---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do…"
description: "\"You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do you prefer to do this or that, act or do stand-up or write' but the thing that I enjoy most is the difference..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg"
---

#  You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do you prefer to do…

![“You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do you prefer to do this or that, act or do stand-up or write' but the thing that I enjoy most is the difference between all of them, because you're always learning. I don't go around thinking of myself as a great anything. I'm actually lucky to have the…” quote by Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg)

> “You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do you prefer to do this or that, act or do stand-up or write' but the thing that I enjoy most is the difference between all of them, because you're always learning. I don't go around thinking of myself as a great anything. I'm actually lucky to have the chance to fail at all of them.”

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker values diverse experiences and learning from failure across different activities, without claiming mastery.

**In simple terms:** Enjoy learning from varied tasks and failures.

Key Takeaway

Embrace variety and learn from mistakes.

Themes

learning humility diversity

Mood

reflective humorous

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- stand-up comedy
- writing
- acting
- career development

Key Concepts

personal growth failure skill acquisition

Questions to Reflect On

- How does trying many things shape your identity?
- What can you learn from each failure?

A Different Perspective

Success often requires depth, not just breadth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I prefer to act. I don't like writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marsh/i-prefer-to-act-i-don-t-like-writing/)

[Jean Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marsh/)

> [I don't go around thinking of myself as a great anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-don-t-go-around-thinking-of-myself-as-a-great-anything/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [I don't like time off - I would prefer to act maybe 364 days a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-seehorn/i-don-t-like-time-off-i-would-prefer-to-act-maybe-364-days-a-year/)

[Rhea Seehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-seehorn/)

> [When we work with our thinking, then to have great wealth is the same as to have nothing. That's the only freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-we-work-with-our-thinking-then-to-have-great-wealth-is-the-same/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [All great athletes make their job look easy. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can be as great as them instantly. Perfection takes time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-great-athletes-make-their-job-look-easy-don-t-fool-yourself-into/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Positive thinking is great, if you'll take action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-harduf/positive-thinking-is-great-if-you-ll-take-action/)

Guy Harduf

> [Thinking is a great joy for a good writer and a great torture for the bad one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/thinking-is-a-great-joy-for-a-good-writer-and-a-great-torture-for-the/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [The labor of thinking was so great to me, that having once come to a conclusion upon any subject, I would rather persist in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/the-labor-of-thinking-was-so-great-to-me-that-having-once-come-to-a/)

[Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/)

> [It's not about thinking only about your great performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/it-s-not-about-thinking-only-about-your-great-performances/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [I don’t know, I don’t know that I’m missing anything. I just think too much sometimes. Sometimes I’m even happy because I’m so engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-know-that-i-m-missing-anything-i-just-think-too/)

[Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/)

> [Greatness is attained only by the thinking of great thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/greatness-is-attained-only-by-the-thinking-of-great-thoughts/)

[Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/)

> [This is classic when you begin thinking about what is a great founder is, you navigate what is apparent paradoxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/this-is-classic-when-you-begin-thinking-about-what-is-a-great-founder/)

[Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/)

> [To my thinking, a great librarian must have a clear head, a strong hand, and, above all, a great heart. And when I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvil-dewey/to-my-thinking-a-great-librarian-must-have-a-clear-head-a-strong-hand/)

[Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/)

> [You don't become great by thinking you're great. Working gives you all the confidence in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmad-rashad/you-don-t-become-great-by-thinking-you-re-great-working-gives-you-all/)

[Ahmad Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmad-rashad/)

## More by Dylan Moran

> [“You should be alive as you can until you're totally dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-should-be-alive-as-you-can-until-you-re-totally-dead/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [America's work ethic is non-stop; it's not even enshrined in law that workers have to get their two weeks holiday money. But Americans work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/america-s-work-ethic-is-non-stop-it-s-not-even-enshrined-in-law-that/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [The characters can't be wittier than people are in real life. They have to be character witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/the-characters-can-t-be-wittier-than-people-are-in-real-life-they/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [ \[Adulthood feels like\] walking around in the desert with a bag over your head, being bumped into by people who rob you as they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/adulthood-feels-like-walking-around-in-the-desert-with-a-bag-over/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [Don't do it! Stay away from your potential. You'll mess it up, it's potential, leave it. Anyway, it's like your bank balance - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/don-t-do-it-stay-away-from-your-potential-you-ll-mess-it-up-it-s/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [If you're talking about crowd enthusiasm, it varies. I have a decent following in Australia so I like there. I'm interested in playing everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/if-you-re-talking-about-crowd-enthusiasm-it-varies-i-have-a-decent/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [There are two types of wine essentially, and everybody knows this. There's the one where you drink it and go, "Mmmm, well that's ok,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/there-are-two-types-of-wine-essentially-and-everybody-knows-this/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [Go and lie down in the dark... for hours... and don't move. I'm locking the door now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/go-and-lie-down-in-the-dark-for-hours-and-don-t-move-i-m-locking-the/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [I suppose the best comedy shows do have the rock n' roll feeling - if it's a great night, and the roof is raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-suppose-the-best-comedy-shows-do-have-the-rock-n-roll-feeling-if-it/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [Beer must be made by food companies. It makes you wander the streets at 3 am looking for things to eat. "What's that, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/beer-must-be-made-by-food-companies-it-makes-you-wander-the-streets/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [The sensible thing for everyone to do would be to write all their op-eds and think pieces now so they're ready the day after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/the-sensible-thing-for-everyone-to-do-would-be-to-write-all-their-op/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [I don't do drugs. If I want a rush I just get out of a chair when I'm not expecting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-don-t-do-drugs-if-i-want-a-rush-i-just-get-out-of-a-chair-when-i-m/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [I think I still get something from the original broadcaster but I'm certainly not aware of any Netflix van driving to my house and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-think-i-still-get-something-from-the-original-broadcaster-but-i-m/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [People do need a social license to go, "Ha ha ha," and have a good time. It's a strange thing. There's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/people-do-need-a-social-license-to-go-ha-ha-ha-and-have-a-good-time/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

> [I'm a vegetarian, well I'm not hardcore because I eat meat, but only because I like the taste, and I hate vegetables on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-m-a-vegetarian-well-i-m-not-hardcore-because-i-eat-meat-but-only/)

[Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

[Explore all 213 Dylan Moran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/)

## More Act quotes

> [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/)

> [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/)

[Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/)

[Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/)

> [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/)

[Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/)

> [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/)

Vashti Quiroz-Vega

> [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/)

[Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/)

> [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/)

[Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/)

> [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/)

[Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/)

> [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/)

[Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/)

> [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/)

[Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/)

> [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/)

[Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/)

Browse all 1,802 Act quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do you prefer to do this or that, act or do stand-up or write' but the thing that I enjoy most is the difference between all of them, because you're always learning. I don't go around thinking of myself as a great anything. I'm actually lucky to have the chance to fail at all of them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dylan Moran"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-you-prefer-to-do-this-or-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Act"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-you-prefer-to-do-this-or-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/dylan-moran-1716_act_you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-y_1593404.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You know, people sometimes say to me, 'Do you prefer to do this or that, act or do stand-up or write' but…” — Dylan Moran",
                "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": "Dylan Moran",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You know, people sometimes say to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-you-prefer-to-do-this-or-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-know-people-sometimes-say-to-me-do-you-prefer-to-do-this-or-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
