--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Passion is the thing that sustains you in…" description: "\"Passion is the thing that sustains you in acting. If you're doing it for fame and money, don't even bother because it will never happen. The last thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/scott-patterson-38021_acting_passion-is-the-thing-that-sustains-you-i_2197214.jpg" --- # Passion is the thing that sustains you in acting. If… ![“Passion is the thing that sustains you in acting. If you're doing it for fame and money, don't even bother because it will never happen. The last thing I ever expected was to be paid for this.” quote by Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/scott-patterson-38021_acting_passion-is-the-thing-that-sustains-you-i_2197214.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/scott-patterson-38021_acting_passion-is-the-thing-that-sustains-you-i_2197214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/scott-patterson-38021_acting_passion-is-the-thing-that-sustains-you-i_2197214.jpg) > “Passion is the thing that sustains you in acting. If you're doing it for fame and money, don't even bother because it will never happen. The last thing I ever expected was to be paid for this.” [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passion driven solely by fame or money lacks authenticity and rarely succeeds; true motivation must be intrinsic. **In simple terms:** Money‑driven passion fails. Key Takeaway Seek intrinsic motivation. Themes passion authenticity motivation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts self‑determination theory intrinsic vs extrinsic goals Questions to Reflect On - What truly drives you beyond external rewards? - Can you find meaning in the work itself? A Different Perspective External rewards rarely sustain long‑term commitment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Sustains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustains/) ## Related quotes > [Passion, that thing of beauty, that flowering without roots, has to be born, live and die without reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-leblanc/passion-that-thing-of-beauty-that-flowering-without-roots-has-to-be/) [Georgette Leblanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-leblanc/) > [“If this is you, if you have found your passion, the very thing that makes you jump out of bed every day eager for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ilian/if-this-is-you-if-you-have-found-your-passion-the-very-thing-that/) [George Ilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ilian/) > [I never started out trying to be an actor. That was not my passion, this was not my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-never-started-out-trying-to-be-an-actor-that-was-not-my-passion/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [I have a passion for my car, and passion is the thing that drives us, that puts us in the position to achieve happiness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-have-a-passion-for-my-car-and-passion-is-the-thing-that-drives-us/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Geekiness is that feeling of overwhelming passion for that thing in life that you focus on. Whether it be a nephew's first few steps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-knowles/geekiness-is-that-feeling-of-overwhelming-passion-for-that-thing-in/) [Harry Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-knowles/) > [It became my first passion, the first thing I really fell in love with. I joined the Ralph Robinson Ballet company, and then went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/it-became-my-first-passion-the-first-thing-i-really-fell-in-love-with/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Passion is the thing that won't let you sleep at night because you want to get up in the morning and go do your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/passion-is-the-thing-that-won-t-let-you-sleep-at-night-because-you/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Your passion is that one thing you can't stop thinking about, that thing you wake up thinking about in the morning, go to sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/your-passion-is-that-one-thing-you-can-t-stop-thinking-about-that/) [Charlamagne tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [“Passion is not a thing, it's a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-robbins/passion-is-not-a-thing-it-s-a-state-of-mind/) [Mel Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-robbins/) > [Never let ur presure over come your passion for the thing of God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nasir/never-let-ur-presure-over-come-your-passion-for-the-thing-of-god/) [David Nasir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nasir/) > [“You MUST do what you love. Sometimes your passion will be the only thing that keeps you motivated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faydra-d-fields/you-must-do-what-you-love-sometimes-your-passion-will-be-the-only/) [Faydra D. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faydra-d-fields/) > [“Passion is the thing that will help you create the highest expression of your talent. —LARRY SMITH, TEDx, NOVEMBER 2011”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmine-gallo/passion-is-the-thing-that-will-help-you-create-the-highest-expression/) [Carmine Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmine-gallo/) > [I've had one very bad ankle injury but otherwise I've been incredibly lucky with my fitness. I've worked hard at it and I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-le-saux/i-ve-had-one-very-bad-ankle-injury-but-otherwise-i-ve-been-incredibly/) [Graeme Le Saux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-le-saux/) > [Life sustains itself. Let go of the ego and life takes care of itself through you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/life-sustains-itself-let-go-of-the-ego-and-life-takes-care-of-itself/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Because the living environment is what really sustains us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/because-the-living-environment-is-what-really-sustains-us/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## More by Scott Patterson > [I think L.A.'s terrific. You fly an hour and a half and you're in the mountains in three feet of powder. I also think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-think-l-a-s-terrific-you-fly-an-hour-and-a-half-and-you-re-in-the/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [Popstars really draws you in. It's fascinating. It's interesting to watch people thrown together in that kind of a situation. Even if the egos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/popstars-really-draws-you-in-it-s-fascinating-it-s-interesting-to/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I get bored very easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-get-bored-very-easily/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [My accountant worships me because I'm so cautious with my money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/my-accountant-worships-me-because-i-m-so-cautious-with-my-money/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I'd like to settle down eventually, but acting is emotionally draining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-d-like-to-settle-down-eventually-but-acting-is-emotionally-draining/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [“At the end of World War II, the average holding period for a stock was four years. By 2000, it was eight months. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/at-the-end-of-world-war-ii-the-average-holding-period-for-a-stock-was/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [“At the end of World War II, the average holding period for a stock was four years. By 2000, it was eight months. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/at-the-end-of-world-war-ii-the-average-holding-period-for-a-stock-was-2/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I write a lot of music in my time off and I compose most of the songs on guitar. I've actually gone into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-write-a-lot-of-music-in-my-time-off-and-i-compose-most-of-the-songs/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [In 10 different takes, you can do a scene 10 different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/in-10-different-takes-you-can-do-a-scene-10-different-ways/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I throw the best parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-throw-the-best-parties/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I never worked in a coffee shop and I don't drink coffee, so I never thought I would become a coffee pusher on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-never-worked-in-a-coffee-shop-and-i-don-t-drink-coffee-so-i-never/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) [Explore all 12 Scott Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) ## 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": "Passion is the thing that sustains you in acting. If you're doing it for fame and money, don't even bother because it will never happen. 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