---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I do an action thing, it speaks…"
description: "\"When I do an action thing, it speaks louder than the things that I've done that are dramatic and comedy. Actually, if you look at my resume, I have jus..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg"
---

#  When I do an action thing, it speaks louder than the…

![“When I do an action thing, it speaks louder than the things that I've done that are dramatic and comedy. Actually, if you look at my resume, I have just as much comedic things as dramas, and I have far less action things than all of the other things, but I'm kind of defined as an action person.” quote by Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg)

> “When I do an action thing, it speaks louder than the things that I've done that are dramatic and comedy. Actually, if you look at my resume, I have just as much comedic things as dramas, and I have far less action things than all of the other things, but I'm kind of defined as an action person.”

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He notes that actions define a person more loudly than dramatic or comedic achievements, despite a balanced resume.

**In simple terms:** Actions speak louder than drama or comedy.

Key Takeaway

Let actions define you.

Themes

identity self-presentation career action drama comedy

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- job interviews
- social media presence
- team leadership
- public speaking

Key Concepts

personal branding authenticity perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions best represent your core values?
- How can you align your actions with your brand?

A Different Perspective

Actions may be misinterpreted without context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-person-2841796/) [Action Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-thing-328423/) [Action Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-things-3262329/) [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Comedic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedic/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-actually-953825/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Dramas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramas/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far/) [Far less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-less/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Louder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/louder/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Resume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resume/) [Speaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaks/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [Directing was a natural thing for me. Actually, it was far less stressful directing than being the lead actor. I was able to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/directing-was-a-natural-thing-for-me-actually-it-was-far-less/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [Get action. Do things; be sane; don't fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-do-things-be-sane-don-t-fritter-away-your-time-create-act/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [What I always keep in mind is that we'll take action on things that need to be done, promptly and without hesitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihide-suga/what-i-always-keep-in-mind-is-that-we-ll-take-action-on-things-that/)

[Yoshihide Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihide-suga/)

> [I really like doing action. It's one of those things where I negotiate the world physically, I think, more than mentally. I enjoy running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/i-really-like-doing-action-it-s-one-of-those-things-where-i-negotiate/)

[Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/)

> [“Get action, do things; be sane,” he once raved, “don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hofstadter/get-action-do-things-be-sane-he-once-raved-don-t-fritter-away-your/)

[Richard Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hofstadter/)

> [Take action to do the things that make you happy, with the people who make you happy, and to be happy with the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-babauta/take-action-to-do-the-things-that-make-you-happy-with-the-people-who/)

[Leo Babauta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-babauta/)

> [In the end, all it takes is one small action, by one person. One at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cooper/in-the-end-all-it-takes-is-one-small-action-by-one-person-one-at-a/)

[Susan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cooper/)

> [All I want to do is a rom-com, but you know, people see me as an action person because the first movie that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-kurylenko/all-i-want-to-do-is-a-rom-com-but-you-know-people-see-me-as-an-action/)

[Olga Kurylenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-kurylenko/)

> [The best cure for one's bad tendencies is to see them in action in another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-best-cure-for-one-s-bad-tendencies-is-to-see-them-in-action-in/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [“If you want to be an action person be proactive rather than reactive...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/if-you-want-to-be-an-action-person-be-proactive-rather-than-reactive/)

[Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/)

> [I am not a contemplative type, basically. I am much more of an action person and, as a consequence, I look forward to today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-am-not-a-contemplative-type-basically-i-am-much-more-of-an-action/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [You cannot motivate anyone but yourself. To enhance or cause action in another person, you must create an atmosphere around them wherein they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyrum-w-smith/you-cannot-motivate-anyone-but-yourself-to-enhance-or-cause-action-in/)

[Hyrum W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyrum-w-smith/)

> [I don't really like talking. I like to execute. I'm not a talking person. I'm an action person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-gates/i-don-t-really-like-talking-i-like-to-execute-i-m-not-a-talking/)

[Kevin Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-gates/)

> [It really wasn't my thing. It still isn't my thing, the whole science-fiction action thing. I prefer simpler, character-based movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/it-really-wasn-t-my-thing-it-still-isn-t-my-thing-the-whole-science/)

[Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/)

> [Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That's the only thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/words-mean-nothing-action-is-the-only-thing-doing-that-s-the-only/)

[Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/)

## More by Michael Jai White

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [When I was young, I had a favorite movie star. One day, I saw one of his movies, and it was bad, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/when-i-was-young-i-had-a-favorite-movie-star-one-day-i-saw-one-of-his/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [People know Tyler Perry, and there are standards they've come to expect from him. His brand is uplifting, and it's something a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/people-know-tyler-perry-and-there-are-standards-they-ve-come-to/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I enjoy logic and logic puzzles. And filmmaking is one fun logic puzzle that you gotta win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-enjoy-logic-and-logic-puzzles-and-filmmaking-is-one-fun-logic/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [In my early childhood, I was a performer by nature. I used to do puppet shows as a kid and entertain kids in classes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/in-my-early-childhood-i-was-a-performer-by-nature-i-used-to-do-puppet/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [My favorite TV couple is Edith and Archie Bunker. Because they were such individuals that I can't imagine anyone else playing them. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/my-favorite-tv-couple-is-edith-and-archie-bunker-because-they-were/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I've never excluded myself because of color. It's never been part of the radar, when I look at anything I do. The majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-ve-never-excluded-myself-because-of-color-it-s-never-been-part-of/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [Recognizing absolutely depends on the public that I'm out with. If I'm in Atlanta, it's definitely Why Did I Get Married. If I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/recognizing-absolutely-depends-on-the-public-that-i-m-out-with-if-i-m/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [There's a way that white people and black people spoke in the '70s that is nothing like how they speak now. They spoke from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/there-s-a-way-that-white-people-and-black-people-spoke-in-the-70s/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [Since I do seven different styles of martial arts, I don't foresee myself fighting the same in any two movies. I think every fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/since-i-do-seven-different-styles-of-martial-arts-i-don-t-foresee/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I don't cook. I think they named the 'Mike'-rowave after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-don-t-cook-i-think-they-named-the-mike-rowave-after-me/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I've sold scripts in the past, and also a TV pilot that didn't get made, to Fox. But yeah, I've been writing for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-ve-sold-scripts-in-the-past-and-also-a-tv-pilot-that-didn-t-get/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I love the movie 'Taken,' but the dialogue in the beginning of that movie is hilarious. They're talking, these commando types, and there's dialogue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-love-the-movie-taken-but-the-dialogue-in-the-beginning-of-that/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I take every role seriously. Personally, I never look at any role as Michael White. I've done that my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-take-every-role-seriously-personally-i-never-look-at-any-role-as/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I don't know when the last time I had fried chicken was. Must've been years. As soon as I think about eating it, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-don-t-know-when-the-last-time-i-had-fried-chicken-was-must-ve-been/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

[Explore all 41 Michael Jai White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I do an action thing, it speaks louder than the things that I've done that are dramatic and comedy. Actually, if you look at my resume, I have just as much comedic things as dramas, and I have far less action things than all of the other things, but I'm kind of defined as an action person.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Jai White"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-louder-than-the-things-that-i-ve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-louder-than-the-things-that-i-ve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/michael-jai-white-16048_action_when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-loud_2258276.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I do an action thing, it speaks louder than the things that I've done that are dramatic and comedy…” — Michael Jai White",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Jai White",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I do an action thing,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-louder-than-the-things-that-i-ve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/when-i-do-an-action-thing-it-speaks-louder-than-the-things-that-i-ve/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
