--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I left acting for 15 years, and I think…" description: "\"I left acting for 15 years, and I think it's really nice to have another life. I took too much for granted when I was younger. I didn't really want to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/jane-fonda-1041_acting_i-left-acting-for-15-years-and-i-think-i_1879092.jpg" --- # I left acting for 15 years, and I think it's really nice… ![“I left acting for 15 years, and I think it's really nice to have another life. I took too much for granted when I was younger. I didn't really want to be an actor. I didn't really love it. And so I made a lot of mistakes. Oddly, I care much more about it now. I feel like a complete novice.” quote by Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/jane-fonda-1041_acting_i-left-acting-for-15-years-and-i-think-i_1879092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/jane-fonda-1041_acting_i-left-acting-for-15-years-and-i-think-i_1879092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/jane-fonda-1041_acting_i-left-acting-for-15-years-and-i-think-i_1879092.jpg) > “I left acting for 15 years, and I think it's really nice to have another life. I took too much for granted when I was younger. I didn't really want to be an actor. I didn't really love it. And so I made a lot of mistakes. Oddly, I care much more about it now. I feel like a complete novice.” [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life changes can reveal new passions, and past neglect can become appreciation. **In simple terms:** Life shifts reveal new love for past work. Key Takeaway Embrace change and gratitude. Themes career transition self‑discovery regret growth Mood introspective hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - mentorship - personal reflection Key Concepts personal development acting life stages Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can past regrets teach? - How can we stay open to new beginnings? A Different Perspective Past neglect may limit future insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Another life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-life/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I left acting for 15 years, and I think it's really nice to have another life. I took too much for granted when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-left-acting-for-15-years-and-i-think-it-s-really-nice-to-have-2/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I didn't originally want to be an actor. I didn't know what I wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-logue/i-didn-t-originally-want-to-be-an-actor-i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted/) [Donal Logue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donal-logue/) > [I started acting, when I was 15, in commercials and guest roles. I was definitely a working actor, so I was thankful for that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-peters/i-started-acting-when-i-was-15-in-commercials-and-guest-roles-i-was/) [Evan Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-peters/) > [It was always acting for me, since I was about 15. My middle brother always wanted to be a news anchor, so we always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wilson/it-was-always-acting-for-me-since-i-was-about-15-my-middle-brother/) [Patrick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-wilson/) > [I've been acting since I was 15 years old professionally, and I've never been asked on the 'TODAY' show or anything like that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sasso/i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-15-years-old-professionally-and-i-ve/) [Will Sasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sasso/) > [I went away to this summer program after my junior year of high school. They used to have this thing called the Governor's School,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-went-away-to-this-summer-program-after-my-junior-year-of-high/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I was very angsty from a very young age. The way people start acting when they're 15, I started being at 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellar-coltrane/i-was-very-angsty-from-a-very-young-age-the-way-people-start-acting/) [Ellar Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellar-coltrane/) > [Although I started off as a child artist, I left acting in between, as I felt that I was missing the fun of school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-sana-shaikh/although-i-started-off-as-a-child-artist-i-left-acting-in-between-as/) [Fatima Sana Shaikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-sana-shaikh/) > [I left acting school really hoping that I could be on a television show of some sort, working in movies in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franchesca-ramsey/i-left-acting-school-really-hoping-that-i-could-be-on-a-television/) [Franchesca Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franchesca-ramsey/) > [In college, I would just drop out of all my classes, and I would just be left with my acting classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-luke/in-college-i-would-just-drop-out-of-all-my-classes-and-i-would-just/) [Jeremy Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-luke/) > [There's a great deal of child left in me and acting is fun. It's a make believe thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-canary/there-s-a-great-deal-of-child-left-in-me-and-acting-is-fun-it-s-a/) [David Canary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-canary/) > [I vowed I would never do a commercial, or a soap opera - both of which I did as soon as I left the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-vowed-i-would-never-do-a-commercial-or-a-soap-opera-both-of-which-i/) [Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/) > [I left acting for a couple of years to found my company, Wayfarer, and the first project I did was this documentary series I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-baldoni/i-left-acting-for-a-couple-of-years-to-found-my-company-wayfarer-and/) [Justin Baldoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-baldoni/) > [Well, I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I didn't necessarily need or want to be famous or a celebrity actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/well-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-didn-t-necessarily-need-or/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [I come from Nova Scotia, and I'd never seen a theater or been inside of a theater. When I was 17, my dad asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/i-come-from-nova-scotia-and-i-d-never-seen-a-theater-or-been-inside/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) ## More by Jane Fonda > [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Women are rising. And I think that's all the violence and war - it could be the last gasp of the patriarchy, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/women-are-rising-and-i-think-that-s-all-the-violence-and-war-it-could/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [pragmatist that I am, I always meet necessity with enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/pragmatist-that-i-am-i-always-meet-necessity-with-enthusiasm/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I don't know if a country (America) where the people are so ignorant of reality and of history, if you can call that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-don-t-know-if-a-country-america-where-the-people-are-so-ignorant-of/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I don't want to die without knowing who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-don-t-want-to-die-without-knowing-who-i-am/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [To do life right, you have to feel like you're growing up until the day you die. The thing I'm proudest of is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/to-do-life-right-you-have-to-feel-like-you-re-growing-up-until-the/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [So I grew up feeling that I wasn't good enough, and that no-one would love me unless I was perfect. But no-one's perfect, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/so-i-grew-up-feeling-that-i-wasn-t-good-enough-and-that-no-one-would/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Female listeners are leaving traditional talk radio because of the rough-edged, shouting nature of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/female-listeners-are-leaving-traditional-talk-radio-because-of-the/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [The most important thing to do as you age is to stay physically active. Lots of people just throw in the towel if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/the-most-important-thing-to-do-as-you-age-is-to-stay-physically/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [“I spent most of my time floating on an inflatable raft in the pristine Mediterranean waters, my big belly curving toward the sun, reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-spent-most-of-my-time-floating-on-an-inflatable-raft-in-the/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Christ was the first feminist and because of that I've learned from his teaching to call myself a Christian feminist, adding that her faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/christ-was-the-first-feminist-and-because-of-that-i-ve-learned-from/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [He's my favorite ex-husband. We get along great. I love to fish, and he has some beautiful property down there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/he-s-my-favorite-ex-husband-we-get-along-great-i-love-to-fish-and-he/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [When I'm in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/when-i-m-in-canada-i-feel-this-is-what-the-world-should-be-like/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Enjoyable does not necessarily mean easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/enjoyable-does-not-necessarily-mean-easy/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) [Explore all 303 Jane Fonda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) ## 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. 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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. 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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. 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