--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to own something before I can say…" description: "\"I have to own something before I can say it, and I have to own it before I can sing it as well, emotionally. I only enjoy acting and singing if I am be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/gregory-harrison-23860_acting_i-have-to-own-something-before-i-can-say_1256055.png" --- # I have to own something before I can say it, and I have to… ![“I have to own something before I can say it, and I have to own it before I can sing it as well, emotionally. I only enjoy acting and singing if I am believing what I am doing.” quote by Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/gregory-harrison-23860_acting_i-have-to-own-something-before-i-can-say_1256055.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/gregory-harrison-23860_acting_i-have-to-own-something-before-i-can-say_1256055.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/gregory-harrison-23860_acting_i-have-to-own-something-before-i-can-say_1256055.png) > “I have to own something before I can say it, and I have to own it before I can sing it as well, emotionally. I only enjoy acting and singing if I am believing what I am doing.” [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authentic performance requires personal ownership of the material. **In simple terms:** Own your work to act sincerely. Key Takeaway Believe in what you perform. Themes authenticity ownership performance emotion Mood introspective inspirational Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - theatre - music - public speaking - creative projects Key Concepts method acting personal truth Questions to Reflect On - How do you claim your work? - When does ownership hinder collaboration? A Different Perspective Ownership can be limiting if ego dominates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) ## Related quotes > [I really enjoy singing and I really enjoy acting, but singing I've been doing since I was really young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/i-really-enjoy-singing-and-i-really-enjoy-acting-but-singing-i-ve/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [ I think \[music and acting\], they are connected, all that stuff. It's your emotional self, is pretty much how you do it, I think,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-think-music-and-acting-they-are-connected-all-that-stuff-it-s-your/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Acting and singing are integrally locked together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-butler/acting-and-singing-are-integrally-locked-together/) Dean Butler > [I really love both acting and singing equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/i-really-love-both-acting-and-singing-equally/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) Ernest Gold > [I was in musical theater when I first started, so there was always both acting and singing. But as far as getting a record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/i-was-in-musical-theater-when-i-first-started-so-there-was-always/) [Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/) > [I'll probably do a lot of acting first, then go to singing, but I am going to definitely sing someday. So when I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lynn-spears/i-ll-probably-do-a-lot-of-acting-first-then-go-to-singing-but-i-am/) [Jamie Lynn Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lynn-spears/) > [Acting and singing are actually very similar because they're both telling a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/acting-and-singing-are-actually-very-similar-because-they-re-both/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I just wanted to perform. I just wanted to perform in whatever capacity, whether it was acting, singing, dancing, comedy - whatever it was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-corden/i-just-wanted-to-perform-i-just-wanted-to-perform-in-whatever/) [James Corden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-corden/) > [When I was probably 5 or 6, my mother put me into an acting, singing, and dancing class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-mirchoff/when-i-was-probably-5-or-6-my-mother-put-me-into-an-acting-singing/) [Beau Mirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-mirchoff/) > [To me acting and singing are worlds apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/to-me-acting-and-singing-are-worlds-apart/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [It's very different. You do so many things in this play. You can't just focus on acting or singing. You have to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-davis/it-s-very-different-you-do-so-many-things-in-this-play-you-can-t-just/) Will Davis > [I'm definitely not a dancer. I can move well, but it's more about the acting and the singing for me. Acting and singing are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/i-m-definitely-not-a-dancer-i-can-move-well-but-it-s-more-about-the/) [Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/) > [I think anything emotional adds to your acting and singing, no matter what it is that you go through. It will always add to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/i-think-anything-emotional-adds-to-your-acting-and-singing-no-matter/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I rely on regular chiropractic care to keep in shape for my strenuous type of acting and singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/i-rely-on-regular-chiropractic-care-to-keep-in-shape-for-my-strenuous/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) ## More by Gregory Harrison > [I have four kids; three girls and a boy. The oldest girl is 13, and has her own social life now, so there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-have-four-kids-three-girls-and-a-boy-the-oldest-girl-is-13-and-has/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I have to be very careful about how often I drag my family to places. They need some stability in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-have-to-be-very-careful-about-how-often-i-drag-my-family-to-places/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [Then when I got to Hollywood, the first musical I did was Festival in 1977.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/then-when-i-got-to-hollywood-the-first-musical-i-did-was-festival-in/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I got a series with the WB next year. We start shooting in July. It's going to be called Safe Harbor, and it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-got-a-series-with-the-wb-next-year-we-start-shooting-in-july-it-s/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I directed an episode of Touched by an Angel a couple of months ago, and I will be doing more of that. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-directed-an-episode-of-touched-by-an-angel-a-couple-of-months-ago/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [But we were doing plays and movies which I had nothing to do with other than being a producer, and I don't have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/but-we-were-doing-plays-and-movies-which-i-had-nothing-to-do-with/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [Suddenly Star Wars came out while we were on hiatus, and we looked like the old Buck Rogers series, where they had cigarette smoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/suddenly-star-wars-came-out-while-we-were-on-hiatus-and-we-looked/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I love to sing and I do think that my strength as a singer is... I think I have a voice that is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-love-to-sing-and-i-do-think-that-my-strength-as-a-singer-is-i-think/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [But I always held my music up and protected it from compromise. So I just do it for my friends. I've written hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/but-i-always-held-my-music-up-and-protected-it-from-compromise-so-i/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I had done a lot of plays, particularly at my own theater in LA, and it was the first time in my theatrical life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-had-done-a-lot-of-plays-particularly-at-my-own-theater-in-la-and-it/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [Well, I want to do The Music Man. I think it's an amazing opportunity, but I think that they are probably looking at major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/well-i-want-to-do-the-music-man-i-think-it-s-an-amazing-opportunity/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I didn't feel compromised as an actor, and allowed other people's fingerprints all over that aspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-didn-t-feel-compromised-as-an-actor-and-allowed-other-people-s/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [But I can't wait to watch the Tonys this Sunday. I'm really glad Broadway is doing so well this year, especially with its straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/but-i-can-t-wait-to-watch-the-tonys-this-sunday-i-m-really-glad/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [Actually I have been singing since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/actually-i-have-been-singing-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) > [I have kept a part of Catalina Productions going, through which I develop a few projects just for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-harrison/i-have-kept-a-part-of-catalina-productions-going-through-which-i/) [Gregory Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) [Explore all 25 Gregory Harrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-harrison/) ## 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 > [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 have to own something before I can say it, and I have to own it before I can sing it as well, emotionally. 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