--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing and acting are almost…" description: "\"Writing and acting are almost diametrically opposed in terms of being an actor it's in your interest to be in shape and to be healthy and to have a str..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg" --- # Writing and acting are almost diametrically opposed in… ![“Writing and acting are almost diametrically opposed in terms of being an actor it's in your interest to be in shape and to be healthy and to have a strong voice and to be flexible. As a writer you're sitting in this position for hours on end. You get up and you can't put your shoulder down. It's…” quote by John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg) > “Writing and acting are almost diametrically opposed in terms of being an actor it's in your interest to be in shape and to be healthy and to have a strong voice and to be flexible. As a writer you're sitting in this position for hours on end. You get up and you can't put your shoulder down. It's not a healthy existence so to speak and it's probably not healthy for the person that lives with you either, but you do the best you can.” [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The physical demands of acting contrast with the sedentary nature of writing, leading to health challenges for both professions. **In simple terms:** Acting requires fitness; writing is often sedentary, causing health issues. Key Takeaway Incorporate regular movement into creative routines. Themes health creativity balance occupation well‑being Mood motivational practical supportive Type advice wellness creative productivity When to use this quote - setting up standing desks - scheduling short exercise breaks - voice warm‑ups for writers - stretching routines for actors Key Concepts ergonomics physical health mental stamina Questions to Reflect On - What simple habits can improve health while writing? - How can performers maintain fitness during long rehearsals? A Different Perspective Balancing health and creative work can be difficult without institutional support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you can just have a dialogue with an actor beforehand and shape the performance then, but other actors need more guidance on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levinson/sometimes-you-can-just-have-a-dialogue-with-an-actor-beforehand-and/) [Sam Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levinson/) > [I have a cultural background that's shaped in England, France and Germany. Bringing that in is nice, in terms of how an actor plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sammel/i-have-a-cultural-background-that-s-shaped-in-england-france-and/) [Richard Sammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sammel/) > [Somebody I love and have a huge amount of respect for once told me something that, to this day, I don't really think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/somebody-i-love-and-have-a-huge-amount-of-respect-for-once-told-me/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The health care system is really designed to reward you for being unhealthy. If you are a healthy person and work hard to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/the-health-care-system-is-really-designed-to-reward-you-for-being/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [Self-acceptance begins in infancy, with the influence of your parents and siblings and other important people. Your own level of self-acceptance is determined largely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/self-acceptance-begins-in-infancy-with-the-influence-of-your-parents/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I do spend really focused time with my wife, my kids, grandkids, and so when I'm doing something or on a golf course, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-do-spend-really-focused-time-with-my-wife-my-kids-grandkids-and-so/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [A healthy person goes 'Yes,' 'No,' and 'Whoopee!' An unhealthy person goes 'Yes, but,' 'No, but,' and 'No whoopee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/a-healthy-person-goes-yes-no-and-whoopee-an-unhealthy-person-goes-yes/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [You're - psychotic. There's something wrong with you." "I know," Benteley agreed. "I'm a sick man. And the more I see, the sicker I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-psychotic-there-s-something-wrong-with-you-i-know-benteley/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [I want to use things I learn about writing in my acting, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-chang/i-want-to-use-things-i-learn-about-writing-in-my-acting-and-vice-versa/) [Katie Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-chang/) > [I didn't always want to act. My passion was writing, and it still is one of my primary passions to this day, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-didn-t-always-want-to-act-my-passion-was-writing-and-it-still-is/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [I think there is a lot of overexplaining both in writing and acting. People don't need to be hit on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-think-there-is-a-lot-of-overexplaining-both-in-writing-and-acting/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [After graduating from University, I began directing in theatre too, and I've been directing, writing and acting ever since, which has allowed me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pollyanna-mcintosh/after-graduating-from-university-i-began-directing-in-theatre-too-and/) [Pollyanna McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pollyanna-mcintosh/) > [I take talking as seriously as I do writing, acting and stand-up. Not everybody is good at talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-hoffman/i-take-talking-as-seriously-as-i-do-writing-acting-and-stand-up-not/) [Robby Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-hoffman/) > [Actually, I was writing as I was acting - it was kind of simultaneous. I wrote on 'E20', which started this whole 'EastEnders' journey.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emer-kenny/actually-i-was-writing-as-i-was-acting-it-was-kind-of-simultaneous-i/) [Emer Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emer-kenny/) > [When you have somebody writing or acting for you, you have to be free to have them hate you so you can get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-heckerling/when-you-have-somebody-writing-or-acting-for-you-you-have-to-be-free/) [Amy Heckerling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-heckerling/) ## More by John Buffalo Mailer > [I think that if you look at places like Amsterdam and places where pot is very legal they do well with it. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-think-that-if-you-look-at-places-like-amsterdam-and-places-where/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I just I love telling stories and as long as I can make my living doing that in all the different mediums that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-just-i-love-telling-stories-and-as-long-as-i-can-make-my-living/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I think that you know you have experts in fields who spend their life studying one thing. When an event goes on that chances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-think-that-you-know-you-have-experts-in-fields-who-spend-their-life/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [It's a certain kind of human compact that obviously you lose as soon as there is a screen and a camera there, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/it-s-a-certain-kind-of-human-compact-that-obviously-you-lose-as-soon/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I think about the college graduating classes and high school classes that are coming up now they're in a unique position. I mean they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-think-about-the-college-graduating-classes-and-high-school-classes/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [What's against legalization in a practical sense? A couple of college kids figured out how to take a hemp plant and turn it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/what-s-against-legalization-in-a-practical-sense-a-couple-of-college/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I mean the price of our technology may very well end up being our humanity, so I think you got to have that balance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-mean-the-price-of-our-technology-may-very-well-end-up-being-our/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [We've been duped into believing we don't have 25 minutes to have something change our life. We don't have 2. You know, we're tweeting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/we-ve-been-duped-into-believing-we-don-t-have-25-minutes-to-have/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [My father, Norman Mailer, expected a lot from us and he really pushed us and you know one of his favorite lines was, "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/my-father-norman-mailer-expected-a-lot-from-us-and-he-really-pushed/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [Whatever the reasons, 2008 it felt as though the combination of distribution models starting to tighten and the publishing and film and music industries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/whatever-the-reasons-2008-it-felt-as-though-the-combination-of/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [My hope is that the film Wall Street 2 will actually serve as a way for us to bridge that gap between Wall Street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/my-hope-is-that-the-film-wall-street-2-will-actually-serve-as-a-way/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [You're going to find the good people and bad all around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/you-re-going-to-find-the-good-people-and-bad-all-around/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I think that one of the things that my dad was grappling with towards the end was how that shift had happened now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-think-that-one-of-the-things-that-my-dad-was-grappling-with-towards/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I'm probably most proud of the plays that I've written just because as the playwright, you know, you're God. You get to do everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-m-probably-most-proud-of-the-plays-that-i-ve-written-just-because/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) > [I remember talking to my dad about legalization in a book we did together called "The Big Empty." He was saying like, "Oh, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-remember-talking-to-my-dad-about-legalization-in-a-book-we-did/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) [Explore all 47 John Buffalo Mailer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) ## 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 > [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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing and acting are almost diametrically opposed in terms of being an actor it's in your interest to be in shape and to be healthy and to have a strong voice and to be flexible. As a writer you're sitting in this position for hours on end. You get up and you can't put your shoulder down. It's not a healthy existence so to speak and it's probably not healthy for the person that lives with you either, but you do the best you can.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Buffalo Mailer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrically-opposed-in-terms-of-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrically-opposed-in-terms-of-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/john-buffalo-mailer-14345_acting_writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrica_1602639.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing and acting are almost diametrically opposed in terms of being an actor it's in your interest to be…” — John Buffalo Mailer", "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": "John Buffalo Mailer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Writing and acting are almost diametrically...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrically-opposed-in-terms-of-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/writing-and-acting-are-almost-diametrically-opposed-in-terms-of-being/#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 } } ] } ```