--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned years ago, I adore acting and I…" description: "\"I learned years ago, I adore acting and I think it's the most alive I know how to be - almost - but I really want a good life. I've been married for 17..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg" --- # I learned years ago, I adore acting and I think it's the… ![“I learned years ago, I adore acting and I think it's the most alive I know how to be - almost - but I really want a good life. I've been married for 17 years - I know, they call us the last couple. I have a 13-year-old daughter. I have a lovely home life with good friends who aren't in the…” quote by Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg) > “I learned years ago, I adore acting and I think it's the most alive I know how to be - almost - but I really want a good life. I've been married for 17 years - I know, they call us the last couple. I have a 13-year-old daughter. I have a lovely home life with good friends who aren't in the business ...and I have no desire to cost my whole life in pursuit of the career alone.” [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting feels vital, yet she prioritizes a balanced, fulfilling life over career obsession. **In simple terms:** She loves acting but values a good, balanced life more. Key Takeaway Balance passion with personal well‑being. Themes career vs life balance ful fulfillment Mood contemplative determined Type personal motivational When to use this quote - acting career - family life - long‑term goals Key Concepts work‑life integration career satisfaction Questions to Reflect On - What does a “good life” look like for you? - How can you nurture both career and personal joy? A Different Perspective Focusing on balance may limit career ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Good friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friend/) [Good friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friends/) [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [My family was, I think, a bit more radical than most Mormons, especially on the question of gender. So in my mind, growing up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/my-family-was-i-think-a-bit-more-radical-than-most-mormons-especially/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [I was schooled at home, then didn't go to university because I married when I was 17. I didn't go into work until late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-was-schooled-at-home-then-didn-t-go-to-university-because-i-married/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [I've been married for 17 years and you know how the actors say, "It's really technical. Those scenes are not sexy. They're just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/i-ve-been-married-for-17-years-and-you-know-how-the-actors-say-it-s/) [Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/) > [My wife - I married my onscreen girlfriend from 'Growing Pains', Mike Seaver's girlfriend, and we've been married for 17 years - so marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/my-wife-i-married-my-onscreen-girlfriend-from-growing-pains-mike/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [I was married when I was 17. I knew nothing. I was full of romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-swanson/i-was-married-when-i-was-17-i-knew-nothing-i-was-full-of-romance/) [Gloria Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-swanson/) > [I got married at 17, had three kids by the time I was 24, and have never had much time alone. I never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-learned/i-got-married-at-17-had-three-kids-by-the-time-i-was-24-and-have/) [Michael Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-learned/) > [Nobody should get married at 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-vanderbilt/nobody-should-get-married-at-17/) [Gloria Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-vanderbilt/) > [As far as change, anyone from the age of 13 to 19, you become a whole new person because you grow up. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-black/as-far-as-change-anyone-from-the-age-of-13-to-19-you-become-a-whole/) [Rebecca Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-black/) > [Adolescence was invented in the 19th century to enable middle-class families to keep their children out of sweatshops. But it has degenerated into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/adolescence-was-invented-in-the-19th-century-to-enable-middle-class/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The shooting of the guns, that was kind of funny, because rolling a cigarette and shooting a gun aren't like normal things for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailee-steinfeld/the-shooting-of-the-guns-that-was-kind-of-funny-because-rolling-a/) [Hailee Steinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailee-steinfeld/) > [Heres me as a 13 year old in the year 2000](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokku-hikari/heres-me-as-a-13-year-old-in-the-year-2000/) Rokku Hikari > [I think there are so many young girls out there who may be discouraged by the images they see in magazines or on TV,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-knox/i-think-there-are-so-many-young-girls-out-there-who-may-be/) Kelly Knox > [Apparently my taste is that of a 13-year-old girl. Not really. But my taste is commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-luke/apparently-my-taste-is-that-of-a-13-year-old-girl-not-really-but-my/) [Dr. Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-luke/) > [As an older woman now, I feel the pressure more, I feel all those different aspects, I'm more aware of that. Whereas as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/as-an-older-woman-now-i-feel-the-pressure-more-i-feel-all-those/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [I'm a role model now. I didn't know I was gonna have 13-year-old fans, so I've tried to change a few things here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/i-m-a-role-model-now-i-didn-t-know-i-was-gonna-have-13-year-old-fans/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) ## More by Kathleen Turner > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [This is not about abortion or the antics. This is about pro choice versus anti-choice and government intervention in a woman's personal decisions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/this-is-not-about-abortion-or-the-antics-this-is-about-pro-choice/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [Professionally, I have no age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/professionally-i-have-no-age/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [Fearlessness at twenty springs from not knowing challenges lie ahead. Fearlessness at fifty comes from having wrestled with life's challenges and learned from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/fearlessness-at-twenty-springs-from-not-knowing-challenges-lie-ahead/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I would certainly choose my jobs depending on the actions of the character. I won't do anything that has to do with child abuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-would-certainly-choose-my-jobs-depending-on-the-actions-of-the/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [As I traveled from one country to another, no one knew anything about me. So I could be anybody, I could speak as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/as-i-traveled-from-one-country-to-another-no-one-knew-anything-about/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [You know, when you've worked with somebody before and you've worked very deeply and dangerously then you start with the relaxation and the trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-know-when-you-ve-worked-with-somebody-before-and-you-ve-worked/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [What makes me angry? The education of children. How in God's name can you expect to have a functioning society the way we teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/what-makes-me-angry-the-education-of-children-how-in-god-s-name-can/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [Everyone must find a capacity in which they can serve, because we all benefit from society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/everyone-must-find-a-capacity-in-which-they-can-serve-because-we-all/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [The roles that I am attracted to are women who try to do something about their lives, and not a woman who waits for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/the-roles-that-i-am-attracted-to-are-women-who-try-to-do-something/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [The roles that are written for women as they grow older in theater are much richer and much more powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/the-roles-that-are-written-for-women-as-they-grow-older-in-theater/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [Organized religion is primarily man putting words in God's mouth. That's how I basically feel about that. But, I do believe in believing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/organized-religion-is-primarily-man-putting-words-in-god-s-mouth-that/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I know there are nights when I have power, when I could put on something and walk in somewhere, and if there's a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-know-there-are-nights-when-i-have-power-when-i-could-put-on/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I don't see anything wrong with technology as long as it doesn't interfere with your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-don-t-see-anything-wrong-with-technology-as-long-as-it-doesn-t/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I always thought the point was to have a bigger life, to meet more people. So I don't understand Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-always-thought-the-point-was-to-have-a-bigger-life-to-meet-more/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) [Explore all 73 Kathleen Turner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) ## 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 > [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 learned years ago, I adore acting and I think it's the most alive I know how to be - almost - but I really want a good life. I've been married for 17 years - I know, they call us the last couple. I have a 13-year-old daughter. I have a lovely home life with good friends who aren't in the business ...and I have no desire to cost my whole life in pursuit of the career alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kathleen Turner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i-think-it-s-the-most-alive-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i-think-it-s-the-most-alive-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/kathleen-turner-9415_acting_i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i_2869483.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned years ago, I adore acting and I think it's the most alive I know how to be - almost - but I really…” — Kathleen Turner", "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": "Kathleen Turner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned years ago, I adore...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i-think-it-s-the-most-alive-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-learned-years-ago-i-adore-acting-and-i-think-it-s-the-most-alive-i/#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 } } ] } ```