--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't imagine ever not doing [acting]…" description: "\"I can't imagine ever not doing [acting]. I would feel like I would have lost a limb. But I am older now, and sometimes I wonder who I would have been a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/jodie-foster-2055_acting_i-can-t-imagine-ever-not-doing-acting-i_768491.jpg" --- # I can't imagine ever not doing \[acting\]. I would feel like… ![“I can't imagine ever not doing [acting]. I would feel like I would have lost a limb. But I am older now, and sometimes I wonder who I would have been and what about me would have changed had I not had these experiences as a young person” quote by Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/jodie-foster-2055_acting_i-can-t-imagine-ever-not-doing-acting-i_768491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/jodie-foster-2055_acting_i-can-t-imagine-ever-not-doing-acting-i_768491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/jodie-foster-2055_acting_i-can-t-imagine-ever-not-doing-acting-i_768491.jpg) > “I can't imagine ever not doing \[acting\]. I would feel like I would have lost a limb. But I am older now, and sometimes I wonder who I would have been and what about me would have changed had I not had these experiences as a young person” [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is integral to identity; without it, one feels a loss of self, yet reflection reveals possible alternate paths. **In simple terms:** Acting shaped her sense of self. Key Takeaway Consider how passions define you. Themes identity art self‑discovery Mood thoughtful introspective Type personal reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - creative pursuits - life transitions - mentoring Key Concepts career personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What would you pursue if you stopped your current passion? - How does your art influence your personal growth? A Different Perspective Passion may limit exploration of other interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-feel-952411/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Doing Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-acting/) [Experiences Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences-young-1657722/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Limbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limbs/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost Limb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-limb-2010314/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Sometimes i wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes-i-wonder/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [Ever since I lost my limb and started walking with a prosthetic leg, I had been working only on my goal of conquering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/ever-since-i-lost-my-limb-and-started-walking-with-a-prosthetic-leg-i/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [Ultimately, what really matters is not just the experiences you have at a young age, but whether or not you are equipped-by your parents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-jameson/ultimately-what-really-matters-is-not-just-the-experiences-you-have/) [Jenna Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-jameson/) > [I'm willing to share my experiences with any young quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-m-willing-to-share-my-experiences-with-any-young-quarterback/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I think we all have experiences when we were young where we either had an interaction with someone we admired or you know, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/i-think-we-all-have-experiences-when-we-were-young-where-we-either/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [I will say what I want to say. I had some homosexual experiences as a young person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/i-will-say-what-i-want-to-say-i-had-some-homosexual-experiences-as-a/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [In the beginning, I aspired just to make a comfortable living in acting. I still feel the same - it's just that my standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/in-the-beginning-i-aspired-just-to-make-a-comfortable-living-in/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I do feel even though now I'm acting, I still feel like I'm going to do a lot of other things, like write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-fox/i-do-feel-even-though-now-i-m-acting-i-still-feel-like-i-m-going-to/) [Julia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-fox/) > [I'm sort of coming of age into a different time of acting, and I feel kind of like a kid again. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jena-malone/i-m-sort-of-coming-of-age-into-a-different-time-of-acting-and-i-feel/) [Jena Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jena-malone/) > [I don't really make a distinction because when I'm acting, I feel like an actor, and when I DJ, I feel like a DJ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-nairn/i-don-t-really-make-a-distinction-because-when-i-m-acting-i-feel-like/) [Kristian Nairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-nairn/) > [I still have my original love for acting. That's why I feel so lucky. I think that's what sustains me in the sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-still-have-my-original-love-for-acting-that-s-why-i-feel-so-lucky-i/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I get to meet fantastic people, and I get to go through so many emotions. For me, I have a craving for that. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-parker/i-get-to-meet-fantastic-people-and-i-get-to-go-through-so-many/) [Christopher Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-parker/) > [The term papers make me more crazy, because they involve more variables I cannot directly control! With acting, I feel more power-like I'm making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/the-term-papers-make-me-more-crazy-because-they-involve-more/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) > [I'm having so much fun building my makeup business, and it's a huge responsibility. It's not a side job. The more it can run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-m-having-so-much-fun-building-my-makeup-business-and-it-s-a-huge/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I've never felt terribly attached to acting because I always feel like the world is really big and really interesting, and there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-ve-never-felt-terribly-attached-to-acting-because-i-always-feel/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [I love theater - it's where every actor should begin, the core of acting. But I feel that there's something about film that's captivating;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/i-love-theater-it-s-where-every-actor-should-begin-the-core-of-acting/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) ## More by Jodie Foster > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I spent a lot of time not in school, so I didn't have deep relationships with kids my own age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-not-in-school-so-i-didn-t-have-deep/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Let how you live your life stand for something, no matter how small and incidental it may seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/let-how-you-live-your-life-stand-for-something-no-matter-how-small/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Look, it's terrible, I know, but weakness really, really bugs me, to the point that if there is a wounded bird on the sidewalk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/look-it-s-terrible-i-know-but-weakness-really-really-bugs-me-to-the/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I want to be inspiring to myself, to my kids, my family, and my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-want-to-be-inspiring-to-myself-to-my-kids-my-family-and-my-friends/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Well, I certainly was exposed to and learned to appreciate the work of great directors early on. As a kid, my mother used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/well-i-certainly-was-exposed-to-and-learned-to-appreciate-the-work-of/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Sometimes, you really don't understand why something is important to you until you get halfway through the movie - or maybe even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/sometimes-you-really-don-t-understand-why-something-is-important-to/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I think I missed all of the wonderful things ... I missed the control that you have in film, and I missed getting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-think-i-missed-all-of-the-wonderful-things-i-missed-the-control/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [But the reason I became, why I wanted to be in the business was because there was Midnight Cowboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/but-the-reason-i-became-why-i-wanted-to-be-in-the-business-was/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I'm a technician. I don't go for the get-into-the-role stuff. I read the lines and play the scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-m-a-technician-i-don-t-go-for-the-get-into-the-role-stuff-i-read/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Casting is a long process for me. I take a lot of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/casting-is-a-long-process-for-me-i-take-a-lot-of-time/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago in the stone age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-already-did-my-coming-out-about-a-thousand-years-ago-in-the-stone/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Where I have problems is when I am in the midst of doing something that I am completely focused on, and then I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/where-i-have-problems-is-when-i-am-in-the-midst-of-doing-something/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I was one of those avid moviegoers as a kid, and we didn't have video, so we went to see everything five times. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-was-one-of-those-avid-moviegoers-as-a-kid-and-we-didn-t-have-video/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [When I go into the stores, I pet the saddles. Until security comes and takes me away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/when-i-go-into-the-stores-i-pet-the-saddles-until-security-comes-and/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) [Explore all 189 Jodie Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## 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. 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. 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. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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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