Not necessarily true. The late great Stanley Kubrick directed a few low-action films that are some of my all time favorites:
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Shining
Dr. Strangelove
....and there are too many more to mention by other great directors.
Dr. Strangelove? There's a fairly intense battle for control of a military base, followed by the end of the world. One of my top 10 all time movies.