--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idleness does drive me crazy, but I'd…" description: "\"Idleness does drive me crazy, but I'd rather read or write than do anything just to work. A kind of respect has been instilled in me for acting: I love..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/karen-allen-13954_acting_idleness-does-drive-me-crazy-but-i-d-rat_1964264.jpg" --- # Idleness does drive me crazy, but I'd rather read or write… ![“Idleness does drive me crazy, but I'd rather read or write than do anything just to work. A kind of respect has been instilled in me for acting: I love it too much to ever have a bad relationship with it.” quote by Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/karen-allen-13954_acting_idleness-does-drive-me-crazy-but-i-d-rat_1964264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/karen-allen-13954_acting_idleness-does-drive-me-crazy-but-i-d-rat_1964264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/karen-allen-13954_acting_idleness-does-drive-me-crazy-but-i-d-rat_1964264.jpg) > “Idleness does drive me crazy, but I'd rather read or write than do anything just to work. A kind of respect has been instilled in me for acting: I love it too much to ever have a bad relationship with it.” [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker prefers intellectual pursuits over forced labor, valuing creative work as a respectful relationship. **In simple terms:** Prefers reading/writing to forced work. Key Takeaway Choose creative work over meaningless tasks. Themes creativity work ethic respect self‑direction Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing - studying - personal projects - volunteer work Key Concepts intrinsic motivation personal values Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance creative passions with financial responsibilities? - What tasks feel meaningful versus merely obligatory? A Different Perspective May overlook practical necessities of earning a living. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Bad relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-relationship/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Drive me crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drive-me-crazy/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Idleness Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness-does-3260479/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Read Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-write/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-just/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Idleness as a waste of time is a damaging notion put about by its spiritually vacant enemies. The fact that idling can be enormously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/idleness-as-a-waste-of-time-is-a-damaging-notion-put-about-by-its/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [“Idleness does not consist in doing nothing, but in doing a great deal not recognized in the dogmatic formualries of the ruling class.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/idleness-does-not-consist-in-doing-nothing-but-in-doing-a-great-deal/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [The secret is to write just anything, to dare to write just anything, because when you write just anything, you begin to say what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-green/the-secret-is-to-write-just-anything-to-dare-to-write-just-anything/) [Julien Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-green/) > [I write just because the fire of my emotion is burning. Had I not, I would not have been able to find peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ba-jin/i-write-just-because-the-fire-of-my-emotion-is-burning-had-i-not-i/) [Ba Jin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ba-jin/) > [The key to being a wonderful writer is not to write. You just get out of the way. Leave room for God to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/the-key-to-being-a-wonderful-writer-is-not-to-write-you-just-get-out/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [You can't be a writer if you don't write, it's just that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-can-t-be-a-writer-if-you-don-t-write-it-s-just-that-simple/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page a day, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/abandon-the-idea-that-you-are-ever-going-to-finish-lose-track-of-the/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Just write. It doesn't matter what you write. Just sit at your desk and write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/just-write-it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-write-just-sit-at-your-desk-and/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [Too much to write... Just read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-much-to-write-just-read-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I write just knowing that I enjoy writing. But if I have to write, it seems like nothing comes. But when I go there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrae-crouch/i-write-just-knowing-that-i-enjoy-writing-but-if-i-have-to-write-it/) [Andrae Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrae-crouch/) > [All the best songs are, I think, the easiest write because they just come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/all-the-best-songs-are-i-think-the-easiest-write-because-they-just/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [I'm a person who, when I set out to write, I write. It's just like when you set out to eat, you eat, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-m-a-person-who-when-i-set-out-to-write-i-write-it-s-just-like-when/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I think a lot of the writing, you know, I write is just kind of like that where, you know. I write exactly how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/i-think-a-lot-of-the-writing-you-know-i-write-is-just-kind-of-like/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) ## More by Karen Allen > [My son was born somewhat late in my life and I just found myself really feeling like I didn't want to miss out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/my-son-was-born-somewhat-late-in-my-life-and-i-just-found-myself/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I have to say from an actor's perspective, to work with a director who has been an actor through most of their career is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-have-to-say-from-an-actor-s-perspective-to-work-with-a-director-who/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I thought, I need to reinvent myself. I want every day of life to be wonderful, fascinating, interesting, creative. And what am I gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-thought-i-need-to-reinvent-myself-i-want-every-day-of-life-to-be/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [People want to see a movie that casts a mature woman across from a mature man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/people-want-to-see-a-movie-that-casts-a-mature-woman-across-from-a/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I don't necessarily like being defined by my profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-don-t-necessarily-like-being-defined-by-my-profession/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I watch many, many, many independent films every year that you see once in a film festival and they're never heard of ever again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-watch-many-many-many-independent-films-every-year-that-you-see-once/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [As far as acting in films, there is not much out there that is very interesting to do. The ones that are interesting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/as-far-as-acting-in-films-there-is-not-much-out-there-that-is-very/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [If there are no other wonderful roles that come my way, I have a quite an interesting, dynamic life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/if-there-are-no-other-wonderful-roles-that-come-my-way-i-have-a-quite/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Unfortunately, I feel as actors we have to fight for the right to really go in as many directions as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/unfortunately-i-feel-as-actors-we-have-to-fight-for-the-right-to/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I'm from a generation of fantastic actresses. It's a big pool of really wonderful actresses, and so many of them we never even get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-m-from-a-generation-of-fantastic-actresses-it-s-a-big-pool-of/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [When independent films break through and actually make it into any level of mainstream-ness or get seen by people or find a life actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/when-independent-films-break-through-and-actually-make-it-into-any/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [There is a difference when you work with actors who have worked on the stage. When we're out there in front of an audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/there-is-a-difference-when-you-work-with-actors-who-have-worked-on/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Eventually you love people - friends or lovers - because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/eventually-you-love-people-friends-or-lovers-because-of-their-flaws/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Caregivers of those with a traumatic brain injury had their blood pressure recorded at certain time of day -- at meals and during other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/caregivers-of-those-with-a-traumatic-brain-injury-had-their-blood/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I try to offer as much as I can to the director so he has as much to work with as possible to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-try-to-offer-as-much-as-i-can-to-the-director-so-he-has-as-much-to/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) [Explore all 48 Karen Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) ## 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. 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