--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's just so frustrating when you're in a…" description: "\"It's just so frustrating when you're in a supporting role because you only get to express a part of yourself.\" — Harry Dean Stanton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg" --- # It's just so frustrating when you're in a supporting role… ![“It's just so frustrating when you're in a supporting role because you only get to express a part of yourself.” quote by Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg) > “It's just so frustrating when you're in a supporting role because you only get to express a part of yourself.” [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. Supporting roles limit self‑expression, but they also offer unique ways to contribute and be seen. **In simple terms:** Supporting roles restrict but also enable contribution. Key Takeaway Find value in the parts you play. Themes self‑expression support recognition Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace teams - family dynamics - sports squads - theater casts Key Concepts role theory team dynamics personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What does your supporting role teach you about yourself? - How can you expand your voice within limits? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self can cause resentment of support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating/) [Frustrating Supporting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating-supporting-5183845/) [Just Frustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-frustrating-4468431/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role/) [Supporting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supporting/) [Supporting Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supporting-role-404592/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [When you really can't affect something, you almost don't wanna wish too hard, because it's just frustrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/when-you-really-can-t-affect-something-you-almost-don-t-wanna-wish/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [I don't care about being a star. I can do a supporting role; I don't have to be a lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-berenger/i-don-t-care-about-being-a-star-i-can-do-a-supporting-role-i-don-t/) [Tom Berenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-berenger/) > [I don't think I've been in a supporting role in any of the plays I've done, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-don-t-think-i-ve-been-in-a-supporting-role-in-any-of-the-plays-i-ve/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [Disneyland is the star, everything else is in the supporting role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/disneyland-is-the-star-everything-else-is-in-the-supporting-role/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [If you're playing a lead, you're shaping the movie. When you're playing a supporting role, you've got only a moment to make it count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/if-you-re-playing-a-lead-you-re-shaping-the-movie-when-you-re-playing/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [In 'Karol Bagh,' I was playing a supporting role, the character had grey shades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargun-mehta/in-karol-bagh-i-was-playing-a-supporting-role-the-character-had-grey/) [Sargun Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargun-mehta/) > [It's actually easier to play a leading role than it is to play a supporting role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/it-s-actually-easier-to-play-a-leading-role-than-it-is-to-play-a/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [My whole life, not just in my professional career but in community theater, I played the supporting role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beanie-feldstein/my-whole-life-not-just-in-my-professional-career-but-in-community/) [Beanie Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beanie-feldstein/) > [In 'The Grandmaster,' I had a supporting role, but my character in 'The Crossing' is much more central to the plot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/song-hye-kyo/in-the-grandmaster-i-had-a-supporting-role-but-my-character-in-the/) [Song Hye-kyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/song-hye-kyo/) > [I realized that many men are happy to play a supporting role to another man, but they are much less happy to play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/i-realized-that-many-men-are-happy-to-play-a-supporting-role-to/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [We can't do both. If you want us to lead, don't criticize us. And if you want us to play a supporting role, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/we-can-t-do-both-if-you-want-us-to-lead-don-t-criticize-us-and-if-you/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [It's a supporting role, and I relish the opportunity to take those relationships I've developed, the experiences I've developed, to carry the president's agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/it-s-a-supporting-role-and-i-relish-the-opportunity-to-take-those/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [When it's a minor or supporting role, you learn to make the most of what you're given. I can make two lines seem like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/when-it-s-a-minor-or-supporting-role-you-learn-to-make-the-most-of/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [Give role players love. Praise can be most valuable when it’s merited by someone whose supporting role is often overlooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/give-role-players-love-praise-can-be-most-valuable-when-it-s-merited/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [It's rather rare when you play an older character in a movie in a supporting role to even get an arc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigourney-weaver/it-s-rather-rare-when-you-play-an-older-character-in-a-movie-in-a/) [Sigourney Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigourney-weaver/) ## 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 Frustrating quotes > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [I always try to find a less frustrating way to look at things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/i-always-try-to-find-a-less-frustrating-way-to-look-at-things/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [It's often frustrating when you're a war reporter and you're covering these places that far away. You're frustrated by making stories that people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rowley/it-s-often-frustrating-when-you-re-a-war-reporter-and-you-re-covering/) [Rick Rowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rowley/) > [I am a little older and understand the nature of the business - the older you get the more your skills supposedly diminish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-am-a-little-older-and-understand-the-nature-of-the-business-the/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/) [Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/) > [I find it frustrating when people wear belts with braces. That's an interesting one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-find-it-frustrating-when-people-wear-belts-with-braces-that-s-an/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [Mothers ... would do anything to steer their daughter the right way. It is frustrating beyond measure for them when a daughter screams, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-flanagan/mothers-would-do-anything-to-steer-their-daughter-the-right-way-it-is/) [Caitlin Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-flanagan/) > [For me there is no gap between my painting and my so-called 'decorative' work. I never considered the 'minor arts' to be artistically frustrating;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-delaunay/for-me-there-is-no-gap-between-my-painting-and-my-so-called/) [Sonia Delaunay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-delaunay/) > [“I remembered what Dad said once, that some people have all of life's answers worked out the day they're born and there's no use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/i-remembered-what-dad-said-once-that-some-people-have-all-of-life-s/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I think movies are now like going to a museum and seeing the latest exhibit - people just aren't going. It really is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-think-movies-are-now-like-going-to-a-museum-and-seeing-the-latest/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [What's frustrating to me is when, on a low-budget movie, people don't take chances. A big-budget movie, that script's your bible; nobody's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/what-s-frustrating-to-me-is-when-on-a-low-budget-movie-people-don-t/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) > [I run into a lot of ignorance and stupidity. It gets really frustrating, but you have to take yourself out of it and realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/i-run-into-a-lot-of-ignorance-and-stupidity-it-gets-really/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) [Browse all 694 Frustrating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's just so frustrating when you're in a supporting role because you only get to express a part of yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Dean Stanton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in-a-supporting-role-because-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frustrating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in-a-supporting-role-because-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/harry-dean-stanton-4043_frustrating_it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in_647210.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's just so frustrating when you're in a supporting role because you only get to express a part of yourself.” — Harry Dean Stanton", "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": "Harry Dean Stanton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's just so frustrating when you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in-a-supporting-role-because-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/it-s-just-so-frustrating-when-you-re-in-a-supporting-role-because-you/#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 } } ] } ```