--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never played a rich man, I never played…" description: "\"I never played a rich man, I never played a prince. And to play a sailor or longshoreman you had to make your dance more eclectic and varied, but still..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/gene-kelly-11878_backgrounds_i-never-played-a-rich-man-i-never-played_2829385.jpg" --- # I never played a rich man, I never played a prince. And to… ![“I never played a rich man, I never played a prince. And to play a sailor or longshoreman you had to make your dance more eclectic and varied, but still keep it indigenous to your nationality, upbringing, and background.” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/gene-kelly-11878_backgrounds_i-never-played-a-rich-man-i-never-played_2829385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/gene-kelly-11878_backgrounds_i-never-played-a-rich-man-i-never-played_2829385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/gene-kelly-11878_backgrounds_i-never-played-a-rich-man-i-never-played_2829385.jpg) > “I never played a rich man, I never played a prince. And to play a sailor or longshoreman you had to make your dance more eclectic and varied, but still keep it indigenous to your nationality, upbringing, and background.” [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes authenticity in performance, urging artists to honor their cultural roots while adapting to varied roles. **In simple terms:** Stay true to your heritage while adapting. Key Takeaway Blend authenticity with versatility. Themes authenticity adaptation culture Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic cultural When to use this quote - acting - dance - theatre - film - cultural representation Key Concepts cultural identity artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor your roots while exploring new styles? - What balance works for you? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on heritage may limit creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Rich man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-man/) [Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailor/) [Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing/) ## Related quotes > [“Politics is a game played by the rich with the lives of the poor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/politics-is-a-game-played-by-the-rich-with-the-lives-of-the-poor/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I've played with Prince racquets my entire career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-ve-played-with-prince-racquets-my-entire-career/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [In 'Mirror Mirror,' I played Prince Charming's side kick Renbock, who was pretty dandy, hapless and innocent. Other than that I've tended to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-emms/in-mirror-mirror-i-played-prince-charming-s-side-kick-renbock-who-was/) Robert Emms > [“One day The Universe Will be pleased by The fruit of man's works Excerpt from: 'Jacob's Ascent, New Collected poems by Mekael' © Mekael Shane 2019”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekael-shane/one-day-the-universe-will-be-pleased-by-the-fruit-of-man-s-works/) [Mekael Shane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekael-shane/) > [It's very much to do with how I'm feeling ... I love to be experimental and use eclectic mismatched things and put them together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/it-s-very-much-to-do-with-how-i-m-feeling-i-love-to-be-experimental/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [On nights that I'm feeling a need to stretch personally and artistically, I tend to put together outfits that are very quirky, mismatched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/on-nights-that-i-m-feeling-a-need-to-stretch-personally-and/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [In other words, I have no truck for anyone who goes out and does an eclectic building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minoru-yamasaki/in-other-words-i-have-no-truck-for-anyone-who-goes-out-and-does-an/) [Minoru Yamasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minoru-yamasaki/) > [Music's totally eclectic now. I saw a DJ the other day, he was on Virgin radio over here, and he said he played "Going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/music-s-totally-eclectic-now-i-saw-a-dj-the-other-day-he-was-on/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Eclectic yet classic with a playful bohemian twist is how Id describe my style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-temperley/eclectic-yet-classic-with-a-playful-bohemian-twist-is-how-id-describe/) [Alice Temperley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-temperley/) > [My mother, a very eclectic listener, had the first Doors album and gave it to me when I expressed interest in the band. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/my-mother-a-very-eclectic-listener-had-the-first-doors-album-and-gave/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming 'War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-have-never-before-in-my-long-and-eclectic-career-been-gifted-with/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I'm just experimenting with every different type of music you can imagine and seeing where my voice lies and what sounds best. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-church/i-m-just-experimenting-with-every-different-type-of-music-you-can/) [Charlotte Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-church/) > [I got a reputation for being 'eclectic' or some damn thing like that, but to me, the different kinds of music I play are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/i-got-a-reputation-for-being-eclectic-or-some-damn-thing-like-that/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I'm a really eclectic reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/i-m-a-really-eclectic-reader/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [A real education is not just eclectic, it defines it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/a-real-education-is-not-just-eclectic-it-defines-it/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) ## More by Gene Kelly > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [In fact, I wasn't going to dance in Xanadu, but several journalists told me that Olivia Newton-John kept saying how sad she was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/in-fact-i-wasn-t-going-to-dance-in-xanadu-but-several-journalists/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I miss the romance. I keep saying this over and over again, but dance follows music. And if the accent today is percussion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/i-miss-the-romance-i-keep-saying-this-over-and-over-again-but-dance/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I didn't want to move or act like a rich man. I wanted to dance in a pair of jeans. I wanted to dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/i-didn-t-want-to-move-or-act-like-a-rich-man-i-wanted-to-dance-in-a/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Things danced on the screen do not look the way they do on the stage. On the stage, dancing is three-dimensional, but a motion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/things-danced-on-the-screen-do-not-look-the-way-they-do-on-the-stage/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [If Fred Astaire is the Cary Grant of dance, I'm the Marlon Brando.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/if-fred-astaire-is-the-cary-grant-of-dance-i-m-the-marlon-brando/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [It fit into my scheme of things for many reasons. At the time it was true that male dancers were looked down upon, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/it-fit-into-my-scheme-of-things-for-many-reasons-at-the-time-it-was/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I don't understand the whole concept of doubles. They used to do that in the early sound films in Hollywood, but I thought we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/i-don-t-understand-the-whole-concept-of-doubles-they-used-to-do-that/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I'll never starve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/i-ll-never-starve/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [When I would create a dance, I wouldn't have the luxury that ballet people do when they take a piece of music and impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/when-i-would-create-a-dance-i-wouldn-t-have-the-luxury-that-ballet/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/you-dance-love-and-you-dance-joy-and-you-dance-dreams/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [When Ginger Rogers danced with Astaire, it was the only time in the movies when you looked at the man, not the woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/when-ginger-rogers-danced-with-astaire-it-was-the-only-time-in-the/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I wanted to do new things with dance, adapt it to the motion picture medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/i-wanted-to-do-new-things-with-dance-adapt-it-to-the-motion-picture/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams. And I know if I can make you smile by jumping over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/you-dance-love-and-you-dance-joy-and-you-dance-dreams-and-i-know-if-i/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Kids talk to me and say they want to do musicals again because they've studied the tapes of the old films. We didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/kids-talk-to-me-and-say-they-want-to-do-musicals-again-because-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) [Explore all 57 Gene Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) ## More Backgrounds quotes > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [I bring my classical training - some of it, but not all of it - and also my background and culture, to spirituals. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-battle/i-bring-my-classical-training-some-of-it-but-not-all-of-it-and-also/) [Kathleen Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-battle/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [In the dim background of our mind we know meanwhile what we ought to be doing: getting up, dressing ourselves, answering the person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/in-the-dim-background-of-our-mind-we-know-meanwhile-what-we-ought-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I think it is a sin to look at another person as inferior to yourself because of race or because of ethnic background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-it-is-a-sin-to-look-at-another-person-as-inferior-to-yourself/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The thing that is making jazz healthy today is that people are coming out of other backgrounds - from rock, folk, from ethnic music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-taylor/the-thing-that-is-making-jazz-healthy-today-is-that-people-are-coming/) Billy Taylor > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [People from my sort of background needed grammar schools to compete with children from privileged homes like Shirley Williams and Anthony Wedgwood Benn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/people-from-my-sort-of-background-needed-grammar-schools-to-compete/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Persons who have cleansed themselves of any transgression and who have shown their ability to deal with homosexual inclinations and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/persons-who-have-cleansed-themselves-of-any-transgression-and-who/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [I come from a theater background, so I always like to dissect the scene and try to get some hint about what the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-come-from-a-theater-background-so-i-always-like-to-dissect-the/) [Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/) > [And, of course, some SF is set close enough to here and now that Anglo and European do apply. Since many of the writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-schmidt/and-of-course-some-sf-is-set-close-enough-to-here-and-now-that-anglo/) [Stanley Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-schmidt/) > [For me, I try to look at a person's swagger and a little background on them if I already haven't liked them as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bivins/for-me-i-try-to-look-at-a-person-s-swagger-and-a-little-background-on/) [Michael Bivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bivins/) Browse all 1,648 Backgrounds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never played a rich man, I never played a prince. 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