--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had done some acting in high school. I…" description: "\"I had done some acting in high school. I was terrible.\" — Ed O'Neill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ed-o-neill-13850_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-in-high-school-i_3177446.png" --- # I had done some acting in high school. I was terrible. ![“I had done some acting in high school. I was terrible.” quote by Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ed-o-neill-13850_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-in-high-school-i_3177446.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ed-o-neill-13850_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-in-high-school-i_3177446.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/ed-o-neill-13850_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-in-high-school-i_3177446.png) > “I had done some acting in high school. I was terrible.” [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits his early acting was poor, highlighting personal growth since then. **In simple terms:** He was a terrible actor in school. Key Takeaway Embrace early failures as learning steps. Themes humility growth self‑awareness Mood humorous reflective Type self‑deprecating inspirational When to use this quote - theater auditions - public speaking - team presentations - skill practice Key Concepts performance arts personal development confidence building Questions to Reflect On - What have you learned from past failures? - How can you turn embarrassment into motivation? A Different Perspective Early poor performance may affect confidence if not reframed positively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-high-2344345/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-terrible-1413040/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) ## Related quotes > [When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/when-i-was-at-school-i-was-terrible-at-algebra-and-arithmetic-but-i/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was terrible because I would put my hand up to answer things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/when-i-came-to-england-in-86-my-first-week-of-school-was-terrible/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [Yes, I did try acting when I was in high school and I was terrible at it. So I definitely have had the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/yes-i-did-try-acting-when-i-was-in-high-school-and-i-was-terrible-at/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [I grew up half the time in a small town called Mart, Texas, and half the time in L.A., because I was acting. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-plemons/i-grew-up-half-the-time-in-a-small-town-called-mart-texas-and-half/) [Jesse Plemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-plemons/) > [I couldn't really be a part of high school, because I have a terrible time doing things that I don't want to do. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-couldn-t-really-be-a-part-of-high-school-because-i-have-a-terrible/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I knew I wanted to act since I was 10, but I didn't actually start acting until I was in high school. My favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/i-knew-i-wanted-to-act-since-i-was-10-but-i-didn-t-actually-start/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was particularly well behaved in high school, but I started to apply myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t-think-i-was-particularly/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [“I’m slowly beginning to realise how ironic it is that I’m so good at learning lessons inside school, and so terrible at learning any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-smale/i-m-slowly-beginning-to-realise-how-ironic-it-is-that-i-m-so-good-at/) [Holly Smale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-smale/) > [High school was terrible for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/high-school-was-terrible-for-us/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [I really consider acting a high art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-really-consider-acting-a-high-art/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [“School is a terrible place, I have decided. There is nothing good about it except for math class. Everything else is a total waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-horn/school-is-a-terrible-place-i-have-decided-there-is-nothing-good-about/) [Dara Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-horn/) > [I dabbled a little bit in acting in high school, and then I forgot about it completely. And then at about 25 I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/i-dabbled-a-little-bit-in-acting-in-high-school-and-then-i-forgot/) [James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/) > [“In the past year I've gotten used to being cut down to size whenever I start acting too high and mighty. If you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/in-the-past-year-i-ve-gotten-used-to-being-cut-down-to-size-whenever/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I hold theatre acting in such high esteem that it scares me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bosworth/i-hold-theatre-acting-in-such-high-esteem-that-it-scares-me/) [Kate Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bosworth/) > [In high school, I did some musicals, but I never took acting until college. I was studying opera, classical voice, and a speech teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/in-high-school-i-did-some-musicals-but-i-never-took-acting-until/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## More by Ed O'Neill > [In the summer we graduated we flipped out completely, drinking beer, cruising in our cars and beating up each other. It was a crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/in-the-summer-we-graduated-we-flipped-out-completely-drinking-beer/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I could always say I wished I had a better film career... but overall, I've been one of the lucky ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-could-always-say-i-wished-i-had-a-better-film-career-but-overall-i/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [We need to elect leaders who have a strong moral compass. Leaders who are honest, straightforward, and tough - with a love of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/we-need-to-elect-leaders-who-have-a-strong-moral-compass-leaders-who/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [When you come from where I come from, you're trying to get approval for something - you don't know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/when-you-come-from-where-i-come-from-you-re-trying-to-get-approval/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I loved the movie theater so I always saw a lot of movies. And then there was a play, I saw in the local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-loved-the-movie-theater-so-i-always-saw-a-lot-of-movies-and-then/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I always found that drama, really good drama, has a lot of comedy in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-always-found-that-drama-really-good-drama-has-a-lot-of-comedy-in-it/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [All this flying around got on my nerves. But then I gave the script to Cathy to get her opinion. When she started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/all-this-flying-around-got-on-my-nerves-but-then-i-gave-the-script-to/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I was with the Steelers, and I got cut, and I remember, when I left, I was relieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-was-with-the-steelers-and-i-got-cut-and-i-remember-when-i-left-i/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > ['Married with Children,' we were good until the fifth or sixth season, and then we limped into the 11th season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/married-with-children-we-were-good-until-the-fifth-or-sixth-season/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [When I read the pilot for Married with Children, it just reminded me of my Uncle Joe... just a self-deprecating kind of guy. Hed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/when-i-read-the-pilot-for-married-with-children-it-just-reminded-me/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I was adrift for a while. I worked as a substitute teacher; I sold cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-was-adrift-for-a-while-i-worked-as-a-substitute-teacher-i-sold-cars/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [If you can sustain a career over 40 years in this business, you've gotta consider yourself lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/if-you-can-sustain-a-career-over-40-years-in-this-business-you-ve/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I had a lot of trouble with my coaches. Your coaches are father figures - you look to what they say. Well, the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-had-a-lot-of-trouble-with-my-coaches-your-coaches-are-father/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [Ohio's future is important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/ohio-s-future-is-important-to-me/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I was very slender and small. All my friends were on the team, so I had to make it too. I was a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-was-very-slender-and-small-all-my-friends-were-on-the-team-so-i-had/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) [Explore all 49 Ed O'Neill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) ## 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": "I had done some acting in high school. 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