---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I rather go to see a good play than be in…"
description: "\"I rather go to see a good play than be in one.\" — Alfre Woodard"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png"
---

#  I rather go to see a good play than be in one.

![“I rather go to see a good play than be in one.” quote by Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png)

> “I rather go to see a good play than be in one.”

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Preferring to watch a play rather than act in it reflects a love for observation over participation.

**In simple terms:** Enjoy watching, not performing.

Key Takeaway

Value the experience of being an audience member.

Themes

art appreciation observation comfort zones

Mood

contemplative thoughtful

Type

artistic philosophical

When to use this quote

- attending performances
- studying drama
- creative inspiration

Key Concepts

theatre spectatorship

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do you prefer watching to doing?
- What could you learn by stepping on stage?

A Different Perspective

Missing out on personal growth from performing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/)

[Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/)

> [You can't have a good play without good fundamentals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/you-can-t-have-a-good-play-without-good-fundamentals/)

[Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/)

> [Obviously, it's good to play for India; it's been a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-binny/obviously-it-s-good-to-play-for-india-it-s-been-a-dream/)

[Stuart Binny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-binny/)

> [Over the course of a season, a miscue will cost you more than a good play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/over-the-course-of-a-season-a-miscue-will-cost-you-more-than-a-good/)

[Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/)

> [It's good to play 100 per cent live - no tricks, no samples, no messing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/it-s-good-to-play-100-per-cent-live-no-tricks-no-samples-no-messing/)

Adam Ant

> [“You don't always get the role you're going to play in life, but it's good to play whatever role you got the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/you-don-t-always-get-the-role-you-re-going-to-play-in-life-but-it-s/)

[Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/)

> [When I see one of my teammates make a good play, to keep that energy going, I feel like that's what I do on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-bradley/when-i-see-one-of-my-teammates-make-a-good-play-to-keep-that-energy/)

[Avery Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-bradley/)

> [I mean, I don't necessarily want to leave because I have this job, but I would love to do a good play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-slezak/i-mean-i-don-t-necessarily-want-to-leave-because-i-have-this-job-but/)

[Erika Slezak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-slezak/)

> [In a good play every speech should be as fully flavoured as a nut or apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-millington-synge/in-a-good-play-every-speech-should-be-as-fully-flavoured-as-a-nut-or/)

[John Millington Synge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-millington-synge/)

> [What I always say is, "Look good, feel good, play good."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/what-i-always-say-is-look-good-feel-good-play-good/)

[Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/)

> [I love a good play, but they're too hard to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-love-a-good-play-but-they-re-too-hard-to-find/)

[Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/)

> [I've got to prove I'm good enough to play for Everton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/i-ve-got-to-prove-i-m-good-enough-to-play-for-everton/)

[Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/)

> [I can play in different positions, and if I can do what I'm good at, score goals, show how good I can play football,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/i-can-play-in-different-positions-and-if-i-can-do-what-i-m-good-at/)

[Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/)

> [It's good to play in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-alonso/it-s-good-to-play-in-different-ways/)

[Marcos Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-alonso/)

> [“He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the rules of poetry, is pleased with the comic part, informed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-answerable-to-the-rules-of/)

[Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/)

## More by Alfre Woodard

> [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [Everyone has the impulse to be elite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [Television studios bet the farm on reality shows, where they didn't need any actors and movie studios had no plans for any quality movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/television-studios-bet-the-farm-on-reality-shows-where-they-didn-t/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [I think people need to understand that with plays and with cinema, when you hear about it, call and get a ticket then or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-think-people-need-to-understand-that-with-plays-and-with-cinema/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [I was like, wait a minute. When I hear my sisters' names, I want to have a joyful feeling in my heart about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-was-like-wait-a-minute-when-i-hear-my-sisters-names-i-want-to-have/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [You very seldom see a picture where you watch the process of falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/you-very-seldom-see-a-picture-where-you-watch-the-process-of-falling/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [Does my character hate Bree? Well, let's just put it this way. Bree hasn't seen the last of me. I gave that drunk gal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/does-my-character-hate-bree-well-let-s-just-put-it-this-way-bree-hasn/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [When you expect good, it's available constantly, and it makes itself a reality in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/when-you-expect-good-it-s-available-constantly-and-it-makes-itself-a/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [I can't say too much about it because I don't know a lot. We're not told what's in store for our characters until we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-can-t-say-too-much-about-it-because-i-don-t-know-a-lot-we-re-not/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [As an adult after college and as an artist I thought about what was real, what sustained me - it was Christian Science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/as-an-adult-after-college-and-as-an-artist-i-thought-about-what-was/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [The ones I love most are the people who the flaws show. I like doing characters that we see the total person. If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/the-ones-i-love-most-are-the-people-who-the-flaws-show-i-like-doing/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [And I communed with many different faiths and even when I wanted to be rebellious I never did not believe in Him. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/and-i-communed-with-many-different-faiths-and-even-when-i-wanted-to/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [Once our storyline gets under way, I just hope people don't throw cabbages at me in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/once-our-storyline-gets-under-way-i-just-hope-people-don-t-throw/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [People live a lot freer in their body and their voices and their moves than people act onscreen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/people-live-a-lot-freer-in-their-body-and-their-voices-and-their/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [I identify myself as an actor, because I feel like you don't go to the doctress, you go to the doctor; it doesn't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-identify-myself-as-an-actor-because-i-feel-like-you-don-t-go-to-the/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

[Explore all 26 Alfre Woodard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

## More Good quotes

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/)

[Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/)

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/)

[Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/)

> [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/)

[Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/)

[Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/)

[Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/)

> [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/)

[Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/)

Browse all 40,882 Good quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I rather go to see a good play than be in one.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alfre Woodard"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-in-one/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Good"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-in-one/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/alfre-woodard-23247_good_i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-i_2788723.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I rather go to see a good play than be in one.” — Alfre Woodard",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alfre Woodard",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I rather go to see a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-in-one/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-rather-go-to-see-a-good-play-than-be-in-one/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
