--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All I've ever wanted to do as an actor…" description: "\"All I've ever wanted to do as an actor was move people.\" — David Harbour" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg" --- # All I've ever wanted to do as an actor was move people. ![“All I've ever wanted to do as an actor was move people.” quote by David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg) > “All I've ever wanted to do as an actor was move people.” [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor’s purpose is to evoke emotion and move audiences, not just to entertain. **In simple terms:** Actors aim to affect people emotionally. Key Takeaway Seek to inspire emotional response. Themes art empathy impact performance Mood thoughtful motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre - film acting - public speaking Key Concepts psychology storytelling human connection Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure moving someone? - What techniques help you connect with audiences? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on impact may neglect technical skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [When I was about 12, I came home from middle school and told my parents I wanted to be an actor. My father didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jenkins/when-i-was-about-12-i-came-home-from-middle-school-and-told-my/) [Richard Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jenkins/) > [When I was 16 and wanted to be an actor, people told me to go work at the supermarket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/when-i-was-16-and-wanted-to-be-an-actor-people-told-me-to-go-work-at/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [My life is one that I've aimed for - I've always wanted to be an actor who worked in film and television and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-harding/my-life-is-one-that-i-ve-aimed-for-i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Ian Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-harding/) > [I've wanted to be an actor since I was six, and I'm going to be an actor until I'm 66.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-linton/i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-actor-since-i-was-six-and-i-m-going-to-be-an/) [Louise Linton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-linton/) > [I've always wanted to be an actor, but I didn't know how to become one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poorna-jagannathan/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-didn-t-know-how-to-become-one/) Poorna Jagannathan > [I've wanted to be an actor for such a long time that I haven't had anything else in my thoughts. I think my family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-speleers/i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-actor-for-such-a-long-time-that-i-haven-t-had/) [Ed Speleers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-speleers/) > [The truth is, ever since I was little, I've wanted to be an actor more than I ever wanted to be a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/the-truth-is-ever-since-i-was-little-i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-actor-more/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've wanted to be an actor ever since I was a little boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-darrow/i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-actor-ever-since-i-was-a-little-boy/) Henry Darrow > [At international level, I've only ever wanted Wales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/at-international-level-i-ve-only-ever-wanted-wales/) [Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/) > [All I've ever wanted to do is film... You have to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ortega/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-is-film-you-have-to-prove-yourself/) [Jenna Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ortega/) > [I've always wanted to make sure people are okay, ever since I was a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-abbington/i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-sure-people-are-okay-ever-since-i-was-a/) [Amanda Abbington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-abbington/) > [I wanted to be an actor since I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-since-i-was-nine-years-old/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I wasn't sure I wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-duris/i-wasn-t-sure-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Romain Duris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-duris/) > [Well, I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I didn't necessarily need or want to be famous or a celebrity actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/well-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-didn-t-necessarily-need-or/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [I come from Nova Scotia, and I'd never seen a theater or been inside of a theater. When I was 17, my dad asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/i-come-from-nova-scotia-and-i-d-never-seen-a-theater-or-been-inside/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) ## More by David Harbour > [I did this movie, 'A Walk Among the Tombstones' - I truly play a horrible, horrible individual in that - and I would occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-did-this-movie-a-walk-among-the-tombstones-i-truly-play-a-horrible/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I don't associate success with happiness, and I don't take it to heart, like, 'Oh, I'm so special.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-don-t-associate-success-with-happiness-and-i-don-t-take-it-to-heart/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I want to bring love handles and eating sandwiches back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-want-to-bring-love-handles-and-eating-sandwiches-back/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [The mythos of superheroes is our mythos today. They are American myths. 'Captain America,' 'Iron Man,' 'Hulk' - these are the biggest movies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/the-mythos-of-superheroes-is-our-mythos-today-they-are-american-myths/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [“...through our art to battle against fear, self-centeredness and exclusivity of our predominately narcissistic culture, and through our craft to cultivate a more empathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/through-our-art-to-battle-against-fear-self-centeredness-and/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [People are three-dimensional. They're not good or bad. They're not righteous or unrighteous. They are a million different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/people-are-three-dimensional-they-re-not-good-or-bad-they-re-not/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I feel like the most human among us are the weirdest among us. Those voices can be the most creative and the most special.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-feel-like-the-most-human-among-us-are-the-weirdest-among-us-those/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I'm a big fan of public trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-m-a-big-fan-of-public-trust/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [It was always my dream to be a New York theater actor. I never thought I was pretty enough to be on camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/it-was-always-my-dream-to-be-a-new-york-theater-actor-i-never-thought/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I don't want to do procedural: I want to do longform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-don-t-want-to-do-procedural-i-want-to-do-longform/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I'm normally a pretty loquacious, kind of fun person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-m-normally-a-pretty-loquacious-kind-of-fun-person/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [People are more complicated than you give them credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/people-are-more-complicated-than-you-give-them-credit-for/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I feel like Shakespeare is so epic, in a way that sci-fi genre stuff is epic, it transcends the mundane, and it takes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/i-feel-like-shakespeare-is-so-epic-in-a-way-that-sci-fi-genre-stuff/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [There is a lot of good television out there, stuff that is better for you than 'Stranger Things,' that, critically, people would be like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/there-is-a-lot-of-good-television-out-there-stuff-that-is-better-for/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [What makes someone sexy in my mind is who they are. It's not necessarily how they look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/what-makes-someone-sexy-in-my-mind-is-who-they-are-it-s-not/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) [Explore all 101 David Harbour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All I've ever wanted to do as an actor was move people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Harbour" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-was-move-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-was-move-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/david-harbour-5331_actor_all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-w_2456165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All I've ever wanted to do as an actor was move people.” — David Harbour", "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": "David Harbour", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All I've ever wanted to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-was-move-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-as-an-actor-was-move-people/#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 } } ] } ```