--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been fortunate to be able to have…" description: "\"I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing comedy and drama. And it's awfully hard - it's like apples and pears to compare the two.\" — J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/jack-lemmon-15749_career_i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have_124170.jpg" --- # I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing… ![“I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing comedy and drama. And it's awfully hard - it's like apples and pears to compare the two.” quote by Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/jack-lemmon-15749_career_i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have_124170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/jack-lemmon-15749_career_i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have_124170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/jack-lemmon-15749_career_i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have_124170.jpg) > “I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing comedy and drama. And it's awfully hard - it's like apples and pears to compare the two.” [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor finds both comedy and drama rewarding yet fundamentally different, making direct comparison difficult, like contrasting apples and pears. **In simple terms:** Comedy and drama are unlike, hard to compare. Key Takeaway Different art forms resist direct comparison. Themes art genre comparison career Mood humorous thoughtful Type career reflection artistic analogy When to use this quote - career counseling - genre‑specific training - performance reviews Key Concepts subjective value artistic diversity Practical Applications - highlight distinct skill sets for each genre - encourage cross‑genre experimentation Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from mastering multiple genres? - How can one assess success across disparate art forms? A Different Perspective Sometimes hybrid works blur genre boundaries, challenging the apple‑pear analogy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I love doing comedy. You don't get many good comedy scripts. They're rare. But, I do love playing comedy. Even in drama, I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-meaney/i-love-doing-comedy-you-don-t-get-many-good-comedy-scripts-they-re/) [Colm Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-meaney/) > ['Funny People' is my favorite performance of myself to date. Even though it's a comedy and there are serious moments, I really felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/funny-people-is-my-favorite-performance-of-myself-to-date-even-though/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I didn't have any idea that I would be able to have a career in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-that-i-would-be-able-to-have-a-career-in-film/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I was able to get through most of my career doing what I love to do and helping my team win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-was-able-to-get-through-most-of-my-career-doing-what-i-love-to-do/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [I had no idea I would be able to have a career in drag that's lasted this long, at the level that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manila-luzon/i-had-no-idea-i-would-be-able-to-have-a-career-in-drag-that-s-lasted/) [Manila Luzon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manila-luzon/) > [Comedy is drama. I think that if your characters are feeling something that is very real, then they have to respond in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/comedy-is-drama-i-think-that-if-your-characters-are-feeling-something/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [I never like to be the same, whether it be comedy or drama, funny or serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-prince/i-never-like-to-be-the-same-whether-it-be-comedy-or-drama-funny-or/) [Faith Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-prince/) > [I've always thought that comedy was just another dramatic expression. I try to measure the amount of truth in a work rather than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-ve-always-thought-that-comedy-was-just-another-dramatic-expression/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I think that every piece has its challenges. I love going back and forth between one and the other. I'll always pick a comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigourney-weaver/i-think-that-every-piece-has-its-challenges-i-love-going-back-and/) [Sigourney Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigourney-weaver/) > [I like a certain style of show, I like a certain pace, I like a rhythm, I like a lot of comedy in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sherman-palladino/i-like-a-certain-style-of-show-i-like-a-certain-pace-i-like-a-rhythm/) [Amy Sherman-Palladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sherman-palladino/) > [It's like life: you have both comedy and drama. There's a balance, and I'm lucky enough to have it in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/it-s-like-life-you-have-both-comedy-and-drama-there-s-a-balance-and-i/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I like human comedies - or dramedies. More than anything, I'm interested in people just dealing with everyday things that are difficult, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-like-human-comedies-or-dramedies-more-than-anything-i-m-interested/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but actually playing the situation, playing the drama of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the-comedy-but-actually-playing/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [I always enjoy the scenes with Dennis Waterman, particularly when we're playing comedy, we're always finding stuff together and he's very immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-always-enjoy-the-scenes-with-dennis-waterman-particularly-when-we/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [Many improv groups give off the same positive annoying vibe that I associate with Christian Young Life groups with shows that more resemble children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/many-improv-groups-give-off-the-same-positive-annoying-vibe-that-i/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) ## More by Jack Lemmon > [Acting doesn't have anything to do with listening to the words. We never really listen, in general conversation, to what the other person is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/acting-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-listening-to-the-words-we/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [how she moves. That's just like Jell-O on springs. She must have some sort of built-in motors. I tell you, it's a whole different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/how-she-moves-that-s-just-like-jell-o-on-springs-she-must-have-some/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Once I had started film, I suddenly said, 'Wow, I love it.' I moved there from New York. But I've always gone back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/once-i-had-started-film-i-suddenly-said-wow-i-love-it-i-moved-there/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Anything truly worthwhile does not come easy. If it did, it would not be all that worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/anything-truly-worthwhile-does-not-come-easy-if-it-did-it-would-not/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Everything that is truly worthwhile - I think passion is involved in your approach to it. No matter what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/everything-that-is-truly-worthwhile-i-think-passion-is-involved-in/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [People are probably correct when they see me as the so-called Everyman. I'm attracted primarily to contemporary characters. I understand them and their frustrations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/people-are-probably-correct-when-they-see-me-as-the-so-called/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I think whatever you do, if you are going to do well or even if you don't do it well, you have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-think-whatever-you-do-if-you-are-going-to-do-well-or-even-if-you/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I had no desire to be in the movies. All my training had been in the theater, thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-had-no-desire-to-be-in-the-movies-all-my-training-had-been-in-the/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [In general, I think comedy is more difficult to write, to direct, and to act successfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/in-general-i-think-comedy-is-more-difficult-to-write-to-direct-and-to/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [If I'd been bright, I'd have realized that I was horribly uncomfortable, amazingly frustrated, and like any sensible person, I'd have quit. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/if-i-d-been-bright-i-d-have-realized-that-i-was-horribly/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I have lost someone I loved as a brother, as a closest friend, and a remarkable human being. We have also lost one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-have-lost-someone-i-loved-as-a-brother-as-a-closest-friend-and-a/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I don't think Ed Horman could be dishonest if his life depended on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-don-t-think-ed-horman-could-be-dishonest-if-his-life-depended-on-it/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I had already played a lead on Broadway before I ever did a film. I had had three, four seasons of stock with good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-had-already-played-a-lead-on-broadway-before-i-ever-did-a-film-i/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Part of an actor's job is to actually adopt the world-view of the character she is playing and to tell the story from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/part-of-an-actor-s-job-is-to-actually-adopt-the-world-view-of-the/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Success is always somebody else's opinion of you; but it doesn't amount to a damn compared to your own opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/success-is-always-somebody-else-s-opinion-of-you-but-it-doesn-t/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) [Explore all 42 Jack Lemmon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing comedy and drama. 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