--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a hard time treating my field as if…" description: "\"I had a hard time treating my field as if it's horse racing, putting actors in competition against each other. I see how the industry and the studios f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/alan-arkin-5379_actor_i-had-a-hard-time-treating-my-field-as-i_47675.png" --- # I had a hard time treating my field as if it's horse… ![“I had a hard time treating my field as if it's horse racing, putting actors in competition against each other. I see how the industry and the studios feel it's important, but I don't really have a feeling for being in competition. I want to feel sympathetic and close to others, not opposed to them.” quote by Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/alan-arkin-5379_actor_i-had-a-hard-time-treating-my-field-as-i_47675.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/alan-arkin-5379_actor_i-had-a-hard-time-treating-my-field-as-i_47675.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/alan-arkin-5379_actor_i-had-a-hard-time-treating-my-field-as-i_47675.png) > “I had a hard time treating my field as if it's horse racing, putting actors in competition against each other. I see how the industry and the studios feel it's important, but I don't really have a feeling for being in competition. I want to feel sympathetic and close to others, not opposed to them.” [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker struggles with viewing their profession as a competitive arena, preferring collaboration and empathy over rivalry. **In simple terms:** Rejecting competition in favor of cooperation. Key Takeaway Collaboration beats rivalry. Themes collaboration empathy industry dynamics competition professional identity Mood thoughtful reflective Type personal insight professional reflection When to use this quote - team projects - studio negotiations - creative collaborations Key Concepts human connection ethical work culture Practical Applications - team building workshops - conflict resolution training Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster empathy in competitive fields? - What structures support collaborative success? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-competition-689940/) [Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-want-689942/) [Each](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-competition-689939/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/field/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Hard times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-times/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Horse racing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse-racing/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [I see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-see/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Opposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposed/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/others/) [Putting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putting/) [Putting Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putting-actors-689941/) [Racing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racing/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Studios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studios/) [Sympathetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathetic/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Treating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treating/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [In a way, putting actors deep into this sort of complicated universe frees them from thinking about who they should be. They just are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/in-a-way-putting-actors-deep-into-this-sort-of-complicated-universe/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [When you live your life in competition, you always want to be in the final to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-mendy/when-you-live-your-life-in-competition-you-always-want-to-be-in-the/) [Edouard Mendy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-mendy/) > [The FA Cup is a great competition and one we want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jones/the-fa-cup-is-a-great-competition-and-one-we-want-to-win/) [Phil Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jones/) > [In gymnastics, everything is a competition. You want to have your hair look the best and your makeup look the best. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mckayla-maroney/in-gymnastics-everything-is-a-competition-you-want-to-have-your-hair/) [McKayla Maroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mckayla-maroney/) > [Every time there's a competition, I want to be able to dominate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-moore/every-time-there-s-a-competition-i-want-to-be-able-to-dominate-it/) [Maya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-moore/) > [I'm in competition only with myself, and I always want to push the envelope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ekta-kapoor/i-m-in-competition-only-with-myself-and-i-always-want-to-push-the/) [Ekta Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ekta-kapoor/) > [I'm not in competition with nobody. I want to make good music for my fans who want it, who enjoy it, who learn something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-m-not-in-competition-with-nobody-i-want-to-make-good-music-for-my/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [Everybody agrees that you want competition. But you have to have rules of fair competition if you want to have competitors to enter the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hundt/everybody-agrees-that-you-want-competition-but-you-have-to-have-rules/) [Reed Hundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hundt/) > [I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-have-a-competition-in-me-i-want-no-one-else-to-succeed-i-hate-most/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [The reason why I got into mixed martial arts is the competition: I'm a competitor. I wouldn't be doing this for anything else but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/the-reason-why-i-got-into-mixed-martial-arts-is-the-competition-i-m-a/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [Whatever competition you're in, you want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/whatever-competition-you-re-in-you-want-to-win/) [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/) > [I always want to go up against the best competition, I want to have as many championship matches as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-kingston/i-always-want-to-go-up-against-the-best-competition-i-want-to-have-as/) [Kofi Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-kingston/) > [I don't play golf, and I'm not into horse racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-dorfman/i-don-t-play-golf-and-i-m-not-into-horse-racing/) [Lloyd Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-dorfman/) > [The Kentucky Derby is one of the most recognized sporting events in the world, so don't even think about missing out if you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-kentucky-derby-is-one-of-the-most-recognized-sporting-events-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, in BMX, it's a lot like horse racing. I wouldn't really bet on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-buchanan/i-think-in-bmx-it-s-a-lot-like-horse-racing-i-wouldn-t-really-bet-on/) [Caroline Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-buchanan/) ## More by Alan Arkin > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [If I'm going to make a fake movie, it's going to be a fake hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/if-i-m-going-to-make-a-fake-movie-it-s-going-to-be-a-fake-hit/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't mind watching plays once in a while, but as long as I don't have to be in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-mind-watching-plays-once-in-a-while-but-as-long-as-i-don-t/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Creativity means learning where the rules exist, and then breaking them! Saying, "It's better this way." But you have to know the rules in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/creativity-means-learning-where-the-rules-exist-and-then-breaking/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Things have got to add up to 100 points. The script is part of it, the character is part of it, the people I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/things-have-got-to-add-up-to-100-points-the-script-is-part-of-it-the/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't sense that I am someone's hero, though I'm happy when people like my work. I've learned how to be gracious about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-sense-that-i-am-someone-s-hero-though-i-m-happy-when-people/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [It's - everybody's looking at the bottom line all the time, and failure doesn't look good on the bottom line, and yet you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/it-s-everybody-s-looking-at-the-bottom-line-all-the-time-and-failure/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [That's the privilege of old age: You don't have to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/that-s-the-privilege-of-old-age-you-don-t-have-to-remember/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Every physicist knows that things connect with each other. To isolate things is not the way the universe works - winning best actor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/every-physicist-knows-that-things-connect-with-each-other-to-isolate/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't know why we have to put things in boxes of superlatives. That isolates them. Life is fluid, and the minute you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-know-why-we-have-to-put-things-in-boxes-of-superlatives-that/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [People think that the people in Hollywood have some master plan. They just make the movies that people go to see. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/people-think-that-the-people-in-hollywood-have-some-master-plan-they/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I'm very old. I haven't got time to be charming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-m-very-old-i-haven-t-got-time-to-be-charming/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I'm an actor. My life as an actor depends on who sends me what. I'm just taking the best stuff that I can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-m-an-actor-my-life-as-an-actor-depends-on-who-sends-me-what-i-m/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Education does not mean jamming information into somebody's head. Rather, it's that ancient idea that all knowledge is within us; to teach is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/education-does-not-mean-jamming-information-into-somebody-s-head/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [A product is most easily sold when it has an identity. So they wrap you all up and put a label on you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/a-product-is-most-easily-sold-when-it-has-an-identity-so-they-wrap/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) [Explore all 101 Alan Arkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had a hard time treating my field as if it's horse racing, putting actors in competition against each other. I see how the industry and the studios feel it's important, but I don't really have a feeling for being in competition. 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