--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, it was so much…" description: "\"When I was younger, it was so much easier. All I needed to do was just get a job. It was like, 'Oh, my God, I have a job! I can call myself a working a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/sebastian-stan-13635_actor_when-i-was-younger-it-was-so-much-easier_1975884.jpg" --- # When I was younger, it was so much easier. All I needed to… ![“When I was younger, it was so much easier. All I needed to do was just get a job. It was like, 'Oh, my God, I have a job! I can call myself a working actor.' But then, the older you get, you have to be more selective, and that's tough.” quote by Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/sebastian-stan-13635_actor_when-i-was-younger-it-was-so-much-easier_1975884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/sebastian-stan-13635_actor_when-i-was-younger-it-was-so-much-easier_1975884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/sebastian-stan-13635_actor_when-i-was-younger-it-was-so-much-easier_1975884.jpg) > “When I was younger, it was so much easier. All I needed to do was just get a job. It was like, 'Oh, my God, I have a job! I can call myself a working actor.' But then, the older you get, you have to be more selective, and that's tough.” [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on youthful simplicity versus later career selectivity and difficulty. **In simple terms:** Youth made work easy; later you must choose wisely. Key Takeaway Be selective and strategic in career choices. Themes career growth selectivity aging artistic integrity Mood thoughtful determined Type career motivational When to use this quote - acting career - mid‑life career shifts Key Concepts decision making career strategy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance selectivity with exposure? - What criteria guide your choices? A Different Perspective Selectivity can limit opportunities; risk of over‑analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-older-611958/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Older Selective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-selective-3345306/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Working actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-actor/) [Younger Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/younger-easier-3345305/) ## Related quotes > [Typically in training camp, especially as I've gotten older, we were always very selective with the plays. If it was a pass or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-olsen/typically-in-training-camp-especially-as-i-ve-gotten-older-we-were/) [Greg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-olsen/) > [“As I get older, I am becoming more selective of who I consider a friend. I find that I would rather have 4 quarters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/as-i-get-older-i-am-becoming-more-selective-of-who-i-consider-a/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [The thing about being an actor is that as we get older, there are more and more characters to explore and, in general, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-clark/the-thing-about-being-an-actor-is-that-as-we-get-older-there-are-more/) [Victoria Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-clark/) > [You should be able to tell your child, "This is an actor. And she's older than Mommy!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/you-should-be-able-to-tell-your-child-this-is-an-actor-and-she-s/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [Direction is closest to my heart. I may run out of work as an actor as I get older, but I can work as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakshit-shetty/direction-is-closest-to-my-heart-i-may-run-out-of-work-as-an-actor-as/) [Rakshit Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakshit-shetty/) > [I'm becoming more indulgent and less giving as an actor as I get older. I'm immersing myself more in roles emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-m-becoming-more-indulgent-and-less-giving-as-an-actor-as-i-get/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) > [Working out and working as an actor have gone hand in hand—I always feel more prepared if I know I have done a workout.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/working-out-and-working-as-an-actor-have-gone-hand-in-hand-i-always/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [There should always be that leeway because if you think of your character as sort of absolutely fixed, then you just try and find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-abrahamson/there-should-always-be-that-leeway-because-if-you-think-of-your/) [Lenny Abrahamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-abrahamson/) > [I taught for a semester, but couldn't work out my teaching schedule with my acting schedule because they just didn't jive. So, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-burstein/i-taught-for-a-semester-but-couldn-t-work-out-my-teaching-schedule/) [Danny Burstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-burstein/) > [Nothing is harder than working with an actor who doesn't take it seriously or show up in the same way that you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/nothing-is-harder-than-working-with-an-actor-who-doesn-t-take-it/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Theres just a big group of actors in London. There are new ones coming in all the time, who are looking for work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-eaton/theres-just-a-big-group-of-actors-in-london-there-are-new-ones-coming/) [Rebecca Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-eaton/) > [My career is very easy to interpret. It's about working. I'm a working actor, so that's how I see myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/my-career-is-very-easy-to-interpret-it-s-about-working-i-m-a-working/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I don't feel I was ever a 'famous' child actor. I was just a working actor who happened to be a kid. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-moss/i-don-t-feel-i-was-ever-a-famous-child-actor-i-was-just-a-working/) [Elisabeth Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-moss/) > [Being a working actor, you're going to do a Spelling show. It's hard not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casper-van-dien/being-a-working-actor-you-re-going-to-do-a-spelling-show-it-s-hard/) [Casper Van Dien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casper-van-dien/) ## More by Sebastian Stan > [Sometimes it's okay to give yourself a pat on the back and say, 'That was cool. That made me feel good.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/sometimes-it-s-okay-to-give-yourself-a-pat-on-the-back-and-say-that/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [Playing an unstable, bipolar, multiple-personality-disorder person is definitely up my alley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/playing-an-unstable-bipolar-multiple-personality-disorder-person-is/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [I like to be lean and flexible. I'm not interested in gaining size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/i-like-to-be-lean-and-flexible-i-m-not-interested-in-gaining-size/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [I've been in so many crazy experiences in my life. I was always moving, when I was a kid. When I look back, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/i-ve-been-in-so-many-crazy-experiences-in-my-life-i-was-always-moving/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [I've been in so many crazy experiences in my life. I was always moving when I was a kid. When I look back, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/i-ve-been-in-so-many-crazy-experiences-in-my-life-i-was-always-moving-2/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [There's gotta be a human being in everybody, regardless of what they do or what people think they did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/there-s-gotta-be-a-human-being-in-everybody-regardless-of-what-they/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [The things I learned from my parents, what was deeply ingrained in their generation, is this idea of opportunity and the freedom to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/the-things-i-learned-from-my-parents-what-was-deeply-ingrained-in/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [What gets yme excited about a project and character is the director, the script, who's involved in the movie, and the character. Those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/what-gets-yme-excited-about-a-project-and-character-is-the-director/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [Just to get a job is always really exciting to me. I do feel there's a lot left for me to learn about movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/just-to-get-a-job-is-always-really-exciting-to-me-i-do-feel-there-s-a/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [I was Danny Zuko in 'Grease,' and I was in the musical 'Sweet Charity' and then in the musical 'On the Twentieth Century.' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/i-was-danny-zuko-in-grease-and-i-was-in-the-musical-sweet-charity-and/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [My first job was in a movie theater. I worked at Cinema 6 in New City, New York. I was an usher. I sold popcorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/my-first-job-was-in-a-movie-theater-i-worked-at-cinema-6-in-new-city/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [When I work on a part, one of the things I love to do is to put together a collage of things, stuff I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/when-i-work-on-a-part-one-of-the-things-i-love-to-do-is-to-put/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [You have license in front of the camera to do things, feel certain emotions that you don't get to in real life. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/you-have-license-in-front-of-the-camera-to-do-things-feel-certain/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [To shoot a movie that takes place in three decades in 30 days is a lot on the hair and make-up team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/to-shoot-a-movie-that-takes-place-in-three-decades-in-30-days-is-a/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [I was so against social media for such a long time, but now I can't live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/i-was-so-against-social-media-for-such-a-long-time-but-now-i-can-t/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) [Explore all 49 Sebastian Stan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) ## 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": "When I was younger, it was so much easier. All I needed to do was just get a job. It was like, 'Oh, my God, I have a job! I can call myself a working actor.' 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