--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not playing on stage. I am living…" description: "\"I am not playing on stage. I am living the situation. I cannot cut emotions and sing. I never save myself.\" — Kristine Opolais" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/kristine-opolais-26427_emotions_i-am-not-playing-on-stage-i-am-living-th_726325.jpg" --- # I am not playing on stage. I am living the situation. I… ![“I am not playing on stage. I am living the situation. I cannot cut emotions and sing. I never save myself.” quote by Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/kristine-opolais-26427_emotions_i-am-not-playing-on-stage-i-am-living-th_726325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/kristine-opolais-26427_emotions_i-am-not-playing-on-stage-i-am-living-th_726325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/kristine-opolais-26427_emotions_i-am-not-playing-on-stage-i-am-living-th_726325.jpg) > “I am not playing on stage. I am living the situation. I cannot cut emotions and sing. I never save myself.” [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) ## 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 emphasizes authentic immersion over performance, rejecting artificial separation of emotion and expression. **In simple terms:** Live fully, don't just act. Key Takeaway Embrace reality, not a role. Themes authenticity emotion performance Mood introspective earnest Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - theatre - personal crisis - creative process - mental health - public speaking Key Concepts existentialism artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain self‑care while fully immersing? - When does immersion become self‑loss? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be exhausting and may blur personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Coming from the Philippines, my whole goal was to support my family and have a better living situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/coming-from-the-philippines-my-whole-goal-was-to-support-my-family/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [There are a lot of singers who cannot sing to save their lives. We have to accept it, but thank God there is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-nigam/there-are-a-lot-of-singers-who-cannot-sing-to-save-their-lives-we/) [Sonu Nigam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-nigam/) > [So when it came to role models, I looked at presidents' wives. Of course, you're talking about a farm girl who stood in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/so-when-it-came-to-role-models-i-looked-at-presidents-wives-of-course/) [Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/) > [In the music business, to survive for so long, you have to be able to cut off from your emotions sometimes. And being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/in-the-music-business-to-survive-for-so-long-you-have-to-be-able-to/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [That's all drugs and alcohol do, they cut off your emotions in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/that-s-all-drugs-and-alcohol-do-they-cut-off-your-emotions-in-the-end/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [“He couldn’t understand how I could be so bright in my other classes and a total failure in his. I must not be trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-satterlee/he-couldn-t-understand-how-i-could-be-so-bright-in-my-other-classes/) Thom Satterlee > [“I'm dying. But its ok. God's not doing this to me. It's the World. So I'm not upset. He's not even sending an Angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-m-dying-but-its-ok-god-s-not-doing-this-to-me-it-s-the-world-so-i-m/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“I don't want you to save me I want you to stand by my side as I save myself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushil/i-don-t-want-you-to-save-me-i-want-you-to-stand-by-my-side-as-i-save-2/) [sushil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushil/) > [“When I try to save other people am I trying to save myself? Am I covering up for my lack of strength by putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-schutz/when-i-try-to-save-other-people-am-i-trying-to-save-myself-am-i/) [Samantha Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-schutz/) > [I don't want you to save me. I want you to stand by my side as I save myself. The greatest Love I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-don-t-want-you-to-save-me-i-want-you-to-stand-by-my-side-as-i-save/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Sometimes he remembered having heard how soldiers under fire in the trenches, and having nothing to do, try hard to find some occupation the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/sometimes-he-remembered-having-heard-how-soldiers-under-fire-in-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [In the beginning, I was searching for myself in my music. My music was for me. I didn't have the mental room to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayumi-hamasaki/in-the-beginning-i-was-searching-for-myself-in-my-music-my-music-was/) [Ayumi Hamasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayumi-hamasaki/) > [“You should have been a jester instead of a knight. (Sin) True, but jesters don’t get to carry a sword. Personally, I like my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinley-macgregor/you-should-have-been-a-jester-instead-of-a-knight-sin-true-but/) [Kinley MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinley-macgregor/) > [“The only time I got into trouble was when I forged M's signature on the weekly report we had to take home every Friday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/the-only-time-i-got-into-trouble-was-when-i-forged-m-s-signature-on/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [“Like the clanging of the bell, the truth crashes in upon me. At last I understand. He took away my voice to save me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/like-the-clanging-of-the-bell-the-truth-crashes-in-upon-me-at-last-i/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) ## More by Kristine Opolais > [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [I am a good wife, so I think we need to live where my husband is working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-am-a-good-wife-so-i-think-we-need-to-live-where-my-husband-is/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [I didn't want to be Nelsons's wife. I wanted to be soprano Kristine Opolais.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-didn-t-want-to-be-nelsons-s-wife-i-wanted-to-be-soprano-kristine/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [I'm very emotional: to lose love is the same as dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-m-very-emotional-to-lose-love-is-the-same-as-dying/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [That's why I'm never happy. Every tragedy, I really feel very painful - especially about a child or old people. This is reality. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/that-s-why-i-m-never-happy-every-tragedy-i-really-feel-very-painful/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [When I go onstage, every situation I have to play, I feel pain. When I sing 'Madama Butterfly' I feel completely everything she felt:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/when-i-go-onstage-every-situation-i-have-to-play-i-feel-pain-when-i/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [I go through every single emotion. My artistic life will likely be shorter than it could be because everything is for real for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-go-through-every-single-emotion-my-artistic-life-will-likely-be/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [The point is that I am such a big fan of Puccini and that Butterfly is the most difficult and complete role that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/the-point-is-that-i-am-such-a-big-fan-of-puccini-and-that-butterfly/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [Sometimes directors come to me when I have to play some horrible thing, scary or hysterical or crying; they ask, 'Did you study somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/sometimes-directors-come-to-me-when-i-have-to-play-some-horrible/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [Nobody is pushing me. Nobody is telling me what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/nobody-is-pushing-me-nobody-is-telling-me-what-i-do/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [Maybe I will end up in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/maybe-i-will-end-up-in-the-movies/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [I hate everything that is rigid. I need freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-hate-everything-that-is-rigid-i-need-freedom/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [As a person who wants to see and believe in the story, I don't think women at age 50 are able to sing young girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/as-a-person-who-wants-to-see-and-believe-in-the-story-i-don-t-think/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [Someone was always trying to put down my individuality and personality, making me sing Mozart arias that were nothing to do with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/someone-was-always-trying-to-put-down-my-individuality-and/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [Having a child changes everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/having-a-child-changes-everything/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) [Explore all 21 Kristine Opolais quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) ## More Emotions quotes > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) Marlin > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [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 > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mind has trouble processing all the emotions I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mind-has-trouble-processing-all-the-emotions-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“When love carries us away on its brittle wings, we are too intoxicated to comprehend its power. We just want to soar and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balroop-singh/when-love-carries-us-away-on-its-brittle-wings-we-are-too-intoxicated/) [Balroop Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balroop-singh/) > [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/) Whitney Daugherty > [Love is an ocean of emotions entirely sorrounded by expensee..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-an-ocean-of-emotions-entirely-sorrounded-by-expensee/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) [Browse all 4,415 Emotions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am not playing on stage. I am living the situation. I cannot cut emotions and sing. 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