--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We moved around a lot when I was growing…" description: "\"We moved around a lot when I was growing up. I was always the new kid in class, but I was good at making friends. With an upbringing like that, I was e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/john-lithgow-2438_friendship_we-moved-around-a-lot-when-i-was-growing_2975019.jpg" --- # We moved around a lot when I was growing up. I was always… ![“We moved around a lot when I was growing up. I was always the new kid in class, but I was good at making friends. With an upbringing like that, I was either going to become an actor or a politician. Thank God I became an actor! I'm not cut out for politics.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/john-lithgow-2438_friendship_we-moved-around-a-lot-when-i-was-growing_2975019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/john-lithgow-2438_friendship_we-moved-around-a-lot-when-i-was-growing_2975019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/john-lithgow-2438_friendship_we-moved-around-a-lot-when-i-was-growing_2975019.jpg) > “We moved around a lot when I was growing up. I was always the new kid in class, but I was good at making friends. With an upbringing like that, I was either going to become an actor or a politician. Thank God I became an actor! I'm not cut out for politics.” [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. Growing up as a perpetual newcomer taught him social adaptability, leading to a career in acting rather than politics. **In simple terms:** Being the new kid made him good at making friends, steering him to acting. Key Takeaway Leverage frequent moves to build social skills. Themes adaptability identity career choice social dynamics Mood reflective optimistic Type personal career When to use this quote - school transitions - networking events - auditions - community projects Key Concepts psychology performance arts political science Questions to Reflect On - How did constant relocation shape your confidence? - Could the same skill benefit other professions? A Different Perspective Acting may not suit everyone despite social skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Making friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-friends/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing/) ## Related quotes > [It's really the story of a young woman, or two women, growing up in Naples in a poor neighborhood. 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And I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/what-was-i-qualified-to-do-to-make-a-living-nothing-you-don-t-need/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [The unfortunate part of being an actor-politician is that people feel an actor will not take her political commitments seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/the-unfortunate-part-of-being-an-actor-politician-is-that-people-feel/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [I'm an actor, I'm not a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-an-actor-i-m-not-a-politician/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look, I'm an actor, I'm not a politician. I'm not a statistician. I'm not a legislator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/look-i-m-an-actor-i-m-not-a-politician-i-m-not-a-statistician-i-m-not/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [Is there any fixed qualification for becoming a journalist who can ask questions? There is no such thing, then why a film actor can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagma/is-there-any-fixed-qualification-for-becoming-a-journalist-who-can/) [Nagma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagma/) > [You don't need qualifications as an actor or a politician. And I didn't want to be a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/you-don-t-need-qualifications-as-an-actor-or-a-politician-and-i-didn/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [Celebrity stalkers also are not necessarily fixated on one person as the public thinks. Rather, they tend to switch targets, going from, say, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/celebrity-stalkers-also-are-not-necessarily-fixated-on-one-person-as/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [I'm an actor I'm not a politician. I always kick myself when I talk too much about family, or personal things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/i-m-an-actor-i-m-not-a-politician-i-always-kick-myself-when-i-talk/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [Anyone that chooses to be an actor or politician is making a choice to lead their life in the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/anyone-that-chooses-to-be-an-actor-or-politician-is-making-a-choice/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [Whatever expectations I had for myself, none of them have come to pass. I grew up thinking I was going to be an actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/whatever-expectations-i-had-for-myself-none-of-them-have-come-to-pass/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [I never thought I was going to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-never-thought-i-was-going-to-be-an-actor/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [Where I come from, you don't just say, 'Oh, I'm going to become an actor.' Talk like that and they think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-pompeo/where-i-come-from-you-don-t-just-say-oh-i-m-going-to-become-an-actor/) [Ellen Pompeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-pompeo/) > [I wasn't going to be an actor. I was going to be a lawyer. I came from a family just above working class, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-butler/i-wasn-t-going-to-be-an-actor-i-was-going-to-be-a-lawyer-i-came-from/) [Gerard Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-butler/) ## 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 Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [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/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) Unknow > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) [Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We moved around a lot when I was growing up. 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