--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went to Princeton High School, when I…" description: "\"I went to Princeton High School, when I was very serious about being an artist. I was in a theatre family but I didn't want to become an actor.\" — John..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/john-lithgow-2438_actors_i-went-to-princeton-high-school-when-i-w_1704550.jpg" --- # I went to Princeton High School, when I was very serious… ![“I went to Princeton High School, when I was very serious about being an artist. I was in a theatre family but I didn't want to become an actor.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/john-lithgow-2438_actors_i-went-to-princeton-high-school-when-i-w_1704550.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/john-lithgow-2438_actors_i-went-to-princeton-high-school-when-i-w_1704550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/john-lithgow-2438_actors_i-went-to-princeton-high-school-when-i-w_1704550.jpg) > “I went to Princeton High School, when I was very serious about being an artist. I was in a theatre family but I didn't want to become an actor.” [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serious artistic ambition can coexist with a non‑acting family background, shaping unique paths. **In simple terms:** Artistic drive despite family expectations. Key Takeaway Pursue your own creative vision. Themes art identity family expectations Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - educational decisions - family dynamics - creative projects Key Concepts career development self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How did your family influence your art? - What defines your artistic identity? A Different Perspective Family pressure may limit exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Being an artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-an-artist/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Princeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princeton/) [Princeton High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princeton-high-1184174/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-artist-1184175/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-actor/) [Went Princeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-princeton-231527/) ## Related quotes > [I went to Princeton High School when I was very serious about being an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-went-to-princeton-high-school-when-i-was-very-serious-about-being-2/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I went to Princeton, I minored in women's studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/i-went-to-princeton-i-minored-in-women-s-studies/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [Bottom line: nothing of note happened when I was a youngster, really. I went to Princeton, which is where I met my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/bottom-line-nothing-of-note-happened-when-i-was-a-youngster-really-i/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [I went to Illinois. Most people think I went to Princeton or something. But I was never a diligent student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-went-to-illinois-most-people-think-i-went-to-princeton-or-something/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I grew up in a little town in Minnesota, 500 people. I went out to Princeton, and I wasn't very well-accepted out there by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/i-grew-up-in-a-little-town-in-minnesota-500-people-i-went-out-to/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [I went to Princeton in the fall of 1930 as a half-time instructor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cole-kleene/i-went-to-princeton-in-the-fall-of-1930-as-a-half-time-instructor/) [Stephen Cole Kleene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cole-kleene/) > [I guess I've always been an aspiring novelist. I went to Princeton and wrote a novel for my thesis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gordon/i-guess-i-ve-always-been-an-aspiring-novelist-i-went-to-princeton-and/) [Howard Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gordon/) > [I went to Princeton specifically to study physics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/i-went-to-princeton-specifically-to-study-physics/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [I went to Princeton from Amherst, where I split my interests between mathematics and philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cole-kleene/i-went-to-princeton-from-amherst-where-i-split-my-interests-between/) [Stephen Cole Kleene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cole-kleene/) > [I always drew. I was, you know, the school artist. I was the person who made the posters for the prom. That's who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-always-drew-i-was-you-know-the-school-artist-i-was-the-person-who/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I went to Princeton to major in comparative literature. I never went to film school, but I studied storytelling across mediums - poems, literature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/i-went-to-princeton-to-major-in-comparative-literature-i-never-went/) [Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/) > [Growing up I didn't want to be an actor. I sort of didn't want to go into the family business; the main reason being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/growing-up-i-didn-t-want-to-be-an-actor-i-sort-of-didn-t-want-to-go/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-have-spent-my-years-since-princeton-while-at-law-school-and-in-my/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I'd assumed that a deal was a deal when Princeton admitted me, but I was wrong. The price of getting in - to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/i-d-assumed-that-a-deal-was-a-deal-when-princeton-admitted-me-but-i/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [When one considers our nation's educational foundations - Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian - it becomes evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/when-one-considers-our-nation-s-educational-foundations-harvard-yale/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) ## More by John Lithgow > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The Broadway audience is made up of a greater percentage of tourists now. There's not nearly as much variety and danger and challenge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-broadway-audience-is-made-up-of-a-greater-percentage-of-tourists/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My sense of myself is that I'm a character actor, and character actors are ready, willing, and able to do anything, to be totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-sense-of-myself-is-that-i-m-a-character-actor-and-character-actors/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The essence of comedy, drama, and horror is surprise. I have an uncanny ability to surprise people because they look at my face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-essence-of-comedy-drama-and-horror-is-surprise-i-have-an-uncanny/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I never get tired of hearing compliments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I think there are all sorts of ways of turning into an actor, and there are a vast variety of different actors. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-think-there-are-all-sorts-of-ways-of-turning-into-an-actor-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'd sleep under a Vermeer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-d-sleep-under-a-vermeer/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm an avid Boston Red Sox fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-an-avid-boston-red-sox-fan/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My very first role was when I was 2 1/2 years old; I was one of Nora's children in 'A Doll's House,' with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-very-first-role-was-when-i-was-2-1-2-years-old-i-was-one-of-nora-s/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm as flighty as anybody. You put a lot out there. I've been through the process a lot. When I play a major role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-as-flighty-as-anybody-you-put-a-lot-out-there-i-ve-been-through/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [We all grow up with inherited genes and inherited sensibilities, and they run very, very deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/we-all-grow-up-with-inherited-genes-and-inherited-sensibilities-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I don't deal with the nuts and bolts of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-don-t-deal-with-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-life/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My worst audition was for Tim Burton for 'Batman.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-worst-audition-was-for-tim-burton-for-batman/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I gave up shame a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-gave-up-shame-a-long-time-ago/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/time-sneaks-up-on-you-like-a-windshield-on-a-bug/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) [Explore all 166 John Lithgow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went to Princeton High School, when I was very serious about being an artist. 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