--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't say you want to be an actor and not…" description: "\"Don't say you want to be an actor and not know how to read a script. Don't give up 15 minutes before the miracle comes. Everyone's career ebbs and flow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg" --- # Don't say you want to be an actor and not know how to read… ![“Don't say you want to be an actor and not know how to read a script. Don't give up 15 minutes before the miracle comes. Everyone's career ebbs and flows, especially if you're African American. That's the time to dig in and keep your instrument sharp.” quote by Erik King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg) > “Don't say you want to be an actor and not know how to read a script. Don't give up 15 minutes before the miracle comes. Everyone's career ebbs and flows, especially if you're African American. That's the time to dig in and keep your instrument sharp.” [Erik King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires preparation, perseverance, and confronting systemic challenges; quitting before breakthroughs wastes potential. **In simple terms:** Prepare, persist, and confront obstacles. Key Takeaway Stay committed despite setbacks. Themes determination career inequality Mood inspirational realistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - audition prep - career setbacks - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts resilience systemic bias Questions to Reflect On - How can you support others facing similar barriers? - What strategies keep you motivated? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on individual effort may ignore structural barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [15 minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/15-minutes/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-know/) [African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Dig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dig/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Flows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flows/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Read Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-script/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Script Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script-don-1800631/) [Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharp/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-actor/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the only one responsible for the choices I make and the opportunities I get. When you read the script, you don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yami-gautam/i-m-the-only-one-responsible-for-the-choices-i-make-and-the/) [Yami Gautam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yami-gautam/) > [If you want to have the right to have that conversation with your agent - "I know you sent it to me, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lloyd-hughes/if-you-want-to-have-the-right-to-have-that-conversation-with-your/) [Henry Lloyd-Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lloyd-hughes/) > [No one ever wants the whole script. I give the whole script to people who require the whole script but to those people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/no-one-ever-wants-the-whole-script-i-give-the-whole-script-to-people/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Even when I was writing the script for 'Don,' I suspected it could lead to a sequel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/even-when-i-was-writing-the-script-for-don-i-suspected-it-could-lead/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [To do someone else's script? I don't think I'd have a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/to-do-someone-else-s-script-i-don-t-think-i-d-have-a-reason/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [All campaigns have ebb and flows along the way, right? Ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-parscale/all-campaigns-have-ebb-and-flows-along-the-way-right-ups-and-downs/) [Brad Parscale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-parscale/) > [No permanence is ours, we are a wave that flows to fit whatever form it finds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/no-permanence-is-ours-we-are-a-wave-that-flows-to-fit-whatever-form-2/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [One who loves God sees everything in relation to God. Therefore, their love flows spontaneously toward everyone, at all times, everywhere. They even love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/one-who-loves-god-sees-everything-in-relation-to-god-therefore-their/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“Water flows, but never changes. It's always H2O.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/water-flows-but-never-changes-it-s-always-h2o/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [When you write a story, it just flows and you don't control it. It's subconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imtiaz-ali/when-you-write-a-story-it-just-flows-and-you-don-t-control-it-it-s/) [Imtiaz Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imtiaz-ali/) > [There was a time when I wasn't working a lot. It ebbs and flows. Mostly I was just living my life and playing 'Fallout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/there-was-a-time-when-i-wasn-t-working-a-lot-it-ebbs-and-flows-mostly/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [In our equities business, 49 of the 50 most important Lehman clients are back doing business with us. The flows are 75 to 80…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-diamond/in-our-equities-business-49-of-the-50-most-important-lehman-clients/) [Bob Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-diamond/) > [Power flows to those who serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/power-flows-to-those-who-serve/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Flow systems have two basic features (properties). There is the current that is flowing (for example, fluid, heat, mass, or information) and the design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-bejan/flow-systems-have-two-basic-features-properties-there-is-the-current/) [Adrian Bejan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-bejan/) > [Writing lyrics is part spontaneous, intuitive and part really thought through and carefully analyzed as you write it. It's a mixture of two approaches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/writing-lyrics-is-part-spontaneous-intuitive-and-part-really-thought/) [Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/) ## More by Erik King > [I'm always curious how we sometimes have a different point of view when it comes to justice. And that's why people root for 'Dexter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/i-m-always-curious-how-we-sometimes-have-a-different-point-of-view/) [Erik King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-king/) > [I've played a lot of cops. In fact, my father was a cop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/i-ve-played-a-lot-of-cops-in-fact-my-father-was-a-cop/) [Erik King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-king/) > [If you really want to see more work that reflects your values, you have to produce it. You have to be a contributor to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/if-you-really-want-to-see-more-work-that-reflects-your-values-you/) [Erik King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-king/) [Explore all 4 Erik King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-king/) ## More 15 minutes quotes > [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [You get 15 minutes of fame, I hear, and I've had 14 minutes. The clock's ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/you-get-15-minutes-of-fame-i-hear-and-i-ve-had-14-minutes-the-clock-s/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [If you only write for 15 minutes at a time, you can write a book and still have time for Legos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-abu-jaber/if-you-only-write-for-15-minutes-at-a-time-you-can-write-a-book-and/) [Diana Abu-Jaber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-abu-jaber/) > [If the professor doesn't show up to class in the first 15 minutes, you get to leave. Somebody make that a law, please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-professor-doesn-t-show-up-to-class-in-the-first-15-minutes-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If Im on TV, I make a real effort to get ready. When I go out, I want to relax a bit more. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gethin-jones/if-im-on-tv-i-make-a-real-effort-to-get-ready-when-i-go-out-i-want-to/) [Gethin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gethin-jones/) > [One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-leo/one-look-at-an-email-can-rob-you-of-15-minutes-of-focus-one-call-on/) [Jacqueline Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-leo/) > [I really tried to take advantage of my 15 minutes of fame. And I've gotten lucky - those 15 minutes have become several years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/i-really-tried-to-take-advantage-of-my-15-minutes-of-fame-and-i-ve/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [I opened the script to the 'The Wall,' and 15 minutes later I was done with it, and I loved the movie and wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/i-opened-the-script-to-the-the-wall-and-15-minutes-later-i-was-done/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [It is true everyone is going to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame, but they're going to have to sell their souls for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-bachchan-nanda/it-is-true-everyone-is-going-to-enjoy-their-15-minutes-of-fame-but/) [Shweta Bachchan Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-bachchan-nanda/) > [I've always wanted to be a brooding, deep, dark artist, but I can never keep that facade going for more than 15 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-callen/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-brooding-deep-dark-artist-but-i-can-never/) [Bryan Callen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-callen/) > [8 minutes to the end of class and 15 minutes to famous. wheres my time, what will I do, rap, rock, act, rob, kill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/8-minutes-to-the-end-of-class-and-15-minutes-to-famous-wheres-my-time/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [One day, in 1982, for 15 minutes, my hair was perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/one-day-in-1982-for-15-minutes-my-hair-was-perfect/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [You can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you better know something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/you-can-get-by-on-charm-for-about-15-minutes-after-that-you-better/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [I never thought of myself as a rock singer. I was interested in songs like 'Heart Like a Wheel,' and I liked the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-rock-singer-i-was-interested-in-songs/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Men are like buses. One comes every 15 minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/men-are-like-buses-one-comes-every-15-minutes/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) [Browse all 205 15 minutes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/15-minutes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't say you want to be an actor and not know how to read a script. Don't give up 15 minutes before the miracle comes. Everyone's career ebbs and flows, especially if you're African American. That's the time to dig in and keep your instrument sharp.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-not-know-how-to-read-a-script/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "15 minutes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-not-know-how-to-read-a-script/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/erik-king-71481_15-minutes_don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-no_2213407.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't say you want to be an actor and not know how to read a script. Don't give up 15 minutes before the…” — Erik King", "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": "Erik King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't say you want to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-not-know-how-to-read-a-script/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-king/don-t-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-and-not-know-how-to-read-a-script/#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 } } ] } ```