--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I put steam on the table by being an…" description: "\"I put steam on the table by being an actor. That is how I live. The longer I live, the more expensive it becomes. So I do my work. And I can't be immen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/peter-o-toole-3173_actor_i-put-steam-on-the-table-by-being-an-act_1640123.jpg" --- # I put steam on the table by being an actor. That is how I… ![“I put steam on the table by being an actor. That is how I live. The longer I live, the more expensive it becomes. So I do my work. And I can't be immensely picky. How many beautiful scripts come in one's lifetime? I have had more than anybody, practically.” quote by Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/peter-o-toole-3173_actor_i-put-steam-on-the-table-by-being-an-act_1640123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/peter-o-toole-3173_actor_i-put-steam-on-the-table-by-being-an-act_1640123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/peter-o-toole-3173_actor_i-put-steam-on-the-table-by-being-an-act_1640123.jpg) > “I put steam on the table by being an actor. That is how I live. The longer I live, the more expensive it becomes. So I do my work. And I can't be immensely picky. How many beautiful scripts come in one's lifetime? I have had more than anybody, practically.” [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is a demanding craft that consumes time and resources, yet the artist must accept the inevitable scarcity of quality roles. **In simple terms:** Acting is costly and selective. Key Takeaway Embrace the work, stay selective. Themes career artistry economics Mood pragmatic realistic Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - audition process - budget constraints - career planning Key Concepts sustainability creative fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance artistic integrity with financial needs? - What strategies help you stay selective? A Different Perspective The market may not reward talent equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is off the table... never for an actor. An actor is continuously looking for challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-vidyarthi/nothing-is-off-the-table-never-for-an-actor-an-actor-is-continuously/) [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-vidyarthi/) > [I have a lot of scripts that come my way, and some of them take a bit longer to read than others. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/i-have-a-lot-of-scripts-that-come-my-way-and-some-of-them-take-a-bit/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [People think you're like The Godfather, waiting for scripts to come in. But, you're hustling, you're desperate, you're panicked and you're horrified. The movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/people-think-you-re-like-the-godfather-waiting-for-scripts-to-come-in/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Oftentimes, you read these pilot scripts that come through for American work, and they dont sing to you. Ive got to be honest, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-starr/oftentimes-you-read-these-pilot-scripts-that-come-through-for-2/) [Antony Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-starr/) > [I love to be a working actor, and I love to read scripts as they come in. If I find the script or character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-camil/i-love-to-be-a-working-actor-and-i-love-to-read-scripts-as-they-come/) [Jaime Camil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-camil/) > [It's not often that scripts come across our desks that are written so poetic and so honest from our perspective, as a black man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-morgan/it-s-not-often-that-scripts-come-across-our-desks-that-are-written-so/) [Rob Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-morgan/) > [I just read the scripts that come to me, and I see the ones which I really kind of understand and connect with, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-butterfield/i-just-read-the-scripts-that-come-to-me-and-i-see-the-ones-which-i/) [Asa Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-butterfield/) > [Everything you look at now, the scripts that come in that you look at, the television scripts are way better than the movie script.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/everything-you-look-at-now-the-scripts-that-come-in-that-you-look-at/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [There are scripts that have come our way that are much more likely to be hits, but we don't really think that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/there-are-scripts-that-have-come-our-way-that-are-much-more-likely-to/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [Oftentimes, you read these pilot scripts that come through for American work, and they don't sing to you. I've got to be honest, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-starr/oftentimes-you-read-these-pilot-scripts-that-come-through-for/) [Antony Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-starr/) > [I'm waiting for better scripts to come my way, especially because I'm aware that there are people who are waiting to see me come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shobana/i-m-waiting-for-better-scripts-to-come-my-way-especially-because-i-m/) [Shobana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shobana/) > [As the scripts come in they are sent to the artists, and the artists are either very busy, or ready to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/as-the-scripts-come-in-they-are-sent-to-the-artists-and-the-artists/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [On TV, you never know where it's going. They may even lie to you about where it's going. You never really know because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-l-martin/on-tv-you-never-know-where-it-s-going-they-may-even-lie-to-you-about/) [Jesse L. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-l-martin/) > [I am a greedy actor: I want all the scripts to come to me. So I do all the good films which come my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/i-am-a-greedy-actor-i-want-all-the-scripts-to-come-to-me-so-i-do-all/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [It fills me with dismay sometimes when you look at the scripts that do come to you that are primarily focused on violence. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/it-fills-me-with-dismay-sometimes-when-you-look-at-the-scripts-that/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) ## More by Peter O'Toole > [I'm a professional and I'll do anything - a poetry reading, television, cinema, anything that allows me to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-a-professional-and-i-ll-do-anything-a-poetry-reading-television/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [Actors have to stay optimistic. The moment we start thinking otherwise, we're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/actors-have-to-stay-optimistic-the-moment-we-start-thinking-otherwise/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I'm not working-class: I come from the criminal classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-not-working-class-i-come-from-the-criminal-classes/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [It grieves us to produce work that is not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/it-grieves-us-to-produce-work-that-is-not-perfect/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I love working with the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-love-working-with-the-young/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I have no intention of uttering my last words on the stage. Room service and a couple of depraved young women will do me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-have-no-intention-of-uttering-my-last-words-on-the-stage-room/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I saw a man killed in front of my eyes just before my eighth birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-saw-a-man-killed-in-front-of-my-eyes-just-before-my-eighth-birthday/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [Everyone praises Sachin Tendulkar. He may be a genius in his own right but in my book, Rahul Dravid is the artist. Dravid's defence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/everyone-praises-sachin-tendulkar-he-may-be-a-genius-in-his-own-right/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I'm not a French singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-not-a-french-singer/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [When I work with young people, I grab energy from them by the handsful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/when-i-work-with-young-people-i-grab-energy-from-them-by-the-handsful/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [My own favorite is something called Rogue Male.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/my-own-favorite-is-something-called-rogue-male/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I'm a working stiff, baby, just like everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-a-working-stiff-baby-just-like-everybody-else/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [It was a mistake and I made the mistake because I was conservative and played safe. And that way lies failure." "Must do it...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/it-was-a-mistake-and-i-made-the-mistake-because-i-was-conservative/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I woke up one morning to find I was famous. I bought a white Rolls-Royce and drove down Sunset Boulevard, wearing dark specs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-woke-up-one-morning-to-find-i-was-famous-i-bought-a-white-rolls/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I found him perhaps the least terrifying man I've ever met in the theater—because at first glance I could see through him and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-found-him-perhaps-the-least-terrifying-man-i-ve-ever-met-in-the/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) [Explore all 138 Peter O'Toole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I put steam on the table by being an actor. That is how I live. The longer I live, the more expensive it becomes. So I do my work. And I can't be immensely picky. How many beautiful scripts come in one's lifetime? 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