---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a grueling profession. Either you…"
description: "\"This is a grueling profession. Either you can't get work, or you can't get certain kinds of parts, or you get a part, and it kills you because it's not..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/carol-kane-8948_career_this-is-a-grueling-profession-either-you_1778705.jpg"
---

#  This is a grueling profession. Either you can't get work…

![“This is a grueling profession. Either you can't get work, or you can't get certain kinds of parts, or you get a part, and it kills you because it's not good enough, or you get successful and feel guilty about it.” quote by Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/carol-kane-8948_career_this-is-a-grueling-profession-either-you_1778705.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/carol-kane-8948_career_this-is-a-grueling-profession-either-you_1778705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/carol-kane-8948_career_this-is-a-grueling-profession-either-you_1778705.jpg)

> “This is a grueling profession. Either you can't get work, or you can't get certain kinds of parts, or you get a part, and it kills you because it's not good enough, or you get successful and feel guilty about it.”

[Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

## About This Quote

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

Highlights the harsh realities of a demanding profession, where scarcity of work, perfectionism, and guilt accompany success.

**In simple terms:** Acting is tough; success brings guilt and pressure.

Key Takeaway

Balance ambition with self‑care.

Themes

career pressure guilt perfectionism

Mood

reflective serious

Type

professional philosophical

When to use this quote

- audition prep
- career counseling
- support groups

Key Concepts

artistic integrity industry competition mental health

Questions to Reflect On

- What boundaries protect your well‑being?
- How do you define personal success?

A Different Perspective

Success can exacerbate self‑criticism.

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[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

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> [To make a movie is very grueling at times. Long, long hours and cold weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/to-make-a-movie-is-very-grueling-at-times-long-long-hours-and-cold/)

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> [I know it sounds silly, but no one really anticipates just how mentally and emotionally taxing and unbelievably physically grueling it is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-know-it-sounds-silly-but-no-one-really-anticipates-just-how/)

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[Kim Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dickens/)

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[Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/)

## More by Carol Kane

> [I don't like to discuss my work in a lot of detail; I'm afraid of dissecting it in a way that is not good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-don-t-like-to-discuss-my-work-in-a-lot-of-detail-i-m-afraid-of/)

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> [I was this extremely dramatic actress. And then, suddenly, I was doing comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-was-this-extremely-dramatic-actress-and-then-suddenly-i-was-doing/)

[Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

> [It's like life: you have both comedy and drama. There's a balance, and I'm lucky enough to have it in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/it-s-like-life-you-have-both-comedy-and-drama-there-s-a-balance-and-i/)

[Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

> [While filming 'Annie Hall,' I never really hung out with Woody Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/while-filming-annie-hall-i-never-really-hung-out-with-woody-allen/)

[Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

> [I know that I'm in the minority to be able to keep working all these years. But I want more!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-know-that-i-m-in-the-minority-to-be-able-to-keep-working-all-these/)

[Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

> [For very few people is there a time when you, quote unquote, make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/for-very-few-people-is-there-a-time-when-you-quote-unquote-make-it/)

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[Explore all 76 Carol Kane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

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