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I try to find out what there is in the character that in a way, you can’t put into words. If I could put it into words, then it wouldn’t be a performance. And if I do put it into words, as I play it, I start to get boxed in by those words.

Alan Alda

That last note, “in the same respect,” says a lot. As soon as you change the frame of reference, you’ve changed the truthiness of a once immutable fact.
ALAN ALDA

Fact Frame Immutable Reference School Study Taught Think Truthiness
If I don’t win, I’ll just wait until I’m nominated for being in the theater during the show. Do they have one like that?
ALAN ALDA

Being During Like Nominate Show Theatre Until Win
I try to find out what there is in the character that in a way, you can’t put into words. If I could put it into words, then it wouldn’t be a performance. And if I do put it into words, as I play it, I start to get boxed in by those words.
ALAN ALDA

Character Find Put Way Word
But often it’s a mechanical transformation, which isn’t as interesting, and you’ve got to be careful how you go about something like that, I think.
ALAN ALDA

Careful Internet Like Mechanical Often Something Transformation
I find myself going to places where I really have no business, speaking to these people in a whole other field that I have no extensive knowledge of. But I do it very often because it scares me.
ALAN ALDA

Business Dare Extensive Field Knowledge Myself People Place
During the first day, curious at having outsiders among them, a long stream of inmates came over and talked with me.
ALAN ALDA

Curious Day First Inmate Long Outside Stream Take
It’s always better to be wise than to be smart.
ALAN ALDA

Always Better Smart Wise
All these things you expect meaning to come from, and sometimes it comes when you’re not expecting it.
ALAN ALDA

All Thing Come Expect Meaning Sometimes
Whenever you wonder about yourself, look up at the stars swirling around in the heavens and just realize how tiny and puny they are.
ALAN ALDA

Heaven Just Puny Realize Star Swirl Tiny Wonder Yourself
Jean Paul Sartre says in “No Exit” that hell is other people. Well, our task in life is to make it heaven. Or at least earth.
ALAN ALDA

Earth Exit Heaven Make Other People Say
Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won’t come in.
ALAN ALDA

Assumption Awhile Come Every Light One Scrub Window World
You wouldn’t want to be called a sell-out by selling a product.
ALAN ALDA

Business Call Out Product School Self
We’re highly social animals – I’m told by scientists that what makes us different from other animals is an acute social awareness, which is what has made us so successful.
ALAN ALDA

Acute Animal Awareness Different Highly Other Scientist Social Successful
I was brought up as a Catholic, and I’m no longer a Catholic.
ALAN ALDA

Brought Longer Religious
Nothing important was ever accomplished without chutzpah. Columbus had chutzpah. The signers of the Declaration of Independence had chutzpah.
ALAN ALDA

Accomplish Chutzpah Country Ever Important Nothing
I have a final word of advice to our students. If you work very, very hard, this is the kind of actor, writer and director you may turn out to be, and if you work extra hard, this is the kind of person you may turn out to be.
ALAN ALDA

Advice Director Extra Final Kind Person Student Word Writer

I try to find out what there is in the character that in a way, you can’t put into words. If I could put it into words, then it wouldn’t be a performance. And if I do put it into words, as I play it, I start to get boxed in by those words.

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I try to find out what there is in the character that in a way, you can’t put into words. If I could put it into words, then it wouldn’t be a performance. And if I do put it into words, as I play it, I start to get boxed in by those words.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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