---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather play Hamlet with no…"
description: "\"I would rather play Hamlet with no rehearsal than TV golf.\" — Jack Lemmon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg"
---

#  I would rather play Hamlet with no rehearsal than TV golf.

![“I would rather play Hamlet with no rehearsal than TV golf.” quote by Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg)

> “I would rather play Hamlet with no rehearsal than TV golf.”

[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.

Preferring spontaneous, creative performance over rehearsed, trivial entertainment.

**In simple terms:** Choose authentic expression over easy distraction.

Key Takeaway

Embrace risk and authenticity.

Themes

creativity authenticity risk performance

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- theatre acting
- creative workshops
- live performances

Key Concepts

improvisation artistic integrity personal fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you value authenticity over perfection?
- How does risk enhance creativity?

A Different Perspective

Rehearsal can also foster depth; spontaneity may lack polish.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [Hamlet Rehearsal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet-rehearsal-5692559/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-hamlet-364317/) [Rehearsal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearsal/) [Tv Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-golf-1862787/)

## Related quotes

> [There's something about being at the tournaments that you don't really get on TV, although golf is a great sport to watch on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-paxton/there-s-something-about-being-at-the-tournaments-that-you-don-t/)

[Bill Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-paxton/)

> [There are a thousand ways of playing a good classic. If it were effective, I would play Hamlet on a trapeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/there-are-a-thousand-ways-of-playing-a-good-classic-if-it-were/)

[Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/)

> [I look forward to the day when indigenous actors can play Hamlet and Ophelia and not just Othello and Desdemona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/i-look-forward-to-the-day-when-indigenous-actors-can-play-hamlet-and/)

[Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/)

> [The longer I've been doing this, the more I've realized that you have no idea what kinds of roles are possible for you -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-epstein/the-longer-i-ve-been-doing-this-the-more-i-ve-realized-that-you-have/)

[Jake Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-epstein/)

> [“In other words, if everyone wants to play Hamlet all at once, they couldn't because there aren't enough skulls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/in-other-words-if-everyone-wants-to-play-hamlet-all-at-once-they/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

> [You'd never play Hamlet if you started worrying about who's played it before you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-macfadyen/you-d-never-play-hamlet-if-you-started-worrying-about-who-s-played-it/)

[Matthew Macfadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-macfadyen/)

> [I'm on the list that I thought I'd never be on. I'm not sitting here thinking, 'God, I might get this part' or 'is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-on-the-list-that-i-thought-i-d-never-be-on-i-m-not-sitting-here/)

[Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/)

> [If I ever play Hamlet, it'll be in a dress!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/if-i-ever-play-hamlet-it-ll-be-in-a-dress/)

[Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/)

> [The actor is too prone to exaggerate his powers; he wants to play Hamlet when his appearance is more suitable to King Lear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/the-actor-is-too-prone-to-exaggerate-his-powers-he-wants-to-play/)

[Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/)

> [No one ever asked me to play Hamlet. I don't think I'm right for the part, but it would have been nice to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/no-one-ever-asked-me-to-play-hamlet-i-don-t-think-i-m-right-for-the/)

[Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/)

> [When you are at the right age to play Hamlet you are still to young and immature to play it. It is much later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/when-you-are-at-the-right-age-to-play-hamlet-you-are-still-to-young/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [The first play that I was ever a part of was 'Hamlet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/the-first-play-that-i-was-ever-a-part-of-was-hamlet/)

[Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/)

> [It doesn't matter if you're big and tall or ugly or pretty. Deep inside, every actor wants to play Hamlet, at least I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-big-and-tall-or-ugly-or-pretty-deep/)

[Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/)

> [I'd love to play Hamlet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mcteer/i-d-love-to-play-hamlet/)

[Janet McTeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mcteer/)

> [That's why so many people want to play Hamlet: because it's a completely demarked role, and the actor playing it has to be prepared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/that-s-why-so-many-people-want-to-play-hamlet-because-it-s-a/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

## 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/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have-a-career-playing-comedy-and/)

[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/)

[Explore all 42 Jack Lemmon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/)

## More Golf quotes

> [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/)

[Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/)

> [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-am-a-millionaire-today-and-my-wife-deserves-all-of-the-credit/)

[Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/)

> [I think one reason people play golf is it allows them to obsess about something other than the daily crap. It takes your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-think-one-reason-people-play-golf-is-it-allows-them-to-obsess-about/)

[Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/)

> [I don't think you play golf just to make money. I think you're just good at it, and that ends up being a profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cantlay/i-don-t-think-you-play-golf-just-to-make-money-i-think-you-re-just/)

[Patrick Cantlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cantlay/)

> [A good golfers métier is his or her golfing skill. A great golfers métier is his or her golfing skill, coupled with the mastery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/a-good-golfers-m-tier-is-his-or-her-golfing-skill-a-great-golfers-m/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [It's a great feeling to know that I've played the best golf throughout the season of any of the guys for the second time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-know-that-i-ve-played-the-best-golf/)

[Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/)

> [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/)

[Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/)

> [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/)

[Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/)

> [“Someone’s coming.” Terry McCaleb looked at his wife and then followed her eyes down to the winding road below. He could see the golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/someone-s-coming-terry-mccaleb-looked-at-his-wife-and-then-followed/)

[Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/)

> [I think people like players they can relate to. It seems as if people think they know me. I just think I'm an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-couples/i-think-people-like-players-they-can-relate-to-it-seems-as-if-people/)

[Fred Couples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-couples/)

> [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/)

[Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/)

> [Being in the fairway, I think the fairways are a little bit more overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-koepka/being-in-the-fairway-i-think-the-fairways-are-a-little-bit-more/)

[Brooks Koepka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-koepka/)

> [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/)

[Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/)

[Browse all 3,917 Golf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I would rather play Hamlet with no rehearsal than TV golf.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Lemmon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehearsal-than-tv-golf/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Golf"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehearsal-than-tv-golf/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/jack-lemmon-15749_golf_i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehea_2345644.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I would rather play Hamlet with no rehearsal than TV golf.” — Jack Lemmon",
                "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": "Jack Lemmon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I would rather play Hamlet with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehearsal-than-tv-golf/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-would-rather-play-hamlet-with-no-rehearsal-than-tv-golf/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
