--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We'll all retire from life at some point…" description: "\"We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.\" — Denzel Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg" --- # We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing… ![“We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg) > “We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.” [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. He reflects on acting’s longevity, suggesting that the craft allows continual participation in life without a formal retirement. **In simple terms:** Acting offers lifelong engagement. Key Takeaway Artistic work can be perpetual. Themes career longevity art Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical observation When to use this quote - career planning - artist retrospectives - late‑stage mentorship Key Concepts identity beyond work creative renewal Practical Applications - embrace evolving roles - mentor younger talent Questions to Reflect On - How does one define retirement in creative fields? - What safeguards prevent burnout when work never ends? A Different Perspective Continuous work may blur work‑life boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Ll Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-retire-648177/) [Necessarily Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessarily-retire-1331924/) [Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire/) [Retire Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire-life-1331925/) [Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring/) ## Related quotes > [I can't retire from life. I love life too much and I cannot wait to start the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-can-t-retire-from-life-i-love-life-too-much-and-i-cannot-wait-to/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [I'll retire when they pry my cold, dead fingers off of my Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/i-ll-retire-when-they-pry-my-cold-dead-fingers-off-of-my-bible/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I guess I'll retire someday if I live that long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bowden/i-guess-i-ll-retire-someday-if-i-live-that-long/) [Bobby Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bowden/) > [You know, it's funny, I know a lot of people outside of football in different businesses, whatever it is. And they're in the grind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-glazer/you-know-it-s-funny-i-know-a-lot-of-people-outside-of-football-in/) [Joel Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-glazer/) > [I feel as long as I'm playing productive minutes, I'll play. But if I'm sitting on the bench and not doing anything, then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kukoc/i-feel-as-long-as-i-m-playing-productive-minutes-i-ll-play-but-if-i-m/) [Toni Kukoc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kukoc/) > [The day I write a totally happy song... I'll retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-lewis/the-day-i-write-a-totally-happy-song-i-ll-retire/) [Dean Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-lewis/) > [I have no idea when it's going to be, when I'll retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/i-have-no-idea-when-it-s-going-to-be-when-i-ll-retire/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [I doubt I'll ever retire, but if I do, I see myself as the little old Parisian lady pushing her trolley from the supermarket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-martin/i-doubt-i-ll-ever-retire-but-if-i-do-i-see-myself-as-the-little-old/) [Catherine Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-martin/) > [The first time in my career I thought it makes no sense anymore, that I'll retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/the-first-time-in-my-career-i-thought-it-makes-no-sense-anymore-that/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I'll never retire. I'm just using up somebody else's oxygen if I retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-phillips/i-ll-never-retire-i-m-just-using-up-somebody-else-s-oxygen-if-i-retire/) [Sam Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-phillips/) > [I imagine I'll retire mid-performance. I'll say, 'Sorry, everyone, I can't do this anymore. I must have suddenly aged.' Then I'll walk off. Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-atkins/i-imagine-i-ll-retire-mid-performance-i-ll-say-sorry-everyone-i-can-t/) [Eileen Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-atkins/) > [Retire? Retire from What? Life? I will only retire when I am dead!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/retire-retire-from-what-life-i-will-only-retire-when-i-am-dead/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [If and when I decide to retire I want to perform. I want to be on the ice. I want to continue contributing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-abbott/if-and-when-i-decide-to-retire-i-want-to-perform-i-want-to-be-on-the/) [Jeremy Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-abbott/) > [When I retire, I want to step away on a positive note. What you put out into the world comes back to you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/when-i-retire-i-want-to-step-away-on-a-positive-note-what-you-put-out/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I always joke and say I want to invent a comfortable stiletto and then retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-blakely/i-always-joke-and-say-i-want-to-invent-a-comfortable-stiletto-and/) [Sara Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-blakely/) ## 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/) > [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/) [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/) > [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": "We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denzel Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/denzel-washington-1345_acting_we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point_112513.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to…” — 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": "We'll all retire from life at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/#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 } } ] } ```