--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realized early on that if I became an…" description: "\"I realized early on that if I became an actor, I could play a writer and a sculptor and a painter and be all the things you just don't have time to be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_i-realized-early-on-that-if-i-became-an_1733553.jpg" --- # I realized early on that if I became an actor, I could… ![“I realized early on that if I became an actor, I could play a writer and a sculptor and a painter and be all the things you just don't have time to be in your lifetime. I could get to learn about all of them.” quote by Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_i-realized-early-on-that-if-i-became-an_1733553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_i-realized-early-on-that-if-i-became-an_1733553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/harry-dean-stanton-4043_actor_i-realized-early-on-that-if-i-became-an_1733553.jpg) > “I realized early on that if I became an actor, I could play a writer and a sculptor and a painter and be all the things you just don't have time to be in your lifetime. I could get to learn about all of them.” [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recognized that acting lets one experience multiple artistic roles, gaining insight into many crafts within one lifetime. **In simple terms:** Acting offers a shortcut to exploring many arts. Key Takeaway Use acting to explore varied creative pursuits. Themes creativity identity learning Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - education - creative projects Key Concepts multidisciplinary role immersion artistic exploration Questions to Reflect On - Which artistic skill would you explore through a role? - How can acting broaden your creative perspective? A Different Perspective Limited time still restricts depth in each discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've never been one of those actors who has touted myself as a fascinating human being. I had to decide early on whether I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-actors-who-has-touted-myself-as-a/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [Most of the early part of an actor's career, you do the jobs you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/most-of-the-early-part-of-an-actor-s-career-you-do-the-jobs-you-get/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [You learn early as an actor that creating your own material is the only way to have any control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/you-learn-early-as-an-actor-that-creating-your-own-material-is-the/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [You just play what a writer writes, in terms of what a character chooses to do and how a character chooses to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/you-just-play-what-a-writer-writes-in-terms-of-what-a-character/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The way I like to work is to attach personal experiences to what I'm doing, so it helps tremendously if I can write my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/the-way-i-like-to-work-is-to-attach-personal-experiences-to-what-i-m/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [Writing a tribe is fun. They have their own language, their own slang; they repeat it, and it becomes part of the texture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wade/writing-a-tribe-is-fun-they-have-their-own-language-their-own-slang/) [Laura Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wade/) > [I definitely did not play myself. As the writer of the script, I have traits of all the characters. I can relate to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherien-dabis/i-definitely-did-not-play-myself-as-the-writer-of-the-script-i-have/) [Cherien Dabis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherien-dabis/) > [Whatever part drink may play in the writer's life, it must play none in his or her work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/whatever-part-drink-may-play-in-the-writer-s-life-it-must-play-none/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [I realized very early the power of food to evoke memory, to bring people together, to transport you to other places, and I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-realized-very-early-the-power-of-food-to-evoke-memory-to-bring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I realized very early that I was never going to make by living by writing string quartets. But I wanted to write music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodney-bennett/i-realized-very-early-that-i-was-never-going-to-make-by-living-by/) [Richard Rodney Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodney-bennett/) > [Sometimes it's better to make a mark than to hit your mark, and I think I realized that early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willam-belli/sometimes-it-s-better-to-make-a-mark-than-to-hit-your-mark-and-i/) [Willam Belli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willam-belli/) > [I realized early I can manipulate the ceiling in the middle class. The allure becomes how far I can make the ceiling rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-realized-early-i-can-manipulate-the-ceiling-in-the-middle-class-the/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [I was a class clown. I realized early on feeling very comfortable in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/i-was-a-class-clown-i-realized-early-on-feeling-very-comfortable-in/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [I think I realized early on that my family wasn't like other families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-gotti/i-think-i-realized-early-on-that-my-family-wasn-t-like-other-families/) [Victoria Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-gotti/) > [Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/larry-kramer-wisely-realized-so-early-on-that-to-change-the-world/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) ## More by Harry Dean Stanton > [Fame in itself is, you know... It involves a whole discussion on just that word, 'fame.' It's a power; it's another degree of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/fame-in-itself-is-you-know-it-involves-a-whole-discussion-on-just/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I watch television. Game shows - I hate the hosts and the people on them, and I love the questions and the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-watch-television-game-shows-i-hate-the-hosts-and-the-people-on-them/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I was singing the blues when I was six. Kind of sad, eh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-singing-the-blues-when-i-was-six-kind-of-sad-eh/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I never liked being ordered around - which, of course, was an overreaction. I eventually found out that I didn't mind being ordered around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-never-liked-being-ordered-around-which-of-course-was-an/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I've never been ambitious about recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-ve-never-been-ambitious-about-recording/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I know little stories that happen to people around me, and I can repeat that in a way that has some color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-know-little-stories-that-happen-to-people-around-me-and-i-can/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I worked with the best directors - Martin Scorsese, John Huston, David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-worked-with-the-best-directors-martin-scorsese-john-huston-david/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [The first film I ever remember - I think my mother took me to it - was called 'She Married Her Boss' with Melvyn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/the-first-film-i-ever-remember-i-think-my-mother-took-me-to-it-was/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [The band I've played with for 10 or 12 years now, we've been all over, but we mostly play in LA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/the-band-i-ve-played-with-for-10-or-12-years-now-we-ve-been-all-over/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [When man began to think he was a separate person with a separate soul, it created a violent situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/when-man-began-to-think-he-was-a-separate-person-with-a-separate-soul/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I was the classic killer. I always played an angry man. I think it was because I used to really be like that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-the-classic-killer-i-always-played-an-angry-man-i-think-it-was/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I like to watch 'Paris, Texas,' but I have no desire to see it. I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-like-to-watch-paris-texas-but-i-have-no-desire-to-see-it-i-did-it/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I would've preferred to blossom earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-would-ve-preferred-to-blossom-earlier-in-life/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I do the same series of five exercises 21 times each day - an ancient Tibetan practice that stimulates your chakras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-do-the-same-series-of-five-exercises-21-times-each-day-an-ancient/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I've never seen a Western that was really truthful. Most are just morality plays. Good guys and bad guys - and the good guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-ve-never-seen-a-western-that-was-really-truthful-most-are-just/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) [Explore all 116 Harry Dean Stanton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [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/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I realized early on that if I became an actor, I could play a writer and a sculptor and a painter and be all the things you just don't have time to be in your lifetime. 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