--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's this great fantasy of going to…" description: "\"There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life is, as a successful actor.\" — Robert Knepper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg" --- # There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day… ![“There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life is, as a successful actor.” quote by Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg) > “There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life is, as a successful actor.” [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker imagines work as a stage where others project their expectations of success onto them, creating a fantasy of validation. **In simple terms:** People imagine work as a stage of others’ expectations. Key Takeaway Recognize the difference between imagined validation and real fulfillment. Themes identity expectation performance self‑image Mood reflective ambivalent Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - acting auditions - self‑reflection - managing expectations Key Concepts role‑playing social perception fantasy Questions to Reflect On - Do you chase others’ expectations or your own? - How does this fantasy affect your motivation? A Different Perspective The fantasy can mask genuine personal goals and lead to dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Fantasy Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-going-1863104/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Going Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-work/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-successful-551946/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-actor-334277/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think about that all of the time and I have this fantasy that I am going to work at a museum someday! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sui/i-think-about-that-all-of-the-time-and-i-have-this-fantasy-that-i-am/) [Anna Sui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sui/) > [For me, the idea of being a successful actor is hanging out with my dogs and my boy, down in Venice beach, and going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/for-me-the-idea-of-being-a-successful-actor-is-hanging-out-with-my/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fantasy-is-going-to-hold-its-own/) [David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/) > [My fantasy is going into a men's loo. And listening to what they say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/my-fantasy-is-going-into-a-men-s-loo-and-listening-to-what-they-say/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The minute I forget to balance reality with the fantasy, I'm going back to Virginia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/schuyler-fisk/the-minute-i-forget-to-balance-reality-with-the-fantasy-i-m-going/) [Schuyler Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/schuyler-fisk/) > [If you are going to write, say, fantasy - stop reading fantasy. You've already read too much. Read other things; read westerns, read history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-you-are-going-to-write-say-fantasy-stop-reading-fantasy-you-ve/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [He's too short, he's too... tall, he's... just not going to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-wood/he-s-too-short-he-s-too-tall-he-s-just-not-going-to-work/) [Ed Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-wood/) > [I made one choice, for example, which is I'm just going to confine work to working hours. I'm not going to work on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plotz/i-made-one-choice-for-example-which-is-i-m-just-going-to-confine-work/) [David Plotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plotz/) > [I always believed, right from the beginning, if you're going to do something, do it the best. If you're going to work, you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-graff/i-always-believed-right-from-the-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-do/) [Laurence Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-graff/) > [If I'm going to work, hopefully I have a late call time, and can hang out with Rain and our nanny until we shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisol-nichols/if-i-m-going-to-work-hopefully-i-have-a-late-call-time-and-can-hang/) [Marisol Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisol-nichols/) > [TV is so seductive with a great workday. You're going to work and making people laugh, and that's fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bach/tv-is-so-seductive-with-a-great-workday-you-re-going-to-work-and/) [Jillian Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bach/) > [I'm not scared to fail, I'm not scared to lose, I'm not scared to die, for that matter... It's going to work out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-couture/i-m-not-scared-to-fail-i-m-not-scared-to-lose-i-m-not-scared-to-die/) [Randy Couture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-couture/) > [There are days like any normal human being where I wake up and I don't feel like going to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hart/there-are-days-like-any-normal-human-being-where-i-wake-up-and-i-don/) [Mary Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hart/) > [I'll joke all day, but once I get in the gym, I'm going to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/i-ll-joke-all-day-but-once-i-get-in-the-gym-i-m-going-to-work-hard/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) ## More by Robert Knepper > [I grew up with a dad who hated television, so we had to sneak television. It got ingrained in my head to never follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-grew-up-with-a-dad-who-hated-television-so-we-had-to-sneak/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [Sometimes with success comes some crazy that goes along with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/sometimes-with-success-comes-some-crazy-that-goes-along-with-it/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I did a film when I was about 30; it's a coming of age story called 'Gas Food Lodging,' and I'm so proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-did-a-film-when-i-was-about-30-it-s-a-coming-of-age-story-called/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [The crew, the actors and the writers all work the same way. We always want to do the best job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/the-crew-the-actors-and-the-writers-all-work-the-same-way-we-always/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I love being funny! I started in the theater when I was 9 and, believe it or not, always played the funny part!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-love-being-funny-i-started-in-the-theater-when-i-was-9-and-believe/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [What I say about actors is you always want to find an actor you can play ball with. You throw the ball at them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/what-i-say-about-actors-is-you-always-want-to-find-an-actor-you-can/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > ['Prison Break' really changed me to somebody that can put butts in seats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/prison-break-really-changed-me-to-somebody-that-can-put-butts-in-seats/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I have to admit, I never watch television; once in a while I'll see things, but I grew up without it. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-have-to-admit-i-never-watch-television-once-in-a-while-i-ll-see/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I was raised in the theater and I started acting when I was nine. To me, the idea of being an actor was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-was-raised-in-the-theater-and-i-started-acting-when-i-was-nine-to/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I do a happy dance even when I get a guest-star role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-do-a-happy-dance-even-when-i-get-a-guest-star-role/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I come to work with a smile and I leave with a laugh, and I'm so grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-come-to-work-with-a-smile-and-i-leave-with-a-laugh-and-i-m-so/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [My life is going to continue to be public, and I just accept that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/my-life-is-going-to-continue-to-be-public-and-i-just-accept-that/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [With comedy, if you write something for me, I'm better at it. I'm not sure I'm so good at improvisational stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/with-comedy-if-you-write-something-for-me-i-m-better-at-it-i-m-not/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [Clint Eastwood, to me, is Clint Eastwood. He's great at being Clint Eastwood. But, I don't know how to be that guy. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/clint-eastwood-to-me-is-clint-eastwood-he-s-great-at-being-clint/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I thought I'd never do film, let alone television. I was a diehard theater nut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-thought-i-d-never-do-film-let-alone-television-i-was-a-diehard/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) [Explore all 27 Robert Knepper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) ## 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. 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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. 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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": "There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life is, as a successful actor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Knepper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-work-every-day-and-getting-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-work-every-day-and-getting-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/robert-knepper-22482_actors_there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-w_980254.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life…” — Robert Knepper", "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": "Robert Knepper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's this great fantasy of going...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-work-every-day-and-getting-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-work-every-day-and-getting-to/#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 } } ] } ```