"When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn't acting. It's following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that"

In this quote, James Dean is revealing his belief that true acting exceeds merely following directions from a director. He argues that when an actor simply does what they are told, they are not genuinely acting, however rather just following orders. According to Dean, anyone with the physical abilities can do this, but it takes a true actor to bring depth and feeling to a scene. He is highlighting the importance of imagination and specific analysis in acting, rather than simply blindly following directions. This quote highlights the distinction in between simply performing and genuinely embodying a character, and the value of artistic expression in the craft of acting.