comfortable doing that, but when you're an actor, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himesh-patel/i-think-sometimes-you-can-think-up-a-story-but-it-s-because-you-re/) [Himesh Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himesh-patel/) > [ I actually tried to think of the story \[Room\] in gender-neutral terms at first and said to myself, "OK, would this work if it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/i-actually-tried-to-think-of-the-story-room-in-gender-neutral-terms/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [I never spoke out as a kid, I was never good at it as a kid, I was always too shy but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/i-never-spoke-out-as-a-kid-i-was-never-good-at-it-as-a-kid-i-was/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [“A child may ask, “What is the world’s story about?” And a grown man or woman may wonder, “What way will the world go?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-child-may-ask-what-is-the-world-s-story-about-and-a-grown-man-or/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Each and every component that makes up your life experience is drawn to you by the powerful Law of Attraction's response to the thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/each-and-every-component-that-makes-up-your-life-experience-is-drawn/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Personally, I think that the story is all-important; everything else comes later. But if there's any other way to ensure the betterment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-kapoor/personally-i-think-that-the-story-is-all-important-everything-else/) [Rishi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-kapoor/) > [“I think about the story of Job I heard in Carol Sharp's Sunday school. How he sort of learned to lean into feeling hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/i-think-about-the-story-of-job-i-heard-in-carol-sharp-s-sunday-school/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [I think there is something about a story that is enduring. Stories take on a life of their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-think-there-is-something-about-a-story-that-is-enduring-stories/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I think a story is an attention grabber. I think it's a truth conveyor. Those are two great features of a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-think-a-story-is-an-attention-grabber-i-think-it-s-a-truth-conveyor/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I think the story is my form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-think-the-story-is-my-form/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I think if a story has a message it should be incidental and accidental, otherwise it leans too close to indoctrination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-lord/i-think-if-a-story-has-a-message-it-should-be-incidental-and/) [Karen Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-lord/) ## More by Willem Dafoe > [I was doing community theater, and I was always interested in acting, but I was also interested in sports. I was interested in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-was-doing-community-theater-and-i-was-always-interested-in-acting/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I knew very little about 'Spider-Man'. I grew up more in the 'Superman' generation. 'Spider-Man' - I didn't know so much. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-knew-very-little-about-spider-man-i-grew-up-more-in-the-superman/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When you have something to work with, then you fly with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-you-have-something-to-work-with-then-you-fly-with-it/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When I was a kid I was very interested in the idea of the will, finding out what you're capable of. I liked those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-very-interested-in-the-idea-of-the-will/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Film is an editor's medium. You can create very good raw material and they can make it horrible, or you can do not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/film-is-an-editor-s-medium-you-can-create-very-good-raw-material-and/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm more interested in talking about what I do. And I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-more-interested-in-talking-about-what-i-do-and-i-don-t-think/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [ Mounting those red stairs \[in Cannes\] is something I've done with a very different intention many times. So it's interesting any time you witness… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/mounting-those-red-stairs-in-cannes-is-something-i-ve-done-with-a/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [In films you do a scene, you play around with it and unless you're doing a lot of reshooting, which no one has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/in-films-you-do-a-scene-you-play-around-with-it-and-unless-you-re/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [For every role, you have to always find a different way to approach it, one that's specific and suits what the key is. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/for-every-role-you-have-to-always-find-a-different-way-to-approach-it/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Celebrity is okay as long as you know it's not about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/celebrity-is-okay-as-long-as-you-know-it-s-not-about-you/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [All the time, as an actor, you want to be asking what's next and where things are going. If you're not asking those questions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/all-the-time-as-an-actor-you-want-to-be-asking-what-s-next-and-where/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm learning in my old age that the only thing you can do to keep your sanity is to stay in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-learning-in-my-old-age-that-the-only-thing-you-can-do-to-keep/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I was watching 'Wild at Heart,' and I can honestly say I did nothing for that apart from show up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-was-watching-wild-at-heart-and-i-can-honestly-say-i-did-nothing-for/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Truth is, generally I like film festivals; somewhere at some level there's an exchange of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/truth-is-generally-i-like-film-festivals-somewhere-at-some-level/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a Hollywood life. I've always been a worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-don-t-think-people-are-interested-in-my-personal-life-i-ve-never/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) [Explore all 110 Willem Dafoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. 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