--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not only is acting more than a part-time…" description: "\"Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more than a full-time job. It's a full-time obsession.\" — Michael Caine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/michael-caine-1152_acting_not-only-is-acting-more-than-a-part-time_480850.jpg" --- # Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more… ![“Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more than a full-time job. It's a full-time obsession.” quote by Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/michael-caine-1152_acting_not-only-is-acting-more-than-a-part-time_480850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/michael-caine-1152_acting_not-only-is-acting-more-than-a-part-time_480850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/michael-caine-1152_acting_not-only-is-acting-more-than-a-part-time_480850.jpg) > “Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more than a full-time job. It's a full-time obsession.” [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting demands total commitment, surpassing typical job boundaries and becoming an all‑consuming passion. **In simple terms:** Acting is an all‑consuming passion. Key Takeaway Commit fully, accept the obsession. Themes dedication passion career identity Mood intense reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - audition preparation - daily rehearsal - career planning - mental health management Key Concepts craft obsession work‑life balance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance passion with personal well‑being? - What boundaries protect you from obsession? A Different Perspective The intensity can lead to burnout if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-time-1635857/) [Full time jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/full-time-jobs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Part time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-time/) [Part time jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-time-jobs/) [Time Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-job/) [Time Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-obsession-3551013/) ## Related quotes > [If you really want to become an actor, but only providing that acting doesn't interfere with your golf game, political ambitions and your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-really-want-to-become-an-actor-but-only-providing-that-acting/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [At 16, I got a part-time job selling double-glazing door to door. That was soul destroying but the worst part-time job I did was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-thornton/at-16-i-got-a-part-time-job-selling-double-glazing-door-to-door-that/) [Kate Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-thornton/) > [You have a part-time job and that's better to no job at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/you-have-a-part-time-job-and-that-s-better-to-no-job-at-all/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [The only heaven permitted to me is the part-time job heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-eun-sang/the-only-heaven-permitted-to-me-is-the-part-time-job-heaven/) [Lee Eun-sang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-eun-sang/) > [My name's Darren. I'm a musician, part time idiot. That's a full time job actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-criss/my-name-s-darren-i-m-a-musician-part-time-idiot-that-s-a-full-time/) [Darren Criss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-criss/) > [Acting is a full-time job for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/acting-is-a-full-time-job-for-me/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [Picking out Vince Russo's faults could be a full-time job for somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cornette/picking-out-vince-russo-s-faults-could-be-a-full-time-job-for-somebody/) [Jim Cornette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cornette/) > [Don't speculate unless you can make it a full time job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/don-t-speculate-unless-you-can-make-it-a-full-time-job/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [Hating is a full time job with no benefits, only an acquired type can do it. I thank God I didnt meet the qualifications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/hating-is-a-full-time-job-with-no-benefits-only-an-acquired-type-can/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [My sense is that being a First Lady is a full-time job, but I'll know more when the time comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/my-sense-is-that-being-a-first-lady-is-a-full-time-job-but-i-ll-know/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Friendship is a full-time job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-russell/friendship-is-a-full-time-job/) [Bill Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-russell/) > [“But it is hazardous and, I believe, counterproductive to become frozen in time by an obsession with past wrongs and errors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/but-it-is-hazardous-and-i-believe-counterproductive-to-become-frozen/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [Reagan is the only man to take the presidency as a part-time job, a means of filling up the otherwise empty hours of retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/reagan-is-the-only-man-to-take-the-presidency-as-a-part-time-job-a/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [It's very hard to get people, because it's just one of those things. I mean, everybody is working. And then during the off- season,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-very-hard-to-get-people-because-it-s-just-one-of-those-things-i/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I wasn't trying to modelI'm not sure where it's going, apart from the pleasure of making beautiful thingsI said I wasn't going to model…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-tennant/i-wasn-t-trying-to-modeli-m-not-sure-where-it-s-going-apart-from-the/) [Stella Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-tennant/) ## More by Michael Caine > [That to me is what my idea of film acting should be. There shouldn't be any acting. You should just be watching a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/that-to-me-is-what-my-idea-of-film-acting-should-be-there-shouldn-t/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Theater acting is an operation with a scalpel, movie acting is an operation with a laser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/theater-acting-is-an-operation-with-a-scalpel-movie-acting-is-an/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [If you're a leading actor you don't work with another actor. You work with a lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-re-a-leading-actor-you-don-t-work-with-another-actor-you-work/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [“Be a duck, remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/be-a-duck-remain-calm-on-the-surface-and-paddle-like-hell-underneath/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I try to make everyone around me feel comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-try-to-make-everyone-around-me-feel-comfortable/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You can see all sorts of things in film acting if you know where to look and what to look for. One thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-can-see-all-sorts-of-things-in-film-acting-if-you-know-where-to/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I was a repertory actor, which meant that I did a play every week. I was a different character every week; for a year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-was-a-repertory-actor-which-meant-that-i-did-a-play-every-week-i/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You start pretending to have fun, you might have a little by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-start-pretending-to-have-fun-you-might-have-a-little-by-accident/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [If you held a pistol at my head, I couldn't tell you who they're going to vote for Best Actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-held-a-pistol-at-my-head-i-couldn-t-tell-you-who-they-re-going/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I wear a baseball cap all the time, which I would never normally wear, and I walk very fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-wear-a-baseball-cap-all-the-time-which-i-would-never-normally-wear/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I've always loved reprehensible people because they're so much more interesting to play on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-ve-always-loved-reprehensible-people-because-they-re-so-much-more/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I want to stick around with the big boys. I don't want to be in the old folks home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-want-to-stick-around-with-the-big-boys-i-don-t-want-to-be-in-the/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I've been on movies where I literally couldn't hear what the other actor was saying. It's very awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-ve-been-on-movies-where-i-literally-couldn-t-hear-what-the-other/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [My father was a fish market porter. So I grew up on fish, because he used to steal one a day, I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-father-was-a-fish-market-porter-so-i-grew-up-on-fish-because-he/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [The trouble with women? Elbows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-trouble-with-women-elbows/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) [Explore all 282 Michael Caine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## 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. 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": "Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more than a full-time job. 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