--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of acting in court, I decided to…" description: "\"Instead of acting in court, I decided to act onstage.\" — Raul Julia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg" --- # Instead of acting in court, I decided to act onstage. ![“Instead of acting in court, I decided to act onstage.” quote by Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg) > “Instead of acting in court, I decided to act onstage.” [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing performance over legal action emphasizes personal expression. **In simple terms:** Acting can be a powerful form of action. Key Takeaway Choose creative expression. Themes art self‑expression agency Mood thoughtful determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre - social protest - personal growth Key Concepts performance identity activism Questions to Reflect On - When is artistic expression more effective than direct action? - What risks does public performance entail? A Different Perspective Legal routes may have more tangible impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) ## Related quotes > [I always loved the sheer physical act of being onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-harris/i-always-loved-the-sheer-physical-act-of-being-onstage/) [Rosemary Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-harris/) > [Thinking instead of acting is the number one golf disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/thinking-instead-of-acting-is-the-number-one-golf-disease/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [As far as my education goes, I've always felt that was my hobby instead of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mawra-hocane/as-far-as-my-education-goes-i-ve-always-felt-that-was-my-hobby/) [Mawra Hocane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mawra-hocane/) > [I think it's critical in any character you play that it really is about reacting instead of acting. You can always tell when a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-think-it-s-critical-in-any-character-you-play-that-it-really-is/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [Jodi Melnick is hotly self-absorbed. Her onstage musicians are much too loud, and like so many narcissistic performers, she goes on much too long:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/jodi-melnick-is-hotly-self-absorbed-her-onstage-musicians-are-much/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Look at Greg Jbara! I've watched him work for years, always switching. He's literally a different human being when he's onstage in 'Billy Elliot.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-chase/look-at-greg-jbara-i-ve-watched-him-work-for-years-always-switching/) [Will Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-chase/) > [I think the inception of my interest in arts was when I was around 9 or 10 and I started dancing. I was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/i-think-the-inception-of-my-interest-in-arts-was-when-i-was-around-9/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [When all else hits the fan, I jump back onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hector/when-all-else-hits-the-fan-i-jump-back-onstage/) [Jamie Hector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hector/) > [I remember going onstage on Broadway in this Leigh Bowery thing for a track like "Ich Bin Kunst." I've got breasts, this latex dripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-remember-going-onstage-on-broadway-in-this-leigh-bowery-thing-for-a/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I think that's what makes a great show: when the performers onstage aren't putting on a show, they're legitimately just having a freaking awesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-great-show-when-the-performers-onstage/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [Once I get out onstage, it's the same sort of basic production that it is anywhere else. But I might be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/once-i-get-out-onstage-it-s-the-same-sort-of-basic-production-that-it/) [Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/) > [People see you onstage and, yeah, I'd want to be that guy.I want to be that guy myself very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/people-see-you-onstage-and-yeah-i-d-want-to-be-that-guy-i-want-to-be/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [For me music is so passionate. I have to give it my all every time I go onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/for-me-music-is-so-passionate-i-have-to-give-it-my-all-every-time-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) ## More by Raul Julia > [My parents thought, 'Oh, my God! What's wrong with him? He's possessed or something.' All of a sudden, I stood up and started saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/my-parents-thought-oh-my-god-what-s-wrong-with-him-he-s-possessed-or/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [Just the fact that I've lived more, and I'm not concerned about when I am going to get my next job anymore. This business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/just-the-fact-that-i-ve-lived-more-and-i-m-not-concerned-about-when-i/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [You have to have the right atmosphere, really be in the right mood to really fully enjoy a Cohiba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/you-have-to-have-the-right-atmosphere-really-be-in-the-right-mood-to/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [I knew there was something special about the theater for me something beyond the regular reality, something that I could get into and transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/i-knew-there-was-something-special-about-the-theater-for-me-something/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [It was a very profound experience, getting in touch with that part of us, in all of us human beings, that is committed beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/it-was-a-very-profound-experience-getting-in-touch-with-that-part-of/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [Maybe it's like becoming one with the cigar. You lose yourself in it; everything fades away: your worries, your problems, your thoughts. They fade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/maybe-it-s-like-becoming-one-with-the-cigar-you-lose-yourself-in-it/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [There are 38,000 people dying of hunger each day and most are children. And, being a celebrity, I communicate about it as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/there-are-38-000-people-dying-of-hunger-each-day-and-most-are/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [We tend to think of meditation in only one way. But life itself is a meditation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/we-tend-to-think-of-meditation-in-only-one-way-but-life-itself-is-a/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [Why pay $100 on a therapy session when you can spend $25 on a cigar? Whatever it is will come back; so what, smoke another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/why-pay-100-on-a-therapy-session-when-you-can-spend-25-on-a-cigar/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [I even smoke in bed. Imagine smoking a cigar in bed, reading a book. Next to your bed, there's a cigar table with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/i-even-smoke-in-bed-imagine-smoking-a-cigar-in-bed-reading-a-book/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [A cigar is as good as memories that you have when you smoked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/a-cigar-is-as-good-as-memories-that-you-have-when-you-smoked-it/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [Thank God for the theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/thank-god-for-the-theater/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [I remember I was like five or six years old; I played the devil. That was my first role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/i-remember-i-was-like-five-or-six-years-old-i-played-the-devil-that/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [I have a very deep care for Latin America, and, of course, for what was going on in El Salvador.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/i-have-a-very-deep-care-for-latin-america-and-of-course-for-what-was/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) > [Sometimes we used to eat once a day... chicken backs. You could buy four chicken backs for a quarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/sometimes-we-used-to-eat-once-a-day-chicken-backs-you-could-buy-four/) [Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) [Explore all 17 Raul Julia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/) ## 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": "Instead of acting in court, I decided to act onstage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raul Julia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to-act-onstage/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to-act-onstage/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/raul-julia-30498_acting_instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to_697741.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Instead of acting in court, I decided to act onstage.” — Raul Julia", "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": "Raul Julia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Instead of acting in court, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to-act-onstage/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/instead-of-acting-in-court-i-decided-to-act-onstage/#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 } } ] } ```