--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only be an actor if you can't be happy…" description: "\"Only be an actor if you can't be happy doing anything else. I don't think you should be an actor if you want to be actor. I think you should be an acto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/linden-ashby-41636_actor_only-be-an-actor-if-you-can-t-be-happy-d_2930343.jpg" --- # Only be an actor if you can't be happy doing anything… ![“Only be an actor if you can't be happy doing anything else. I don't think you should be an actor if you want to be actor. I think you should be an actor if you have to be an actor.” quote by Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/linden-ashby-41636_actor_only-be-an-actor-if-you-can-t-be-happy-d_2930343.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/linden-ashby-41636_actor_only-be-an-actor-if-you-can-t-be-happy-d_2930343.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/linden-ashby-41636_actor_only-be-an-actor-if-you-can-t-be-happy-d_2930343.jpg) > “Only be an actor if you can't be happy doing anything else. I don't think you should be an actor if you want to be actor. I think you should be an actor if you have to be an actor.” [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting should be a compulsion, not a choice; true passion arises from necessity, not desire. **In simple terms:** Acting only if you must, not if you want. Key Takeaway Pursue work that feels essential. Themes passion career authenticity Mood motivational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career crossroads - creative pursuits - life purpose Key Concepts intrinsic motivation artistic calling compulsion Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel compelled or chosen? - What drives your creative decisions? A Different Perspective Compulsion may lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I had said bye-bye to acting, in a way, but once an actor, always an actor. Life has got other plans for me. Like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bhatt/i-had-said-bye-bye-to-acting-in-a-way-but-once-an-actor-always-an/) [Pooja Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bhatt/) > [I want to be an actor, and I am being an actor. I'm not ready to run off on a road trip. Yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-balaban/i-want-to-be-an-actor-and-i-am-being-an-actor-i-m-not-ready-to-run/) [Liane Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-balaban/) > [I think there are always actor parts, and then there are movie-star parts, and an actor's always an actor until he does a movie-star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/i-think-there-are-always-actor-parts-and-then-there-are-movie-star/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [I don't think of an actor. I think in the character, and then I search for the actor. Usually I'm thinking without names, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-don-t-think-of-an-actor-i-think-in-the-character-and-then-i-search/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I think any actor should have a good knowledge about what everybody does on set, so that you're not somebody who just feels that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-think-any-actor-should-have-a-good-knowledge-about-what-everybody/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [When we think of an actor, we think of a tanned, frosted-tipped, model-looking guy. We don't think of a plumber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/when-we-think-of-an-actor-we-think-of-a-tanned-frosted-tipped-model/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [As an actor, I don't really think you find yourself. I mean, once you find yourself, I think it becomes boring and you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chon/as-an-actor-i-don-t-really-think-you-find-yourself-i-mean-once-you/) [Justin Chon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chon/) > [I guess I think of myself as an actor before I think of myself as a gay actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-guess-i-think-of-myself-as-an-actor-before-i-think-of-myself-as-a/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I don't think of myself as a former actor. I think of myself as a reformed actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-former-actor-i-think-of-myself-as-a/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [In college, I was teetering on the edge: Do I want to be an actor? Do I not want to be an actor? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jenkins/in-college-i-was-teetering-on-the-edge-do-i-want-to-be-an-actor-do-i/) [Richard Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jenkins/) > [Do you want to be an actor, or do you want to be a celebrity? I made that decision when I went to Juilliard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mackie/do-you-want-to-be-an-actor-or-do-you-want-to-be-a-celebrity-i-made/) [Anthony Mackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mackie/) > [Don't just learn one thing; learn everything about whatever you're going into. If you want to be an actor, if you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/don-t-just-learn-one-thing-learn-everything-about-whatever-you-re/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [If you want to be an actor because you want to be recognized on the street and have people ask you for autographs, look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-camil/if-you-want-to-be-an-actor-because-you-want-to-be-recognized-on-the/) [Jaime Camil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-camil/) > [I want to become actor not because I want money and become more famous. No I don't want that. It is not that l…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-lewis/i-want-to-become-actor-not-because-i-want-money-and-become-more/) [Terence Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-lewis/) > [I don't want to become an item girl, I want to be an actor and want to remain so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sana-khan/i-don-t-want-to-become-an-item-girl-i-want-to-be-an-actor-and-want-to/) [Sana Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sana-khan/) ## More by Linden Ashby > [Why are people always shooting zombies? Why not just chop their heads off? How can zombies get you if you have a good sword?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/why-are-people-always-shooting-zombies-why-not-just-chop-their-heads/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [Shirts are for pussies. I take my pants off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/shirts-are-for-pussies-i-take-my-pants-off/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [You bring a little bit of yourself into every character you play. We're multifaceted creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/you-bring-a-little-bit-of-yourself-into-every-character-you-play-we/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [I started out in theater and then I got a job on a soap in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/i-started-out-in-theater-and-then-i-got-a-job-on-a-soap-in-new-york/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [I've done so many Lifetime movies; at this point, I'll be going through airport security, and the lady there will be like, 'I took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/i-ve-done-so-many-lifetime-movies-at-this-point-i-ll-be-going-through/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [I started out in theater, and then I got a job on a soap in New York. With a soap opera, its every day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/i-started-out-in-theater-and-then-i-got-a-job-on-a-soap-in-new-york-2/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [I started out with a business and psychology major, and then I started doing plays and concentrating more and more on theater. I dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/i-started-out-with-a-business-and-psychology-major-and-then-i-started/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [The young cast that's coming in now, Dylan Sprayberry and Khylin Rhambo, they're great! Dylan Sprayberry came out to surf with me a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/the-young-cast-that-s-coming-in-now-dylan-sprayberry-and-khylin/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) > [I love the show 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia;' that's probably a guilty pleasure! I laugh so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linden-ashby/i-love-the-show-it-s-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-that-s-probably-a/) [Linden Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) [Explore all 10 Linden Ashby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linden-ashby/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only be an actor if you can't be happy doing anything else. I don't think you should be an actor if you want to be actor. 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