--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wasn't driven to acting by any inner…" description: "\"I wasn't driven to acting by any inner compulsion. I was running away from the sporting goods business.\" — Paul Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-wasn-t-driven-to-acting-by-any-inner-c_2204463.png" --- # I wasn't driven to acting by any inner compulsion. I was… ![“I wasn't driven to acting by any inner compulsion. I was running away from the sporting goods business.” quote by Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-wasn-t-driven-to-acting-by-any-inner-c_2204463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-wasn-t-driven-to-acting-by-any-inner-c_2204463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-wasn-t-driven-to-acting-by-any-inner-c_2204463.png) > “I wasn't driven to acting by any inner compulsion. I was running away from the sporting goods business.” [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He chose acting to escape a family business, not from passion for the craft **In simple terms:** He acted to run away from a business Key Takeaway Consider why you choose paths—escape or passion Themes career escape family expectations Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career change - leaving family business - personal growth - finding purpose Key Concepts identity motivation self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What drives your decisions? - Can escape become a new purpose? A Different Perspective Running away may not lead to fulfillment ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-away/) ## Related quotes > [Once efficiency is universally accepted as a rule, it becomes an inner compulsion and weighs like a sense of sin, simply because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-greenberg/once-efficiency-is-universally-accepted-as-a-rule-it-becomes-an-inner/) [Clement Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-greenberg/) > [It wasn't as though I really made a commitment to it; there wasn't anything else around. So I wasn't driven to become an actor..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/it-wasn-t-as-though-i-really-made-a-commitment-to-it-there-wasn-t/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley/the-creation-of-something-new-is-not-accomplished-by-the-intellect/) [Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley/) > [I'm condemned by some inner compulsion to think about the daily rituals of my life. I have a low grade fever for improving myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/i-m-condemned-by-some-inner-compulsion-to-think-about-the-daily/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Only work which is the product of inner compulsion can have spiritual meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/only-work-which-is-the-product-of-inner-compulsion-can-have-spiritual/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wasn't driven. I just really loved what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-stafford/i-wasn-t-driven-i-just-really-loved-what-i-did/) [Jo Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-stafford/) > [I had become complacent in WWE when I got released in 2014. I had become unmotivated. I wasn't driven. I was out of shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/i-had-become-complacent-in-wwe-when-i-got-released-in-2014-i-had/) [Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/) > [My father walked out on us when I was three months old, and my mum, well, she wasn't the driven sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy/my-father-walked-out-on-us-when-i-was-three-months-old-and-my-mum/) [Lemmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Paul Newman > [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. We haven't been able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/george-roy-hill-redford-and-i-have-been-looking-for-a-script-to-do/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [When the idea came up, (Newman's Own) I said, "Are you crazy? Stick my face on the label of salad dressing?" And then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-the-idea-came-up-newman-s-own-i-said-are-you-crazy-stick-my-face/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [When you see the right thing to do, you'd better do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-you-see-the-right-thing-to-do-you-d-better-do-it/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [In racing, the fastest person wins. It is very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/in-racing-the-fastest-person-wins-it-is-very-simple/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I never ask my wife about my flaws. Instead I try to get her to ignore them and concentrate on my sense of humor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-never-ask-my-wife-about-my-flaws-instead-i-try-to-get-her-to-ignore/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I would like it if people would think that beyond Newman, there's a spirit that takes action, a heart, and a talent that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-would-like-it-if-people-would-think-that-beyond-newman-there-s-a/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [What we got here is a failure to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/what-we-got-here-is-a-failure-to-communicate/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Newman's first law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/newman-s-first-law-it-is-useless-to-put-on-your-brakes-when-you-re/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [A feud should live a full and colorful life, and then it should die a natural death and be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/a-feud-should-live-a-full-and-colorful-life-and-then-it-should-die-a/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [People like to do what they used to do after they've stopped being able to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-like-to-do-what-they-used-to-do-after-they-ve-stopped-being/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [We've polluted the stratosphere with these chlorine and bromine compounds, and because it's now colder, and because we have this change in the climate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/we-ve-polluted-the-stratosphere-with-these-chlorine-and-bromine/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I am convinced that a person is entitled to as much privacy as he wants. It should be his privilege to keep certain areas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-am-convinced-that-a-person-is-entitled-to-as-much-privacy-as-he/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [For some players, luck itself is an art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/for-some-players-luck-itself-is-an-art/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I can eat fifty eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-can-eat-fifty-eggs/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) [Explore all 162 Paul Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) ## 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. 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": "I wasn't driven to acting by any inner compulsion. 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