--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped…" description: "\"When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped onto something that was already a steaming locomotive of a hit. It was very exciting for me because I knew, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg" --- # When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped onto something… ![“When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped onto something that was already a steaming locomotive of a hit. It was very exciting for me because I knew, the moment I got the 'West Wing' job, 'Well, hey, so now I'm on a hit show because it already is established and very popular.'” quote by Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg) > “When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped onto something that was already a steaming locomotive of a hit. It was very exciting for me because I knew, the moment I got the 'West Wing' job, 'Well, hey, so now I'm on a hit show because it already is established and very popular.'” [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes joining an already successful TV show as stepping onto a fast‑moving, popular train, feeling excitement and validation. **In simple terms:** Joining a hit show feels like hopping onto a fast train. Key Takeaway Embrace opportunities that align with proven success. Themes career opportunity validation Mood excited confident Type reflective career When to use this quote - job interviews - networking - project selection Key Concepts media industry career strategy Questions to Reflect On - How will you sustain your contribution? - What risks come with high‑profile projects? A Different Perspective Success may bring pressure to maintain performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Locomotive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locomotive/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [West wing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-wing/) ## Related quotes > [“He had laid his head back until his scalp had contacted his spine, that far back, and opened his throat, and a sound rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-johnson/he-had-laid-his-head-back-until-his-scalp-had-contacted-his-spine/) [Denis Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-johnson/) > [A lot of things work better in a locomotive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/a-lot-of-things-work-better-in-a-locomotive/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The best way to see a country is from the footplate of a locomotive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dow/the-best-way-to-see-a-country-is-from-the-footplate-of-a-locomotive/) George Dow > [We used to take a used locomotive engine, tear it down, rebuild it, and put it back out there. We treated all the engines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-s-miller/we-used-to-take-a-used-locomotive-engine-tear-it-down-rebuild-it-and/) [Jamie S. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-s-miller/) > [In January 2012, Caterpillar locked out union workers at a locomotive factory in Ontario after they rejected a pay cut of about 50 percent;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/in-january-2012-caterpillar-locked-out-union-workers-at-a-locomotive/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [Horses and mules, and even sail cars, made more rapid progress than did the earliest locomotive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-moody/horses-and-mules-and-even-sail-cars-made-more-rapid-progress-than-did/) [John Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-moody/) > [“I am fond of lovely old words like 'locomotive'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-am-fond-of-lovely-old-words-like-locomotive/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“A book is a machine to think with, but it need not, therefore, usurp the functions either of the bellows or the locomotive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivor-a-richards/a-book-is-a-machine-to-think-with-but-it-need-not-therefore-usurp-the/) [Ivor A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivor-a-richards/) > [I am a runaway locomotive outta my one-track mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-runaway-locomotive-outta-my-one-track-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of my earliest memories of something that caught my attention was of a steam locomotive. I guess mainly because they have so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-peebles/one-of-my-earliest-memories-of-something-that-caught-my-attention-was/) [Jim Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-peebles/) > [To tell the truth, in Pacific 231 I was on the trail of a very abstract and quite ideal concept, by giving the impression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-honegger/to-tell-the-truth-in-pacific-231-i-was-on-the-trail-of-a-very/) [Arthur Honegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-honegger/) > [“The great trains are going out all over Europe, one by one, but still, three times a week, the Orient Express thunders superbly over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-great-trains-are-going-out-all-over-europe-one-by-one-but-still/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [I would love to do much more singing; it's just one of those things where I can't quite describe what it feels like when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-would-love-to-do-much-more-singing-it-s-just-one-of-those-things/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [“They went through the last of the cars and then walked up the track to the locomotive and climbed up to the catwalk. Rust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-went-through-the-last-of-the-cars-and-then-walked-up-the-track/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [Our prayers lay the track down which Gods power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/our-prayers-lay-the-track-down-which-gods-power-can-come-like-a/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## More by Joshua Malina > [Someone on the internet referred to me as 'that horrible little man who's replacing Rob Lowe', which is hurtful, because I think of myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/someone-on-the-internet-referred-to-me-as-that-horrible-little-man/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I won't divulge the details, but there's a way to call somebody's phone and have whatever number you want appear on the caller I.D.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-won-t-divulge-the-details-but-there-s-a-way-to-call-somebody-s/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I delight in embarrassing somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-delight-in-embarrassing-somebody-else/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I plan someday to do a one-man show based solely on the e-mails of Bellamy Young. And people will think I've written a brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-plan-someday-to-do-a-one-man-show-based-solely-on-the-e-mails-of/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I've been on plenty of things that never took off, and I've been on one thing, 'The West Wing,' that was a big hit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-ve-been-on-plenty-of-things-that-never-took-off-and-i-ve-been-on/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I like to get my 10,000 steps in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-like-to-get-my-10-000-steps-in/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I'm incapable of truly relaxing. I remember when I was younger and less wise or experienced, actors that I knew would always talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-m-incapable-of-truly-relaxing-i-remember-when-i-was-younger-and/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [Now everybody's got a video camera, so go make videos with your friends or see if you can get a part in a film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/now-everybody-s-got-a-video-camera-so-go-make-videos-with-your/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I always wanted to be an actor. It sort of prevented that whole - I never had any of that kind of angsty period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-it-sort-of-prevented-that-whole-i/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I like to put shaving cream in the door handle of people's cars and that kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-like-to-put-shaving-cream-in-the-door-handle-of-people-s-cars-and/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I think if you stand me up next to Rob Lowe, it's like we represent two different species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-think-if-you-stand-me-up-next-to-rob-lowe-it-s-like-we-represent/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [It's very easy to divide a long shoot day into 15 or 20 rounds of 'What do I eat next?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/it-s-very-easy-to-divide-a-long-shoot-day-into-15-or-20-rounds-of/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [Aaron Sorkin has been incredibly good to me; I don't know that I would have an acting career without him. Thanks to him, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/aaron-sorkin-has-been-incredibly-good-to-me-i-don-t-know-that-i-would/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [Jon Favreau hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/jon-favreau-hates-me/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [A lot of people stop me to say nice things about 'The West Wing,' nice things about 'Sports Night' - so many people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/a-lot-of-people-stop-me-to-say-nice-things-about-the-west-wing-nice/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) [Explore all 45 Joshua Malina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) ## More Job quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [My very first real job in the industry was as a production assistant on a show called 'Infinity Factory' in 1976.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/my-very-first-real-job-in-the-industry-was-as-a-production-assistant/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [Every coach in the league does an unbelievable job, and they're prepared and think you're going to outcoach people, or you think that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/every-coach-in-the-league-does-an-unbelievable-job-and-they-re/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > [I have to justify my job every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/i-have-to-justify-my-job-every-day/) [Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-is-dependent-upon-the-roles/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) [Browse all 7,753 Job quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped onto something that was already a steaming locomotive of a hit. It was very exciting for me because I knew, the moment I got the 'West Wing' job, 'Well, hey, so now I'm on a hit show because it already is established and very popular.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joshua Malina" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-onto-something-that-was-already/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Job" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-onto-something-that-was-already/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/joshua-malina-14672_job_when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-on_1251603.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I came on 'The West Wing,' I jumped onto something that was already a steaming locomotive of a hit. It…” — Joshua Malina", "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": "Joshua Malina", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I came on 'The West...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-onto-something-that-was-already/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/when-i-came-on-the-west-wing-i-jumped-onto-something-that-was-already/#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 } } ] } ```