--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to be busy. I once shared an agent…" description: "\"I like to be busy. I once shared an agent with the late Sir John Gielgud, who, at 96, was apparently still ringing up, saying, 'Hello, Gielgud here, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40e/charles-dance-10952_agent_i-like-to-be-busy-i-once-shared-an-agent_3067742.jpg" --- # I like to be busy. I once shared an agent with the late… ![“I like to be busy. I once shared an agent with the late Sir John Gielgud, who, at 96, was apparently still ringing up, saying, 'Hello, Gielgud here, any work?' Good on him. We've got to keep working. If we retire, there'll be nobody to play the old wrinklies, and that would be a dreadful shame.” quote by Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40e/charles-dance-10952_agent_i-like-to-be-busy-i-once-shared-an-agent_3067742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40e/charles-dance-10952_agent_i-like-to-be-busy-i-once-shared-an-agent_3067742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40e/charles-dance-10952_agent_i-like-to-be-busy-i-once-shared-an-agent_3067742.jpg) > “I like to be busy. I once shared an agent with the late Sir John Gielgud, who, at 96, was apparently still ringing up, saying, 'Hello, Gielgud here, any work?' Good on him. We've got to keep working. If we retire, there'll be nobody to play the old wrinklies, and that would be a dreadful shame.” [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote celebrates lifelong work and the value of staying active in one's profession, especially in the arts, to avoid cultural stagnation. **In simple terms:** Keep working to stay relevant and help others. Key Takeaway Stay active, contribute continuously. Themes work ethic ageing cultural continuity Mood respectful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - acting - retirement planning - career longevity - arts education Key Concepts legacy professional identity mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can retirees stay engaged meaning? - What roles can older artists fill? A Different Perspective Retirement can be fulfilling if planned, not a shame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agent/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Apparently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apparently/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Dreadful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreadful/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Hello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hello/) [Hello Gielgud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hello-gielgud-5175242/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john/) [John Gielgud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-gielgud-2826311/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Nobody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobody/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-old-739647/) [Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire/) [Ringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ringing/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Saying hello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-hello/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shared/) [Sir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sir/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Working Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-retire-3936622/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [It was ironic, but when you scratched the surface, most successful men were working for one thing only--to retire--and the sooner the better. Whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/it-was-ironic-but-when-you-scratched-the-surface-most-successful-men/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [But as I grew up as a child, falling in love with the theater and Shakespeare, my heroes were Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/but-as-i-grew-up-as-a-child-falling-in-love-with-the-theater-and/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [There have been many gay knights in the past - like Sir Noel Coward or Sir John Gielgud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/there-have-been-many-gay-knights-in-the-past-like-sir-noel-coward-or/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [If you wanted John Gielgud to cry, he could say, 'Which eye?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/if-you-wanted-john-gielgud-to-cry-he-could-say-which-eye/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Now the times are changin'. Look at everything that's come and gone. Sometimes when I play that old six-string. I think about ya wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/now-the-times-are-changin-look-at-everything-that-s-come-and-gone/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [I've always wanted to play at Old Trafford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/i-ve-always-wanted-to-play-at-old-trafford/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [Sometimes when I play that old six-string, I think about you, wonder what went wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/sometimes-when-i-play-that-old-six-string-i-think-about-you-wonder/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [It's always special to play against my old teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-felix/it-s-always-special-to-play-against-my-old-teammates/) [Joao Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-felix/) > [People try to make a big deal, like I don't want to play my old songs. That's not it. I don't want to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/people-try-to-make-a-big-deal-like-i-don-t-want-to-play-my-old-songs/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [The reason I don't play any of the old songs is because I really honor my old band, and I think that those songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/the-reason-i-don-t-play-any-of-the-old-songs-is-because-i-really/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [Nostalgia is one thing. It's great to go and play the old songs. People know them and appreciate them. You got to give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/nostalgia-is-one-thing-it-s-great-to-go-and-play-the-old-songs-people/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) > [Like any classic you hope to get rid of all the varnish that's built up over the centuries where people expect it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/like-any-classic-you-hope-to-get-rid-of-all-the-varnish-that-s-built/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [You're never too old to play. You're only too old for low-rise jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/you-re-never-too-old-to-play-you-re-only-too-old-for-low-rise-jeans/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [I feel a lot older than I am but at the same time I don't want to play too old on T.V. I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leven-rambin/i-feel-a-lot-older-than-i-am-but-at-the-same-time-i-don-t-want-to/) [Leven Rambin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leven-rambin/) > [The only game I like to play is "Old Maid", providing she's not too old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/the-only-game-i-like-to-play-is-old-maid-providing-she-s-not-too-old/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## More by Charles Dance > [I was a window dresser for Burton's once. What really put me off was the area manager coming round and saying, Charles, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-was-a-window-dresser-for-burton-s-once-what-really-put-me-off-was/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/the-quality-of-writing-attracts-me-to-films-also-who-the-other-actors/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [You have to attempt to be objective about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-attempt-to-be-objective-about-yourself/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [If you get a bad script, then you start expending energy trying to make a silk purse of a sow's ear. When the script's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/if-you-get-a-bad-script-then-you-start-expending-energy-trying-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [I phoned this number and said, Please, sir, I want to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-phoned-this-number-and-said-please-sir-i-want-to-be-an-actor/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Most feature films are 35-40 shooting days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/most-feature-films-are-35-40-shooting-days/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [My face lends itself to austere characters, and unless they're two-dimensional, I will do them. Any actor will tell you that an interesting villain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/my-face-lends-itself-to-austere-characters-and-unless-they-re-two/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [When you have a label stuck on you, people tend to believe it. If someone calls you suave and debonair, you only get offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/when-you-have-a-label-stuck-on-you-people-tend-to-believe-it-if/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [I would have liked to have worked with Ralph Richardson and Paul Scofield, but they're dead now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-would-have-liked-to-have-worked-with-ralph-richardson-and-paul/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [If I was to put a little flag in everywhere I've been in the world, there'd be a lot of little flags.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/if-i-was-to-put-a-little-flag-in-everywhere-i-ve-been-in-the-world/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [When you get to a certain age, the work begins to thin out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/when-you-get-to-a-certain-age-the-work-begins-to-thin-out/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Actors can't retire. If actors retired, there would be nobody left to play old, wrinkly people. You have to keep going, darling - don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/actors-can-t-retire-if-actors-retired-there-would-be-nobody-left-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [ Because \[writers\] Dan Weiss and David Benioff have done such a great job in adapting them, that's what we work with. It serves no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/because-writers-dan-weiss-and-david-benioff-have-done-such-a-great/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [There is a huge fan base; they're very knowledgeable and very loyal. I was astonished - before I started working on the series, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/there-is-a-huge-fan-base-they-re-very-knowledgeable-and-very-loyal-i/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [We have to take risks in British television. It has to stop playing to the lowest common denominator and patronising people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/we-have-to-take-risks-in-british-television-it-has-to-stop-playing-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) [Explore all 62 Charles Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) ## More Agent quotes > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I was in Vietnam, and I was exposed to Agent Orange. And there's a high relationship between people that were exposed to Agent Orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-was-in-vietnam-and-i-was-exposed-to-agent-orange-and-there-s-a-high/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [My first job was a film called 'Storm Damage' for the BBC. I was 16 and working with really respected British actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/my-first-job-was-a-film-called-storm-damage-for-the-bbc-i-was-16-and/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [In a fit of pique, I said to my agent, 'I'm going to write something you can sell.' The idea was to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/in-a-fit-of-pique-i-said-to-my-agent-i-m-going-to-write-something-you/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [You can change. And you can be an agent of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/you-can-change-and-you-can-be-an-agent-of-change/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Anuj Bahari has always been a really good literary agent for me. What a good agent does is that he manages many of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/anuj-bahari-has-always-been-a-really-good-literary-agent-for-me-what/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [To be the agent whose touch changes nature from a wild force to a work of art is inspiration of the highest order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodale/to-be-the-agent-whose-touch-changes-nature-from-a-wild-force-to-a/) [Robert Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rodale/) > [Every imperial agent wants to reduce what is possible to what is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/every-imperial-agent-wants-to-reduce-what-is-possible-to-what-is/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [I wonder what an agent would do if he had to travel with the band he's booking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-williams/i-wonder-what-an-agent-would-do-if-he-had-to-travel-with-the-band-he/) [Mary Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-williams/) > [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/) > [When it comes to transfers, I leave everything with my agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/when-it-comes-to-transfers-i-leave-everything-with-my-agent/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [The short story and the truth is that I was taking vocal lessons here in New York... One day, instead of my lesson, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-gore/the-short-story-and-the-truth-is-that-i-was-taking-vocal-lessons-here/) [Lesley Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-gore/) > [I don't know if I'd want to be a Secret Service agent. In the movies, it's exciting and romantic and all that. 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