--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Neil [Simon] was considered our greatest…" description: "\"Neil [Simon] was considered our greatest [living playwright] at the time [of their marriage]. Maybe he still is; I don't know. But anyway, he was hugel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/marsha-mason-53761_able_neil-simon-was-considered-our-greatest-l_2607054.jpg" --- # Neil \[Simon\] was considered our greatest \[living… ![“Neil [Simon] was considered our greatest [living playwright] at the time [of their marriage]. Maybe he still is; I don't know. But anyway, he was hugely successful, and I just kind of got folded into that. And in some ways, he protected me, but in other ways, I wasn't fully able to step out, you…” quote by Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/marsha-mason-53761_able_neil-simon-was-considered-our-greatest-l_2607054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/marsha-mason-53761_able_neil-simon-was-considered-our-greatest-l_2607054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/marsha-mason-53761_able_neil-simon-was-considered-our-greatest-l_2607054.jpg) > “Neil \[Simon\] was considered our greatest \[living playwright\] at the time \[of their marriage\]. Maybe he still is; I don't know. But anyway, he was hugely successful, and I just kind of got folded into that. And in some ways, he protected me, but in other ways, I wasn't fully able to step out, you know? He didn't want me to go away so much. The work that we did together was great, and I don't regret it, but what I am saying is that I didn't get an opportunity to explore some other areas that were offered to me early on. I took what I might call a U-turn.” [Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal relationships can both protect and restrict creative freedom, leading to missed opportunities and a need for deliberate change. **In simple terms:** Relationships can shelter but also limit growth; a U‑turn may be needed. Key Takeaway Seek balance between support and independence in collaborations. Themes relationships creativity career self‑actualization growth Mood introspective hopeful realistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - personal boundaries Key Concepts psychology career development artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - What would you change to explore new paths? - How can you maintain support while pursuing independence? A Different Perspective Changing dynamics can cause conflict or loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas/) [Considered Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-greatest-1855845/) [Didn Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-opportunity-1600245/) [Don-t-regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-regret/) [Going away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-away/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neil-simon-811725/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Playwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwright/) [Protected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simon/) [Simon Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simon-considered-1995701/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-me/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a kid, my father would read Neil Simon plays with me, when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-neil-simon-plays-with-me-when-i-2/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I have been working up until recently with Neil Simon, who has been adapting the character to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/i-have-been-working-up-until-recently-with-neil-simon-who-has-been/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [Eminem has been someone that I've always considered the greatest ever, to ever do it. You know what I mean? In every aspect, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyner-lucas/eminem-has-been-someone-that-i-ve-always-considered-the-greatest-ever/) [Joyner Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyner-lucas/) > [When you're talking mixed martial arts, to have a win over a guy who is by many considered the greatest of all time, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-brunson/when-you-re-talking-mixed-martial-arts-to-have-a-win-over-a-guy-who/) [Derek Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-brunson/) > [I want to be considered one of the greatest fighters ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/i-want-to-be-considered-one-of-the-greatest-fighters-ever/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [Throughout my career, I have faced the best forward players in the world - many of them who are considered among the greatest ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ramos/throughout-my-career-i-have-faced-the-best-forward-players-in-the/) [Sergio Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ramos/) > [I didn't have the opportunity to finish college and I was quite sad about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/i-didn-t-have-the-opportunity-to-finish-college-and-i-was-quite-sad/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [Up until now, I had ideas that I wanted to try but didn't have the opportunity to do them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namie-amuro/up-until-now-i-had-ideas-that-i-wanted-to-try-but-didn-t-have-the/) [Namie Amuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namie-amuro/) > [I didn't have the opportunity to study dance until I was old. I was 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-kelly/i-didn-t-have-the-opportunity-to-study-dance-until-i-was-old-i-was-17/) [Paula Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-kelly/) > [I didn't have the opportunity to go to college. I was busy touring since the age of 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/i-didn-t-have-the-opportunity-to-go-to-college-i-was-busy-touring/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [Your regrets aren't what you did, but what you didn't do. So I take every opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-diaz/your-regrets-aren-t-what-you-did-but-what-you-didn-t-do-so-i-take/) [Cameron Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-diaz/) > [I toured around the country and met all these Broadway producers who put me in all these Neil Simon plays like 'Brighton Beach Memoirs'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-toured-around-the-country-and-met-all-these-broadway-producers-who/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I've really enjoyed doing 'Annie Get Your Gun' and loved Neil Simon stuff like 'Chapter Two.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/i-ve-really-enjoyed-doing-annie-get-your-gun-and-loved-neil-simon/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [“There's no good reason to change a Neil Simon line. The day that I'm funnier than Neil Simon, Hell will be a very chilly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-alexander/there-s-no-good-reason-to-change-a-neil-simon-line-the-day-that-i-m/) [Jason Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-alexander/) > [The 'My Mother the Car' script read like Neil Simon compared to the 'Gilligan's Island' script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-van-dyke/the-my-mother-the-car-script-read-like-neil-simon-compared-to-the/) [Jerry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-van-dyke/) ## More by Marsha Mason > [The idea of being a single woman in Hollywood is a very peculiar thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-mason/the-idea-of-being-a-single-woman-in-hollywood-is-a-very-peculiar-thing/) [Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) > [I thought I wasn't attractive or talented anymore. I cried easily and was depressed and removed. I became emotionally insecure about what the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-mason/i-thought-i-wasn-t-attractive-or-talented-anymore-i-cried-easily-and/) [Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) > [The complexity of the emotional life of the play is what you live to work on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-mason/the-complexity-of-the-emotional-life-of-the-play-is-what-you-live-to/) [Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) > [It's enormously good fun. I love it. I really do. I have this sort of set face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-mason/it-s-enormously-good-fun-i-love-it-i-really-do-i-have-this-sort-of/) [Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) > [I always hated the part when I had to look pretty. I love that I don't have to look pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-mason/i-always-hated-the-part-when-i-had-to-look-pretty-i-love-that-i-don-t/) [Marsha Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) [Explore all 6 Marsha Mason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-mason/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [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/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Neil [Simon] was considered our greatest [living playwright] at the time [of their marriage]. Maybe he still is; I don't know. But anyway, he was hugely successful, and I just kind of got folded into that. And in some ways, he protected me, but in other ways, I wasn't fully able to step out, you know? He didn't want me to go away so much. 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