--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For years, I kept the two separate…" description: "\"For years, I kept the two separate: Michael Horse the artist and Michael Horse the actor. I like the acting, but I'm an artist; that's my identity.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/michael-horse-23354_acting_for-years-i-kept-the-two-separate-michae_652646.jpg" --- # For years, I kept the two separate: Michael Horse the… ![“For years, I kept the two separate: Michael Horse the artist and Michael Horse the actor. I like the acting, but I'm an artist; that's my identity.” quote by Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/michael-horse-23354_acting_for-years-i-kept-the-two-separate-michae_652646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/michael-horse-23354_acting_for-years-i-kept-the-two-separate-michae_652646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/michael-horse-23354_acting_for-years-i-kept-the-two-separate-michae_652646.jpg) > “For years, I kept the two separate: Michael Horse the artist and Michael Horse the actor. I like the acting, but I'm an artist; that's my identity.” [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) ## 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 separates artistic identity from acting, valuing personal authenticity over professional labels. **In simple terms:** Artist identity vs acting role. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic self over external labels. Themes identity authenticity artistic integrity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - personal branding - creative expression Key Concepts self-concept role conflict Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile multiple professional identities? - What defines your core self beyond titles? A Different Perspective Balancing dual careers can cause internal conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [When you know who you are as an artist and you have your own identity and got it figured out it helps you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keifer-thompson/when-you-know-who-you-are-as-an-artist-and-you-have-your-own-identity/) [Keifer Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keifer-thompson/) > [I would say runway is easier because your job is to look good or play a character that is just going somewhere. It's rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-schafer/i-would-say-runway-is-easier-because-your-job-is-to-look-good-or-play/) [Hunter Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-schafer/) > [Being an actor is not like any other job. It's not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rae/being-an-actor-is-not-like-any-other-job-it-s-not-easy/) [Charlotte Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rae/) > [As an actor, it's like candy to get to play someone who's sort of in the spy world, because you get to play like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/as-an-actor-it-s-like-candy-to-get-to-play-someone-who-s-sort-of-in/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [Doing 'Prometheus' was what you imagine being an actor is like when you're five. In a spacesuit, on another planet, getting killed by an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-spall/doing-prometheus-was-what-you-imagine-being-an-actor-is-like-when-you/) [Rafe Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-spall/) > [Obviously I like to make sure that my life is separate, so as me as a person, I know that my fans know me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/obviously-i-like-to-make-sure-that-my-life-is-separate-so-as-me-as-a/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [As an Asian actor, I would like once in my life to do just one Hollywood movie. It would be a memorable experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai/as-an-asian-actor-i-would-like-once-in-my-life-to-do-just-one/) [Tony Leung Chiu-Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai/) > [The role has to excite me as an actor. It is like a train journey: you know where you have to reach, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/the-role-has-to-excite-me-as-an-actor-it-is-like-a-train-journey-you/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [I'm an actor and I like having attention. There's a reason I like being on stage and in front of the camera, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-m-an-actor-and-i-like-having-attention-there-s-a-reason-i-like/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [I am a family man. The only difference between me and others is that while they work in corporate offices, I am an actor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-am-a-family-man-the-only-difference-between-me-and-others-is-that/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [As an actor, I like my films to be believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/as-an-actor-i-like-my-films-to-be-believable/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [I'm an actor, and I like having attention, I guess. There's a reason I like being on stage. There's a reason I like being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-m-an-actor-and-i-like-having-attention-i-guess-there-s-a-reason-i/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [I wanted to be an actor, like, so, so bad. I took acting classes, I auditioned for Disney, and then I realized how nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-like-so-so-bad-i-took-acting-classes-i/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I'm an actor, so I like costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-m-an-actor-so-i-like-costumes/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [That's one of the reasons I wanted to be an actor, to be like them. And there they were at my table, all talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-macleod/that-s-one-of-the-reasons-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-to-be-like-them-and/) [Gavin MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-macleod/) ## More by Michael Horse > [The FBI was formed because the gangsters were better armed, better financed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/the-fbi-was-formed-because-the-gangsters-were-better-armed-better/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [The people in Indiana are so kind and so genuine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/the-people-in-indiana-are-so-kind-and-so-genuine/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [I don't really care to be a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/i-don-t-really-care-to-be-a-movie-star/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [The old image of Tonto and the Lone Ranger was one that we, as Indian people, didn't care much for; it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/the-old-image-of-tonto-and-the-lone-ranger-was-one-that-we-as-indian/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [If I wait for the great definitive story of my people to come around, I'm never going to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/if-i-wait-for-the-great-definitive-story-of-my-people-to-come-around/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [I'm an activist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/i-m-an-activist/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [I've always thought of myself primarily as an artist; it's what I most define myself as. The acting was all an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/i-ve-always-thought-of-myself-primarily-as-an-artist-it-s-what-i-most/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [I just wanted to be a working character actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/i-just-wanted-to-be-a-working-character-actor/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [An actor gets to take a nap, but the director is working hard from dawn till midnight. I'm kind of lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/an-actor-gets-to-take-a-nap-but-the-director-is-working-hard-from/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [Without 'Twin Peaks,' there would have been no 'Northern Exposure,' 'Picket Fences,' 'X-Files' or 'Alias.' It started the movement of 'off-center' television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/without-twin-peaks-there-would-have-been-no-northern-exposure-picket/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [Wherever you repress people, they get hold of a crayon and a bit of scrap paper, and they chronicle their lives and their existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/wherever-you-repress-people-they-get-hold-of-a-crayon-and-a-bit-of/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [As a native actor, you don't get that much chance to work in art, especially television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/as-a-native-actor-you-don-t-get-that-much-chance-to-work-in-art/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [When people say, 'Who are you?' I'm a sculptor and a painter. That's how I define myself. The acting is fun, and I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/when-people-say-who-are-you-i-m-a-sculptor-and-a-painter-that-s-how-i/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [You never come home depressed from a cartoon job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/you-never-come-home-depressed-from-a-cartoon-job/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [I'd like to win an Oscar and then refuse it so I can protest the way they've treated Marlon Brando.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/i-d-like-to-win-an-oscar-and-then-refuse-it-so-i-can-protest-the-way/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) [Explore all 26 Michael Horse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) ## 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. 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