Quotes from Sanford Meisner

Find in yourself those human things which are universal.

Being an actor is a religious calling because you've been given the ability, the gift to inspire humanity. Think about that on the way to your soap opera audition.

With a developed imagination there's no place you can't go.

The text is your greatest enemy.

You know, it's all right to be wrong, but it's not all right not to try.

One can use standard principles and textbooks in educating people for law, medicine, architecture, chemistry or almost any other profession—but not for the theater. For, in most professions, every practitioner uses the same tools and techniques, while the actor's chief instrument is himself. And since no two persons are alike, no universal rule is applicable to any two actors in exactly the same way.

To be inventive, to have ideas, is an organic part of being talented.

The American actor is very lucky... Because so little is asked of him.

The truth of ourselves is the root of our acting.

The greatest piece of acting or music or sculpture or what-have-you always has its roots in the truth of human emotion.

The truth of your instincts is the root of your foundation.

Your acting will not be good until it is only yours. That's true of music, acting, anything creative. You work until finally nobody is acting like you.

That which hinders your task is your task.

Courage means willing to risk everything.