--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can honestly say that I've done…" description: "\"I can honestly say that I've done everything I've wanted to do, always. Not without difficulty. But every time I wanted to do something, I just did it,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/gary-sinise-14265_act_i-can-honestly-say-that-i-ve-done-everyt_1263149.jpg" --- # I can honestly say that I've done everything I've wanted… ![“I can honestly say that I've done everything I've wanted to do, always. Not without difficulty. But every time I wanted to do something, I just did it, from the age of 18 when I started my own theater with my friends. When I decided I wanted to act. I just bit the bullet.” quote by Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/gary-sinise-14265_act_i-can-honestly-say-that-i-ve-done-everyt_1263149.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/gary-sinise-14265_act_i-can-honestly-say-that-i-ve-done-everyt_1263149.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/gary-sinise-14265_act_i-can-honestly-say-that-i-ve-done-everyt_1263149.jpg) > “I can honestly say that I've done everything I've wanted to do, always. Not without difficulty. But every time I wanted to do something, I just did it, from the age of 18 when I started my own theater with my friends. When I decided I wanted to act. I just bit the bullet.” [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent action despite challenges leads to fulfillment; taking decisive steps early shapes a purposeful life **In simple terms:** Act on desires promptly, despite obstacles Key Takeaway Take bold steps early and persist Themes determination self‑direction career personal growth Mood motivational realistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - starting a business - pursuing acting - overcoming fear - career transitions Key Concepts risk‑taking goal setting self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you avoiding? - How can you create opportunities without waiting? A Different Perspective Success may require privilege or support not everyone has ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [18 Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18-started-1115290/) [Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) [Act Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-just/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit/) [Bullet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullet/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Every time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-time/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-theater/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) ## Related quotes > [I started a theater called Steppenwolf. We've been very supportive of the veterans there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-started-a-theater-called-steppenwolf-we-ve-been-very-supportive-of/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I was around 1.60 m or so, and then when I was 17 or 18 I started growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaas-jan-huntelaar/i-was-around-1-60-m-or-so-and-then-when-i-was-17-or-18-i-started/) [Klaas-Jan Huntelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaas-jan-huntelaar/) > [When I was a youngster, I might have been about 17 or 18 when I first started making beats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaytoven/when-i-was-a-youngster-i-might-have-been-about-17-or-18-when-i-first/) [Zaytoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaytoven/) > [I had a really hard time when I was 16, 17, 18. I started with the eating disorder in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-had-a-really-hard-time-when-i-was-16-17-18-i-started-with-the/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I was 18 when I started. I was hanging out with some friends and they asked if I had tried stand-up before. I hadn't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/i-was-18-when-i-started-i-was-hanging-out-with-some-friends-and-they/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [When I was about 18, I started playing restaurants for £150 a night. I felt like a millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-fender/when-i-was-about-18-i-started-playing-restaurants-for-150-a-night-i/) [Sam Fender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-fender/) > [It's not hard to have a second act. It's just that the second act's not going to be as exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-eisman/it-s-not-hard-to-have-a-second-act-it-s-just-that-the-second-act-s/) [Steve Eisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-eisman/) > [I love being funny! I started in the theater when I was 9 and, believe it or not, always played the funny part!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-love-being-funny-i-started-in-the-theater-when-i-was-9-and-believe/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I started in theater; I did theater in New York for 14 years before I even thought about doing movies - I never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-shaye/i-started-in-theater-i-did-theater-in-new-york-for-14-years-before-i/) [Lin Shaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-shaye/) > [I was about 14 when I started with a theater group; it was like a stage group on the weekends alongside school. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-poots/i-was-about-14-when-i-started-with-a-theater-group-it-was-like-a/) [Imogen Poots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-poots/) > [Now, when I started my theater, the modus operandi was having the actors stare right into the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-foreman/now-when-i-started-my-theater-the-modus-operandi-was-having-the/) [Richard Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-foreman/) > [By the time I was twelve, I had started my own theater company and was doing plays in the backyard and the front yard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/by-the-time-i-was-twelve-i-had-started-my-own-theater-company-and-was/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I love theater. I started in theater when I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/i-love-theater-i-started-in-theater-when-i-was-nine-years-old/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [I went to university in the north of England at University of Birmingham to do an English literature degree, and I knew I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/i-went-to-university-in-the-north-of-england-at-university-of/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [I guess you get pigeon-holed in Hollywood, but I'm ok with that because I've been able to do a lot. I started in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-guess-you-get-pigeon-holed-in-hollywood-but-i-m-ok-with-that/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## More by Gary Sinise > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Careers, like rockets, don't always take off on time. The trick is to always keep the engine running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/careers-like-rockets-don-t-always-take-off-on-time-the-trick-is-to/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I have a band that I started with a buddy of mine, a Vietnam veteran pal named Kimo Williams from Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-have-a-band-that-i-started-with-a-buddy-of-mine-a-vietnam-veteran/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I have veterans in my family. But I didn't know anything about DAV, Disabled American Veterans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-have-veterans-in-my-family-but-i-didn-t-know-anything-about-dav/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I think you're lucky if you discover what you really love at a young age. College wasn't something I was going to do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-think-you-re-lucky-if-you-discover-what-you-really-love-at-a-young/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders, we can always do a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/while-we-can-never-do-enough-to-show-gratitude-to-our-nation-s/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted. We must do all we can to extend our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/freedom-and-security-are-precious-gifts-that-we-as-americans-should/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Careers, like rockets, don't always take off on schedule. The key is to keep working the engines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/careers-like-rockets-don-t-always-take-off-on-schedule-the-key-is-to/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Well, I've been to Iraq twice now. I was in Baghdad in June and then north of Baghdad in November.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/well-i-ve-been-to-iraq-twice-now-i-was-in-baghdad-in-june-and-then/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Its a way for you to support the children by sending pencils, beanie babies or soccer balls. That all started because of one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/its-a-way-for-you-to-support-the-children-by-sending-pencils-beanie/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [My wife's a loving, funny, Irish-spirited person, and I'm still surprised at some of the things she says. She makes me laugh every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/my-wife-s-a-loving-funny-irish-spirited-person-and-i-m-still/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [The University of Southern California has a wonderful social work department, and I was thrilled to find out that they have a whole veterans'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/the-university-of-southern-california-has-a-wonderful-social-work/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [The chance to play a romantic character who kisses somebody onscreen was one of the elements that made me want to do 'The Stand.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/the-chance-to-play-a-romantic-character-who-kisses-somebody-onscreen/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [But I've got more to learn, too. I don't feel like I'm done or I know it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/but-i-ve-got-more-to-learn-too-i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-done-or-i-know/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Wherever I go for the military, they always call me Lt. Dan. They just can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/wherever-i-go-for-the-military-they-always-call-me-lt-dan-they-just/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) [Explore all 47 Gary Sinise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can honestly say that I've done everything I've wanted to do, always. 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