--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Family is life; acting is making a living." description: "\"Family is life; acting is making a living.\" — Denzel Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg" --- # Family is life; acting is making a living. ![“Family is life; acting is making a living.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg) > “Family is life; acting is making a living.” [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It distinguishes the enduring value of family relationships from the transactional nature of work, suggesting that personal bonds give life meaning while employment provides sustenance. **In simple terms:** Family gives meaning; work provides income. Key Takeaway Prioritize relationships over material pursuits. Themes family meaning of life work-life balance values purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type aphoristic philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - career decisions - financial planning - life coaching - personal development Key Concepts relationships sustenance priorities Practical Applications - coaching on work-life integration - writing about values Questions to Reflect On - What truly defines a fulfilling life? - How do you balance personal bonds with professional demands? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-making-391165/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-acting-265228/) [Making a living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-living/) ## Related quotes > [Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/acting-is-just-a-way-of-making-a-living-the-family-is-life/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Acting and making art is just something I love to do, and I love to tell stories that feel important, honest and necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/acting-and-making-art-is-just-something-i-love-to-do-and-i-love-to/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [History is basically really looking back and finding out what happened to an individual, a community, a family, a group in a certain event.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/history-is-basically-really-looking-back-and-finding-out-what/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [My dad taught me to kiteboard when I was 13, and around the same time, I happened to just fall into being an extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/my-dad-taught-me-to-kiteboard-when-i-was-13-and-around-the-same-time/) [Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/) > [I love acting and making your own luck. You have to recreate yourself, I guess. Although, I don't know how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-love-acting-and-making-your-own-luck-you-have-to-recreate-yourself/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I would love to be able to do both (acting and making music). If I look at someone like Sinatra, who toured until he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/i-would-love-to-be-able-to-do-both-acting-and-making-music-if-i-look/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Whether I'm acting or making it, at the end of the day it's telling the story; action, drama. You want the audience to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/whether-i-m-acting-or-making-it-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-telling/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I've been spending quite a bit of time writing, acting, and making films. Because I'm doing all this extra writing, acting, and creating short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/i-ve-been-spending-quite-a-bit-of-time-writing-acting-and-making/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I think the thing about acting and making music is that it's easy to do both. I'll shoot a movie for three months, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mintz-plasse/i-think-the-thing-about-acting-and-making-music-is-that-it-s-easy-to/) [Christopher Mintz-Plasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mintz-plasse/) > [I would like to start acting, making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-would-like-to-start-acting-making-movies/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [I grew up doing a lot of theater - acting and making sets and costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/i-grew-up-doing-a-lot-of-theater-acting-and-making-sets-and-costumes/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Acting and making music are quite complementary. Acting relies on someone else's writing and direction; writing music or lyrics doesn't. But they are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/acting-and-making-music-are-quite-complementary-acting-relies-on/) [Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/) > [I have been someone who has always been good at mimicry, acting and making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-have-been-someone-who-has-always-been-good-at-mimicry-acting-and/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [Acting and making art is just something I love to do, and I love to tell stories that feel important, honest and necessary. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/acting-and-making-art-is-just-something-i-love-to-do-and-i-love-to-2/) [Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/) ## More by Denzel Washington > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/talent-comes-from-god-if-you-have-been-given-some-then-value-it/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [ I'll be working with Ridley's \[Scott\] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brother-tony-again-someone-who/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-found-that-nothing-in-life-is-worthwhile-unless-you-take-risks/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-and-haven-t-been-unemployed-for-20-years-i-m-an-exception-to-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [It's strictly business. If I loan you $25 million, I want my money back. I don't want to hear about the social impact. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-strictly-business-if-i-loan-you-25-million-i-want-my-money-back/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-have-an-enemy-then-learn-and-know-your-enemy-don-t-just-be-mad/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“He taught us that everyone has a good story and the more of others you understand, the better your grasp of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/he-taught-us-that-everyone-has-a-good-story-and-the-more-of-others/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." Religion to me is the human condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/religion-to-me-is-when-man-gets-ahold-of-spirituality-my-god-is-right/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-award-i-d-been-to-the-party-enough-times/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I've just directed a film called The Great Debaters, which is inspired by a true story about a young college debating team in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ve-just-directed-a-film-called-the-great-debaters-which-is-inspired/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Goals on the road to achievement cannot be achieved without discipline and consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/goals-on-the-road-to-achievement-cannot-be-achieved-without/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) [Explore all 253 Denzel Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## 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": "Family is life; acting is making a living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denzel Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/denzel-washington-1345_acting_family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living_18995.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Family is life; acting is making a living.” — Denzel Washington", "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": "Denzel Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Family is life; acting is making...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/#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 } } ] } ```