--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Voice work is fun. But about…" description: "\"Voice work is fun. But about three-quarters of the things you enjoy about acting are just not there. You're not working with another actor; you're not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/john-lithgow-2438_abstract_voice-work-is-fun-but-about-three-quarte_2662973.jpg" --- # Voice work is fun. But about three-quarters of the things… ![“Voice work is fun. But about three-quarters of the things you enjoy about acting are just not there. You're not working with another actor; you're not working with an audience. You're just working with a bunch of writers and a microphone. It's very abstract.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/john-lithgow-2438_abstract_voice-work-is-fun-but-about-three-quarte_2662973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/john-lithgow-2438_abstract_voice-work-is-fun-but-about-three-quarte_2662973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/john-lithgow-2438_abstract_voice-work-is-fun-but-about-three-quarte_2662973.jpg) > “Voice work is fun. But about three-quarters of the things you enjoy about acting are just not there. You're not working with another actor; you're not working with an audience. You're just working with a bunch of writers and a microphone. It's very abstract.” [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. Acting can feel abstract and isolated when lacking interaction with fellow actors or audience. **In simple terms:** Acting may feel solitary. Key Takeaway Seek collaborative environments. Themes acting isolation creativity Mood reflective creative Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - rehearsals - workshops - solo recordings Key Concepts theatre performance art Questions to Reflect On - How can you simulate audience presence? - What collaborative tools enhance remote performance? A Different Perspective Missing live feedback can limit creative energy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-actor/) ## Related quotes > [You know, working as an actor, I'm always working within my own imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-working-as-an-actor-i-m-always-working-within-my-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I came to Mumbai, I knew that I am an actor but I am not a working actor. To keep this actor alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/when-i-came-to-mumbai-i-knew-that-i-am-an-actor-but-i-am-not-a/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [I wanted to be a working actor, but I like being anonymous. So to me, voice work was the way to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russi-taylor/i-wanted-to-be-a-working-actor-but-i-like-being-anonymous-so-to-me/) [Russi Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russi-taylor/) > [“My basic profession is as an actor, and I have learnt much about life through working as an actor. Working as an actor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-dhyan-giten/my-basic-profession-is-as-an-actor-and-i-have-learnt-much-about-life/) [Swami Dhyan Giten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-dhyan-giten/) > [I happen to be one of those lucky people who says that she's a working actor. And to always be working is very fulfilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/i-happen-to-be-one-of-those-lucky-people-who-says-that-she-s-a/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [For an actor to be working at all is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/for-an-actor-to-be-working-at-all-is-a-kind-of-miracle-because-most/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [I think L.A.'s terrific. You fly an hour and a half and you're in the mountains in three feet of powder. I also think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-think-l-a-s-terrific-you-fly-an-hour-and-a-half-and-you-re-in-the/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [When people are bothering you constantly when you're trying to do just a simple thing that humans do every day but they won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-people-are-bothering-you-constantly-when-you-re-trying-to-do/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I still enjoy acting. I love the moment in front of the camera, but it's all the other moments that I don't enjoy. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-garth/i-still-enjoy-acting-i-love-the-moment-in-front-of-the-camera-but-it/) [Jennie Garth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-garth/) > [I just enjoy acting, whatever area - theatre, film, television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dockery/i-just-enjoy-acting-whatever-area-theatre-film-television/) [Michelle Dockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dockery/) > [I admit, music is my first love. I enjoy acting but I couldn't give up my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scatman-crothers/i-admit-music-is-my-first-love-i-enjoy-acting-but-i-couldn-t-give-up/) [Scatman Crothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scatman-crothers/) > [If the character is getting mad, getting upset or getting turned on, you're getting to see that in the facial tones and the skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rooker/if-the-character-is-getting-mad-getting-upset-or-getting-turned-on/) [Michael Rooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rooker/) > [I taught for a semester, but couldn't work out my teaching schedule with my acting schedule because they just didn't jive. So, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-burstein/i-taught-for-a-semester-but-couldn-t-work-out-my-teaching-schedule/) [Danny Burstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-burstein/) > [You have to love, without judgment, every actor that you're working with to make beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/you-have-to-love-without-judgment-every-actor-that-you-re-working/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [There's a level of confidence in the actor you're working with that really helps a lot. It makes all the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/there-s-a-level-of-confidence-in-the-actor-you-re-working-with-that/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) ## 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. 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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 Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) Anthony W. Ivins > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... 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