--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suppose that if I could have quit, I…" description: "\"I suppose that if I could have quit, I would have, because in those days I never wanted to be an actress, the acting was something to do while I waited..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/judy-holliday-20236_acting_i-suppose-that-if-i-could-have-quit-i-wo_1219420.jpg" --- # I suppose that if I could have quit, I would have, because… ![“I suppose that if I could have quit, I would have, because in those days I never wanted to be an actress, the acting was something to do while I waited for a chance to study writing and directing. But I guess I was just meant to be an actress. Because, here I am.” quote by Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/judy-holliday-20236_acting_i-suppose-that-if-i-could-have-quit-i-wo_1219420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/judy-holliday-20236_acting_i-suppose-that-if-i-could-have-quit-i-wo_1219420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/judy-holliday-20236_acting_i-suppose-that-if-i-could-have-quit-i-wo_1219420.jpg) > “I suppose that if I could have quit, I would have, because in those days I never wanted to be an actress, the acting was something to do while I waited for a chance to study writing and directing. But I guess I was just meant to be an actress. Because, here I am.” [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She felt forced into acting but accepted it as destiny, despite initial reluctance. **In simple terms:** She reluctantly became an actress, seeing it as fate. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected paths. Themes career destiny reluctance Mood thoughtful resigned Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - creative pursuits - personal growth Key Concepts Theatre film industry Questions to Reflect On - What would you have done differently? - How do you reconcile passion with necessity? A Different Perspective Career choices can feel constrained by circumstance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Waited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-waited-3729008/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actress Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress-acting-1562502/) [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [If i could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-i-could/) [Meant Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-actress-1981039/) [Meant to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-to-be/) [Quitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quitting/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Suppose Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppose-quit-3729009/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I never meant to be an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-shetty/i-never-meant-to-be-an-actress/) [Anushka Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-shetty/) > [I was the youngest of five, and I think my mother always knew I was meant to be an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-huppert/i-was-the-youngest-of-five-and-i-think-my-mother-always-knew-i-was/) [Isabelle Huppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-huppert/) > [I never really decided to be an actress, but I got an agent, was called back on every show I auditioned for, and finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-tweed/i-never-really-decided-to-be-an-actress-but-i-got-an-agent-was-called/) [Shannon Tweed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-tweed/) > [“Is she a very clever little actress, acting a part? Or is she a genuine semi-moronic suicidal victim?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/is-she-a-very-clever-little-actress-acting-a-part-or-is-she-a-genuine/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I never wanted to be an actress. Acting wasn't in my mind. It wasn't in my calculations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esme-creed-miles/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-actress-acting-wasn-t-in-my-mind-it-wasn-t-in/) [Esme Creed-Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esme-creed-miles/) > [I am an actress and acting is my passion... period!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lahti/i-am-an-actress-and-acting-is-my-passion-period/) [Christine Lahti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lahti/) > [I think of myself as only being an actress when I'm acting, but my friends will say I act all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-seldes/i-think-of-myself-as-only-being-an-actress-when-i-m-acting-but-my/) [Marian Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-seldes/) > [The only thing I like about being an actress is acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ashley/the-only-thing-i-like-about-being-an-actress-is-acting/) [Elizabeth Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ashley/) > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I would prefer to have a more appealing job. If I could still change careers, I would prefer it. This unfortunate art is made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-claudel/i-would-prefer-to-have-a-more-appealing-job-if-i-could-still-change/) [Camille Claudel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-claudel/) > [It's a hard life... but if I could, I would do it all again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-makarova/it-s-a-hard-life-but-if-i-could-i-would-do-it-all-again/) [Natalia Makarova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-makarova/) > [I grew up in San Diego, so it wasn't hard to move to L.A. to get into show business, but I did the standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-grew-up-in-san-diego-so-it-wasn-t-hard-to-move-to-l-a-to-get-into/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [If I could ever be on a Missy Elliott record, I could then die. Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige - I love hearing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/if-i-could-ever-be-on-a-missy-elliott-record-i-could-then-die-missy/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [If I could find the right kind of property, get tied in with the right movie, I'd love to be involved, but I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/if-i-could-find-the-right-kind-of-property-get-tied-in-with-the-right/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) ## More by Judy Holliday > [I'm a born and bred New Yorker. I belong here. Everytime I leave it's like losing a leg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/i-m-a-born-and-bred-new-yorker-i-belong-here-everytime-i-leave-it-s/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [Nobody can give a good performance unless the authors and composers have written a good part, a fact which is often overlooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/nobody-can-give-a-good-performance-unless-the-authors-and-composers/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [Lovers have a right to betray you... friends don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/lovers-have-a-right-to-betray-you-friends-don-t/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [It's tough when take 1 is technically okay and take 2 has better acting. Out here (Hollywood) they print the first one. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/it-s-tough-when-take-1-is-technically-okay-and-take-2-has-better/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [We were wavering around like a ship without a sail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/we-were-wavering-around-like-a-ship-without-a-sail/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [It meant as much to me as winning the Oscar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/it-meant-as-much-to-me-as-winning-the-oscar/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [Acting is a very limited form of expression and those who take it seriously are very limited people. I take it seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/acting-is-a-very-limited-form-of-expression-and-those-who-take-it/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [I think Billie is the kind of girl who would let her hips swing loose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/i-think-billie-is-the-kind-of-girl-who-would-let-her-hips-swing-loose/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [We gained a great deal of prestige, but not much money. We liked to work so much we couldn't hide it and the club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/we-gained-a-great-deal-of-prestige-but-not-much-money-we-liked-to/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [I am not a member of any organization listed by the Attorney General as subversive. In any instance where I lent my name in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/i-am-not-a-member-of-any-organization-listed-by-the-attorney-general/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [I've always loved words. I ate up all the books I could get my hands on, and when I couldn't get books, I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/i-ve-always-loved-words-i-ate-up-all-the-books-i-could-get-my-hands/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [He didn't maintain my illusion of myself, he gave me an illusion of myself. Before I met him, I never thought of myself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/he-didn-t-maintain-my-illusion-of-myself-he-gave-me-an-illusion-of/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [I hated the whole idea of being an actress. I used to throw up before every performance and cry afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/i-hated-the-whole-idea-of-being-an-actress-i-used-to-throw-up-before/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [People have a hard time making me dress up to look like a classy gal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/people-have-a-hard-time-making-me-dress-up-to-look-like-a-classy-gal/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [Of course I work hard. Why shouldn't I? Who am I to think I should get things the easy way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/of-course-i-work-hard-why-shouldn-t-i-who-am-i-to-think-i-should-get/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) [Explore all 31 Judy Holliday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I suppose that if I could have quit, I would have, because in those days I never wanted to be an actress, the acting was something to do while I waited for a chance to study writing and directing. But I guess I was just meant to be an actress. 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