--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Directing is probably the best job, but…" description: "\"Directing is probably the best job, but acting is really, really great. It's like a fun vacation that you get paid for.\" — Bob Odenkirk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/bob-odenkirk-8987_acting_directing-is-probably-the-best-job-but-a_3203932.jpg" --- # Directing is probably the best job, but acting is really… ![“Directing is probably the best job, but acting is really, really great. It's like a fun vacation that you get paid for.” quote by Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/bob-odenkirk-8987_acting_directing-is-probably-the-best-job-but-a_3203932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/bob-odenkirk-8987_acting_directing-is-probably-the-best-job-but-a_3203932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/bob-odenkirk-8987_acting_directing-is-probably-the-best-job-but-a_3203932.jpg) > “Directing is probably the best job, but acting is really, really great. It's like a fun vacation that you get paid for.” [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directing offers creative control, while acting provides personal joy and excitement. **In simple terms:** Directing is control, acting is fun. Key Takeaway Value both roles for their unique rewards. Themes creativity career joy Mood enthusiastic reflective Type career inspirational When to use this quote - film production - theatre rehearsals - career planning - work-life balance Key Concepts artistic expression leadership performance Questions to Reflect On - Which role aligns with your strengths? - How can you blend both skills? A Different Perspective Directing can be stressful and limit personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-really/) [Best job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-job/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-probably-3546391/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Job Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-acting-276265/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Really great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-great/) [Vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacation/) ## Related quotes > [I'm really, really interested in the job of acting. I can really care less about being famous. I'm more about the work, and 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/i-m-really-really-interested-in-the-job-of-acting-i-can-really-care/) [Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/) > [I think doing different accents is part of the job of acting, really. It's something else that I quite enjoy the challenge of, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/i-think-doing-different-accents-is-part-of-the-job-of-acting-really/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [I do love directing. It's probably my favorite thing that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-garlin/i-do-love-directing-it-s-probably-my-favorite-thing-that-i-do/) [Jeff Garlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-garlin/) > [“Directors tell me I should direct because the questions I am asking are the questions that they are asking rather than the questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/directors-tell-me-i-should-direct-because-the-questions-i-am-asking/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [Acting in particular is a fun job when you have a good script. I don't know about acting when you don't have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/acting-in-particular-is-a-fun-job-when-you-have-a-good-script-i-don-t/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [With acting, if a friend asked me to be in a movie or TV show, there's a lot of things on my résumé I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/with-acting-if-a-friend-asked-me-to-be-in-a-movie-or-tv-show-there-s/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [It's an acting job - acting natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/it-s-an-acting-job-acting-natural/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [You're always learning as an actor... anything you do is a learning experience. It's the same whether you're doing film or TV, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-mckee/you-re-always-learning-as-an-actor-anything-you-do-is-a-learning/) [Roxanne McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-mckee/) > [Very rarely have I worked with a director where we've been at odds. And by the time you've actually talked to somebody and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/very-rarely-have-i-worked-with-a-director-where-we-ve-been-at-odds/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I've had pretty much the same crew for all the films that I've made, and I've managed to have really nice, calm, funny people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wheatley/i-ve-had-pretty-much-the-same-crew-for-all-the-films-that-i-ve-made/) [Ben Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wheatley/) > [Modelling, initially, is interesting. I think acting is a long process and it is far more interesting a job. In acting you play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/modelling-initially-is-interesting-i-think-acting-is-a-long-process/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [And I've been lucky in that I haven't had another job besides acting in the last five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/and-i-ve-been-lucky-in-that-i-haven-t-had-another-job-besides-acting/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I never had trouble getting an agent. I went out and got my first couple roles, and literally within six months I never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-norris/i-never-had-trouble-getting-an-agent-i-went-out-and-got-my-first/) [Dean Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-norris/) > [You can get a bit world-weary in this job, and 'The Passion' reminded me of what a fantastic job acting is and how lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/you-can-get-a-bit-world-weary-in-this-job-and-the-passion-reminded-me/) [James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/) > [I still have the desire to do the job of acting. It's just a matter of whether I'll be allowed to do the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-coleman/i-still-have-the-desire-to-do-the-job-of-acting-it-s-just-a-matter-of/) [Gary Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-coleman/) ## More by Bob Odenkirk > [I felt my personal life was not what it should be. It had nothing to do with Mr. Show - I'm monstrously appreciative and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-felt-my-personal-life-was-not-what-it-should-be-it-had-nothing-to/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-learn-things-in-a-backward-way-i-learn-all-those-limitations-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [“Whenever someone says, 'I love writing,' I always think, 'You probably suck at writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/whenever-someone-says-i-love-writing-i-always-think-you-probably-suck/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [The world needs less destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/the-world-needs-less-destruction/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [I've spent most of my career in ensembles, and I'm good with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-ve-spent-most-of-my-career-in-ensembles-and-i-m-good-with-that/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Humans are ridiculous. We're all pathetic strivers who will fall short. If you can accept that, it's optimistic because you can shoot for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/humans-are-ridiculous-we-re-all-pathetic-strivers-who-will-fall-short/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Comedy can be destructive, and still very, very funny. But if I can do something that is fun to watch and critical of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/comedy-can-be-destructive-and-still-very-very-funny-but-if-i-can-do/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [My godfather was a Chicago policeman, and I've always looked at law enforcement as a challenging and interesting job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/my-godfather-was-a-chicago-policeman-and-i-ve-always-looked-at-law/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [To me, great writing - and when you can really make something wonderful out of it as an actor - is when your character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/to-me-great-writing-and-when-you-can-really-make-something-wonderful/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [I honestly would tell anyone young to start looking at stories and learning story, because I think that’s the next step after people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-honestly-would-tell-anyone-young-to-start-looking-at-stories-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [When you're 20 you can put a ton of old-age prosthetics on and be an old guy, but when you're 70 you can't play a 20-year-old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/when-you-re-20-you-can-put-a-ton-of-old-age-prosthetics-on-and-be-an/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [It is so weird to be on this side of that, because when you're starting out, and it seems like you're starting out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/it-is-so-weird-to-be-on-this-side-of-that-because-when-you-re/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Not to knock the people who've given me the opportunity; I appreciate all the opportunities I've gotten, but one of the things I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/not-to-knock-the-people-who-ve-given-me-the-opportunity-i-appreciate/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [All people are sad clowns. That's the key to comedy - and it's a buffer against reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/all-people-are-sad-clowns-that-s-the-key-to-comedy-and-it-s-a-buffer/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [I'm about to go to Sundance for my 3rd year, and Sundance has never felt like a real independent festival at all. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-m-about-to-go-to-sundance-for-my-3rd-year-and-sundance-has-never/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) [Explore all 76 Bob Odenkirk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Directing is probably the best job, but acting is really, really great. 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