--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't stop being a citizen just…" description: "\"You can't stop being a citizen just because you have a Screen Actors' Guild card.\" — Paul Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png" --- # You can't stop being a citizen just because you have a… ![“You can't stop being a citizen just because you have a Screen Actors' Guild card.” quote by Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png) > “You can't stop being a citizen just because you have a Screen Actors' Guild card.” [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. Citizenship responsibilities persist regardless of professional status or affiliations. **In simple terms:** Being a citizen isn’t cancelled by a job. Key Takeaway Remember civic duties. Themes civic duty identity professionalism Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - acting career - political activism - public service Key Concepts social contract role conflict Questions to Reflect On - How does fame affect your civic responsibilities? - Can you separate personal identity from professional roles? A Different Perspective Professional status can distract from civic obligations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ## Related quotes > [It's one thing in this business to actually work. 5 percent of the Screen Actors' Guild works. It's another thing to do work that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-margulies/it-s-one-thing-in-this-business-to-actually-work-5-percent-of-the/) [Julianna Margulies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-margulies/) > [I think there is something like 90% unemployment in the Screen Actors Guild, so we are the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/i-think-there-is-something-like-90-unemployment-in-the-screen-actors/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [When I was 18, I joined the Screen Actors Guild, and after college I came to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-maples/when-i-was-18-i-joined-the-screen-actors-guild-and-after-college-i/) [Marla Maples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-maples/) > [There are 100,000 actors in the Screen Actors Guild. Only 2,000 of them make more than $75,000 a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-guttenberg/there-are-100-000-actors-in-the-screen-actors-guild-only-2-000-of/) [Steve Guttenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-guttenberg/) > [Being an actor: that's a pretty big net. That's a big playing field. The Screen Actors' Guild is filled with many, many, many, many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/being-an-actor-that-s-a-pretty-big-net-that-s-a-big-playing-field-the/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [From 1980 to 1990, I shot more films than any other actor in the Screen Actors Guild, apart from Gene Hackman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-guttenberg/from-1980-to-1990-i-shot-more-films-than-any-other-actor-in-the/) [Steve Guttenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-guttenberg/) > [The authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/the-authority-of-any-governing-institution-must-stop-at-its-citizen-s/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Once I stop being a citizen of the U.S.S.R., I will not stop being a Russian poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/once-i-stop-being-a-citizen-of-the-u-s-s-r-i-will-not-stop-being-a/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Filming in Cloak & Dagger I was trying to get my Screen Actors Guild card. Everybody tries to get their SAG card if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/filming-in-cloak-dagger-i-was-trying-to-get-my-screen-actors-guild/) [Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/) > [I went to an acting class for 3 years. But then I figured out that, since there were already 26,000 actors in SAG (Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-went-to-an-acting-class-for-3-years-but-then-i-figured-out-that/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [It's tough to make it as an actor, tougher still to make it as an actress - the Screen Actors Guild is eager to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/persis-khambatta/it-s-tough-to-make-it-as-an-actor-tougher-still-to-make-it-as-an/) [Persis Khambatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/persis-khambatta/) > [No sense in being a grifter if it's the same as being a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/no-sense-in-being-a-grifter-if-it-s-the-same-as-being-a-citizen/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Belonging to the Dramatists Guild Council where, with my fellow dramatists, I can directly affect (and protect) the professional lives of all American Playwrights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stone/belonging-to-the-dramatists-guild-council-where-with-my-fellow/) [Peter Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stone/) > [If you're a guild, treat your comrades right. That's all I wanted to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-mashima/if-you-re-a-guild-treat-your-comrades-right-that-s-all-i-wanted-to-say/) [Hiro Mashima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-mashima/) > [Yet if anyone cares to read over the now crumbling minutes giving an account of the meetings at which the Italian Fasci di Combattimento…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/yet-if-anyone-cares-to-read-over-the-now-crumbling-minutes-giving-an/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) ## 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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't stop being a citizen just because you have a Screen Actors' Guild card.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Newman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-because-you-have-a-screen-actors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-because-you-have-a-screen-actors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/paul-newman-2526_actors_you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-beca_3019804.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't stop being a citizen just because you have a Screen Actors' Guild card.” — Paul Newman", "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": "Paul Newman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't stop being a citizen...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-because-you-have-a-screen-actors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/you-can-t-stop-being-a-citizen-just-because-you-have-a-screen-actors/#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 } } ] } ```