--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason I got into acting was not to…" description: "\"The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it in college, but I had no interest rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/campbell-scott-12670_about_the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to_6526.jpg" --- # The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I… ![“The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it in college, but I had no interest really in that, in getting up in front of anybody.” quote by Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/campbell-scott-12670_about_the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to_6526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/campbell-scott-12670_about_the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to_6526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/campbell-scott-12670_about_the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to_6526.jpg) > “The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it in college, but I had no interest really in that, in getting up in front of anybody.” [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) ## 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 entered acting as a pragmatic step rather than a passion, treating it as a means to an end rather than a self‑exploratory pursuit. **In simple terms:** Acting as a functional choice, not a personal quest. Key Takeaway Career moves can be driven by practicality, not passion. Themes pragmatism career motivation self‑identity external expectations Mood reflective matter‑of‑fact Type personal anecdote career insight When to use this quote - college enrollment - first job selection - career pivot Key Concepts career decision personal motivation Practical Applications - career counseling - motivation workshops Questions to Reflect On - What drives your career choices? - Can practicality outweigh passion in long‑term satisfaction? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Explore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-explore-316342/) [Acting Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-got-316343/) [Anybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anybody/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Care Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-acting-316344/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Explore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explore/) [Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Got Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-acting/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [In acting, you get to explore such an artistic side with different characters to research and learn and explore different things inside yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-carano/in-acting-you-get-to-explore-such-an-artistic-side-with-different/) [Gina Carano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-carano/) > [I don't care much about acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-care-much-about-acting/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I just had fun making the movies - just being on set - but I didn't really care about the acting part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-just-had-fun-making-the-movies-just-being-on-set-but-i-didn-t/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [The thing I love about acting is that it's got nothing to do with me; it's about bringing forth a director's vision. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/the-thing-i-love-about-acting-is-that-it-s-got-nothing-to-do-with-me/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [There were points I wanted to stop acting. We got so busy and didn't get to see our friends a lot, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/there-were-points-i-wanted-to-stop-acting-we-got-so-busy-and-didn-t/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) > [There was a point when I thought I would primarily be a writer, but the acting seems to have got in the way. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennie-james/there-was-a-point-when-i-thought-i-would-primarily-be-a-writer-but/) [Lennie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennie-james/) > [To be honest, acting was something where I got a chance to be somebody else and forget about the situation I was in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mitchell/to-be-honest-acting-was-something-where-i-got-a-chance-to-be-somebody/) [Jason Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mitchell/) > [I've always loved subtle acting, and that's what I got to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-panabaker/i-ve-always-loved-subtle-acting-and-that-s-what-i-got-to-do/) [Kay Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-panabaker/) > [The acting I got into by doing what we call pantomime, when I was sixteen. And, there were loads of very pretty girls in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mullan/the-acting-i-got-into-by-doing-what-we-call-pantomime-when-i-was/) [Peter Mullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mullan/) > [The first acting part I ever got was a guest spot on 'Chicago Hope' playing a security guard. I thought, 'Oh, this is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maz-jobrani/the-first-acting-part-i-ever-got-was-a-guest-spot-on-chicago-hope/) [Maz Jobrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maz-jobrani/) > [My acting has got to be natural. I didn't go to any drama schools. It's a gift from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scatman-crothers/my-acting-has-got-to-be-natural-i-didn-t-go-to-any-drama-schools-it-s/) [Scatman Crothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scatman-crothers/) > [The nightmare of a film career, or at least the challenge of one, is that you're rarely going to get the opportunity to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-nightmare-of-a-film-career-or-at-least-the-challenge-of-one-is/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [One of the reasons I got into acting to begin with is that I was trying to figure out how life worked. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/one-of-the-reasons-i-got-into-acting-to-begin-with-is-that-i-was/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [I got into acting because I wanted to act and I love acting. That's my true north: to be creative and to be challenged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/i-got-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-act-and-i-love-acting-that-s-my/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [I got into acting in high school mainly because I wasn't doing anything else and started to hit a few bumps in the road.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-got-into-acting-in-high-school-mainly-because-i-wasn-t-doing/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) ## More by Campbell Scott > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [In the editing room, 20 percent of the time you're using stuff from before the actor knew the camera was rolling or you're taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/in-the-editing-room-20-percent-of-the-time-you-re-using-stuff-from/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I make little movies, you know, they need all the help that they can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/i-make-little-movies-you-know-they-need-all-the-help-that-they-can-get/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Actors are conditioned to develop a system for expressing as much as they can in the shortest amount of time because you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/actors-are-conditioned-to-develop-a-system-for-expressing-as-much-as/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [The high desert has an effect on people. The place has a way of swallowing you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-high-desert-has-an-effect-on-people-the-place-has-a-way-of/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [The fact is that you're never gonna believe any of the reviews, because the movie is to you what it is to you. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-fact-is-that-you-re-never-gonna-believe-any-of-the-reviews/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Everybody loves a villain - let's face it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/everybody-loves-a-villain-let-s-face-it/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Actors aren't all the same. They have very different skills. There are actors of intellect who are very thoughtful about everything they do... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/actors-aren-t-all-the-same-they-have-very-different-skills-there-are/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Since I was from the theater, that's how I learned how to go through the process of being a character. That's how I learned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/since-i-was-from-the-theater-that-s-how-i-learned-how-to-go-through/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [There's no doubt in the world that directing makes you a better actor. Me, anyway. There's no doubt in the world that it makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/there-s-no-doubt-in-the-world-that-directing-makes-you-a-better-actor/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > ['Breakfast at Tiffany's' isn't a great movie because Audrey Hepburn is brilliant and everyone else isn't. It's a great movie because everybody is fascinating,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/breakfast-at-tiffany-s-isn-t-a-great-movie-because-audrey-hepburn-is/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Working hard is great, being lazy sometimes is great, but failed potential is the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/working-hard-is-great-being-lazy-sometimes-is-great-but-failed/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Think of the difference between a team sport and one that you do by yourself. Like it or not, if you're by yourself, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/think-of-the-difference-between-a-team-sport-and-one-that-you-do-by/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I'm 47, I have gray hair, and yet people still come up to me on the street who are in their twenties, who weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/i-m-47-i-have-gray-hair-and-yet-people-still-come-up-to-me-on-the/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [You can't, no matter what anyone says, build a movie around someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/you-can-t-no-matter-what-anyone-says-build-a-movie-around-someone/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Explore all 53 Campbell Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) ## More About quotes > [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/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. 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