--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No, I never thought of it in those terms…" description: "\"No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie men and I knew I'd never b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/eli-wallach-15151_actors_no-i-never-thought-of-it-in-those-terms_877502.png" --- # No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go… ![“No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie men and I knew I'd never be up there. I'm a journeyman actor. I didn't think about stardom.” quote by Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/eli-wallach-15151_actors_no-i-never-thought-of-it-in-those-terms_877502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/eli-wallach-15151_actors_no-i-never-thought-of-it-in-those-terms_877502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/eli-wallach-15151_actors_no-i-never-thought-of-it-in-those-terms_877502.png) > “No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie men and I knew I'd never be up there. I'm a journeyman actor. I didn't think about stardom.” [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) ## 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 reflects on modest self‑image, noting that early career aspirations were grounded in craft rather than fame, and that stardom was never a conscious goal. **In simple terms:** He saw himself as a working actor, not a star. Key Takeaway Focus on mastering the craft, not chasing fame. Themes humility career self‑perception craft aspirations Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - audition preparation - career planning - personal branding - goal setting Key Concepts identity role models industry perception Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑image shape career choices? - What benefits come from focusing on craft over fame? A Different Perspective May overlook opportunities for growth by undervaluing ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Stardom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stardom/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think stardom will ever go to my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/i-don-t-think-stardom-will-ever-go-to-my-head/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) > [Actors today go into TV, which I don't consider has a lot to do with acting. They only think of stardom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/actors-today-go-into-tv-which-i-don-t-consider-has-a-lot-to-do-with-3/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [I think stardom means a big responsibility that one has to shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/i-think-stardom-means-a-big-responsibility-that-one-has-to-shoulder/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [Actors today go into TV, which I don't consider has a lot to do with acting. They only think of stardom. If you photograph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/actors-today-go-into-tv-which-i-don-t-consider-has-a-lot-to-do-with-2/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [I don't think about stardom anymore. I'm way past that phase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/i-don-t-think-about-stardom-anymore-i-m-way-past-that-phase/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [I never thought I was going to make a movie about men. I've always thought we don't have enough movies about women, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-never-thought-i-was-going-to-make-a-movie-about-men-i-ve-always/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [ The idea of a journeyman actor, people sort of say negatively - "Someone who never made it for real" - \[but\] I think a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aya-cash/the-idea-of-a-journeyman-actor-people-sort-of-say-negatively-someone/) [Aya Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aya-cash/) > [I'm really lucky. I never really felt like LA was the Mecca, that you "made it" if you made it somewhere else. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-lehman/i-m-really-lucky-i-never-really-felt-like-la-was-the-mecca-that-you/) [Kristin Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-lehman/) > [I am still a journeyman actor and a peace and justice activist. I'm a pilgrim trying to win my freedom and serve as best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-am-still-a-journeyman-actor-and-a-peace-and-justice-activist-i-m-a/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I think of myself as a journeyman actor. I've got some talent and I work hard, but people like Brando or Pacino - those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-think-of-myself-as-a-journeyman-actor-i-ve-got-some-talent-and-i/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I always wanted to be a journeyman actor. I wanted to be able to do comedy and drama, classical and contemporary. I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-journeyman-actor-i-wanted-to-be-able-to-do/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I consider myself a journeyman actor, and I pride myself and look forward to keeping my career choices as diverse as possible because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-consider-myself-a-journeyman-actor-and-i-pride-myself-and-look/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I am just a journeyman actor. Most often I take what's offered me, and I've been able to work year after year. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-margolis/i-am-just-a-journeyman-actor-most-often-i-take-what-s-offered-me-and/) [Mark Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-margolis/) > [I'm a journeyman actor, and I don't ever want to forget that. With romantic-lead dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sanderson/i-m-a-journeyman-actor-and-i-don-t-ever-want-to-forget-that-with/) [William Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sanderson/) > [I'm a journeyman actor. My experience as a journeyman actor is that you have to go where the work is. I've never been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-lehman/i-m-a-journeyman-actor-my-experience-as-a-journeyman-actor-is-that/) [Kristin Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-lehman/) ## More by Eli Wallach > [Even if I don't want to slow down, I'm slowing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/even-if-i-don-t-want-to-slow-down-i-m-slowing-down/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [Having the critics praise you is like having the hangman say you've got a pretty neck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/having-the-critics-praise-you-is-like-having-the-hangman-say-you-ve/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [So I wanted to show what I did with the money. So I got red silk shirts, beautiful hats, wonderful saddles, a great horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/so-i-wanted-to-show-what-i-did-with-the-money-so-i-got-red-silk/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [John Huston was a superb master. He knew how to make good films. I did three things with him. One is called Independence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/john-huston-was-a-superb-master-he-knew-how-to-make-good-films-i-did/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [From the age of four or five. I went to see a lot of Westerns then. But it was silent movies and I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/from-the-age-of-four-or-five-i-went-to-see-a-lot-of-westerns-then-but/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [All of these stories bounced around in my mind for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/all-of-these-stories-bounced-around-in-my-mind-for-a-long-time/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [But Clint I love, because Clint was my mentor. I knew nothing about making an Italian movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/but-clint-i-love-because-clint-was-my-mentor-i-knew-nothing-about/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I met my wife and, for the next ten years, we did no films at all. She did the first movie and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-met-my-wife-and-for-the-next-ten-years-we-did-no-films-at-all-she/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I was an original member of the Actors' Studio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-was-an-original-member-of-the-actors-studio/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/when-you-have-to-shoot-shoot-don-t-talk/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [And I did Batman, too. I did Mr. Freeze. I get more mail for him than anything I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/and-i-did-batman-too-i-did-mr-freeze-i-get-more-mail-for-him-than/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I never lost my appetite for acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-never-lost-my-appetite-for-acting/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [This country has a complex about age. It's unbelievable. If you're over thirty, you've had it in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/this-country-has-a-complex-about-age-it-s-unbelievable-if-you-re-over/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [The big secret in acting is listening to people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/the-big-secret-in-acting-is-listening-to-people/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [My first Western was called The Magnificent Seven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/my-first-western-was-called-the-magnificent-seven/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) [Explore all 44 Eli Wallach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No, I never thought of it in those terms. 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