--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With Shakespeare, if you're not going to…" description: "\"With Shakespeare, if you're not going to do the iambic pentameter, do some other play.\" — John C. McGinley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png" --- # With Shakespeare, if you're not going to do the iambic… ![“With Shakespeare, if you're not going to do the iambic pentameter, do some other play.” quote by John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png) > “With Shakespeare, if you're not going to do the iambic pentameter, do some other play.” [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you cannot follow a classic form, choose an alternative creative expression. **In simple terms:** Adapt your style when constraints prevent the original. Key Takeaway Be flexible in artistic choices. Themes creativity adaptation artistic freedom Mood reflective encouraging Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - theater productions - songwriting - improvisation Key Concepts iambic pentameter alternative forms Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain quality when changing form? - What alternative styles suit your voice? A Different Perspective May limit depth if the alternative lacks structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) ## Related quotes > [I adored being at the RSC and working on the verse and getting the iambic pentameter right. You just skim across the surface, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mccabe/i-adored-being-at-the-rsc-and-working-on-the-verse-and-getting-the/) [Richard McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mccabe/) > [“Could a literary life be referred to with the iambic pentameter of, say, harnessing wind power, transplanting hearts or saving the whales. Or did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-nair/could-a-literary-life-be-referred-to-with-the-iambic-pentameter-of/) [Anita Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-nair/) > [“Why do you think they don’t like me? They hired me for God’s sake. It’s not like there was any mystery about my history.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/why-do-you-think-they-don-t-like-me-they-hired-me-for-god-s-sake-it-s/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [I would talk in iambic pentameter if it were easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-nemerov/i-would-talk-in-iambic-pentameter-if-it-were-easier/) [Howard Nemerov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-nemerov/) > [The iambic pentameter owes its pre-eminence in English poetry to its genius for variation. Good blank verse does not sound like a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/the-iambic-pentameter-owes-its-pre-eminence-in-english-poetry-to-its/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [I really have no interest in delivering the iambic pentameter, I just want to kill myself. I don't mind other people doing it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-really-have-no-interest-in-delivering-the-iambic-pentameter-i-just/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [I think that happens for a lot of people, they have this idea that there's only one type of way to write poetry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-that-happens-for-a-lot-of-people-they-have-this-idea-that/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I tell you, once a girl's got a dose of novels she's a pushover for iambic pentameter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/i-tell-you-once-a-girl-s-got-a-dose-of-novels-she-s-a-pushover-for/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [I've definitely learned that if you want to have power as a woman in Shakespeare's time, and it's still relevant today, that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-ve-definitely-learned-that-if-you-want-to-have-power-as-a-woman-in/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Shakespeare put no children in his plays for a reason," Sir Godfrey muttered, glaring at Alf and Binnie. "You're forgetting the Little Prince," Polly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/shakespeare-put-no-children-in-his-plays-for-a-reason-sir-godfrey/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [“It was wonderful flirting with him, all the razor-edged literary banter, like Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. A battle of wit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/it-was-wonderful-flirting-with-him-all-the-razor-edged-literary/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [Anything well written with good language and clarity and honesty is worth doing. It comes out of the same tradition as Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/anything-well-written-with-good-language-and-clarity-and-honesty-is/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [“This was going to be worse than the time I table danced in the diner in high school!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bryson/this-was-going-to-be-worse-than-the-time-i-table-danced-in-the-diner/) [Kathy Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bryson/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) ## More by John C. McGinley > [Kanan is a big road through the Santa Monica Mountains. Between mid-March and mid-April, when you get over to the western side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/kanan-is-a-big-road-through-the-santa-monica-mountains-between-mid/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I'm just really proud of 'Dead Head Fred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-m-just-really-proud-of-dead-head-fred/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [A lot of things went incredibly well for 'Scrubs': from a ridiculous number of downloads on the iPods, to whenever they issue a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/a-lot-of-things-went-incredibly-well-for-scrubs-from-a-ridiculous/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [You know, post-production is a bit of a grind to me. If I'm producing a film, I really... I mean I like editing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/you-know-post-production-is-a-bit-of-a-grind-to-me-if-i-m-producing-a/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I'm very proud of 'Platoon,' but at the end of it I was done. I was done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-m-very-proud-of-platoon-but-at-the-end-of-it-i-was-done-i-was-done/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I felt (a) it was a great role and (b) I wanted to stay in town. I wanted to stop going to these four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-felt-a-it-was-a-great-role-and-b-i-wanted-to-stay-in-town-i-wanted/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I'm a homebody. If I'm not working I'm with my family being a dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-m-a-homebody-if-i-m-not-working-i-m-with-my-family-being-a-dad/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I'm the wrong person to not be professional around. When someone calls 'action' and we're in the frame together, I'm gonna run you over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-m-the-wrong-person-to-not-be-professional-around-when-someone-calls/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I've always thought Ed Burns was a profoundly underrated actor. He's a great director, obviously. A great director/writer. But I think he's a stunning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-ve-always-thought-ed-burns-was-a-profoundly-underrated-actor-he-s-a/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [If you can figure out where you fit into any particular story, you'll be okay. When you're not quite sure where you fit in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/if-you-can-figure-out-where-you-fit-into-any-particular-story-you-ll/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [I always wanted to be Gene Hackman and I always wanted to be, you know... I wanted to be one of these guys. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-always-wanted-to-be-gene-hackman-and-i-always-wanted-to-be-you-know/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [Groups like the NAACP, The Anti-Defamation League, NOW and GLAAD, will respond to derisive language directed at their constituents. The price paid by those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/groups-like-the-naacp-the-anti-defamation-league-now-and-glaad-will/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [If you watch 'E.T.' and say that there are holes in the story because this alien lands, then don't go to the movie! It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/if-you-watch-e-t-and-say-that-there-are-holes-in-the-story-because/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [What helps writers, and ultimately, obviously, helps the actors - who should serve the words that the writer puts on the page - is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/what-helps-writers-and-ultimately-obviously-helps-the-actors-who/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [As an actor, it's great to play a strong leader with a heart of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/as-an-actor-it-s-great-to-play-a-strong-leader-with-a-heart-of-gold/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) [Explore all 47 John C. McGinley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) ## More Play quotes > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [You play a part, and as soon as a movie is over and the camera stops, you go home and you're not really responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nastassja-kinski/you-play-a-part-and-as-soon-as-a-movie-is-over-and-the-camera-stops/) [Nastassja Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nastassja-kinski/) > [I think all children love to dress up and play make believe. It's just that I never stopped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bonnar/i-think-all-children-love-to-dress-up-and-play-make-believe-it-s-just/) [Mark Bonnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bonnar/) > [It would be awesome to play in my backyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/it-would-be-awesome-to-play-in-my-backyard/) [Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [It's a shame that when you've actually lived some life and have something to write about, they're saying you're too old to come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/it-s-a-shame-that-when-you-ve-actually-lived-some-life-and-have/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [I can play on grass - when I won Junior Wimbledon, that was an unbelievable feeling, I could not believe that I had won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/i-can-play-on-grass-when-i-won-junior-wimbledon-that-was-an/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) [Browse all 36,264 Play quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With Shakespeare, if you're not going to do the iambic pentameter, do some other play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. McGinley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to-do-the-iambic-pentameter-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Play" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to-do-the-iambic-pentameter-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/john-c-mcginley-14324_play_with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to_723553.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“With Shakespeare, if you're not going to do the iambic pentameter, do some other play.” — John C. McGinley", "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 C. McGinley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "With Shakespeare, if you're not going...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to-do-the-iambic-pentameter-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/with-shakespeare-if-you-re-not-going-to-do-the-iambic-pentameter-do/#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 } } ] } ```