--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know how to choose work that…" description: "\"I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don't know what my life is about and don't examine it. My life will define it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/sidney-lumet-24948_art-work_i-don-t-know-how-to-choose-work-that-ill_2180346.jpg" --- # I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my… ![“I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don't know what my life is about and don't examine it. My life will define itself as I live it. The movies will define themselves as I make them. As long as the theme is something I care about at the moment, it's enough for…” quote by Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/sidney-lumet-24948_art-work_i-don-t-know-how-to-choose-work-that-ill_2180346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/sidney-lumet-24948_art-work_i-don-t-know-how-to-choose-work-that-ill_2180346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/sidney-lumet-24948_art-work_i-don-t-know-how-to-choose-work-that-ill_2180346.jpg) > “I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don't know what my life is about and don't examine it. My life will define itself as I live it. The movies will define themselves as I make them. As long as the theme is something I care about at the moment, it's enough for me to start work. Maybe work itself is what my life is about.” [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits uncertainty about defining life's purpose, suggesting work and art evolve together, and that starting with a current passion is sufficient to begin meaningful creation. **In simple terms:** Start work with what you care about now, even if purpose is unclear. Key Takeaway Begin with present interests; purpose will emerge. Themes purpose creativity uncertainty Mood thoughtful inquisitive optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - film making - personal development - goal setting Key Concepts existentialism artistic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What current passion could you turn into work? - How do you discover deeper purpose over time? A Different Perspective Relying on fleeting interests can lead to lack of direction later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-work/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-life/) ## Related quotes > [“I don’t know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don’t know what my life is about and don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-how-to-choose-work-that-illuminates-what-my-life-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Framing the issue of work-life balance - as if the two were dramatically opposed - practically ensures work will lose out. Who would ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/framing-the-issue-of-work-life-balance-as-if-the-two-were/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“Framing the issue as "work-life balance" – as if the two were diametrically opposed – practically ensures work will lose out. Who would ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/framing-the-issue-as-work-life-balance-as-if-the-two-were/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“We can start work we won’t see the end of. “Plant sequoias,” urges Wendell Berry:      Put your faith in the two inches of humus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/we-can-start-work-we-won-t-see-the-end-of-plant-sequoias-urges/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [You've got to have some fun before games or you make the season too long. We don't start work until seven o'clock. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-fielder/you-ve-got-to-have-some-fun-before-games-or-you-make-the-season-too/) [Prince Fielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-fielder/) > [“I know that we have to start work quickly and intensively, whoever wants to be with us from the start will be welcomed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/i-know-that-we-have-to-start-work-quickly-and-intensively-whoever/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [I like to go into the studio and start work on a project when it's time. I don't like to do it too early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-benet/i-like-to-go-into-the-studio-and-start-work-on-a-project-when-it-s/) [Eric Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-benet/) > [I start work at 7 A.M. and write all day, seven days a week. If I don't write, I can't sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/i-start-work-at-7-a-m-and-write-all-day-seven-days-a-week-if-i-don-t/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [We need to start work with the idea that we're going to learn every day. I learn, even at my position, every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kochhar/we-need-to-start-work-with-the-idea-that-we-re-going-to-learn-every/) [Chanda Kochhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kochhar/) > [I get up, get coffee, and go into my home office. I check email and Twitter before I start work, but I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-get-up-get-coffee-and-go-into-my-home-office-i-check-email-and/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I start work around 8 a.m. and usually finish around noon. If there's more to do, I do it in the late afternoon, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-start-work-around-8-a-m-and-usually-finish-around-noon-if-there-s/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [On my first days here I did not start work immediately but, as planned, I took it easy for a few days - flicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-klimt/on-my-first-days-here-i-did-not-start-work-immediately-but-as-planned/) [Gustav Klimt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-klimt/) > [I am a morning person and start work, whether composing, rehearsing, preparing syllabi/tests, or proofing an article or manuscript, early in the morning before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-harbach/i-am-a-morning-person-and-start-work-whether-composing-rehearsing/) [Barbara Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-harbach/) > [Maybe my work looks a little crazy, a little insane, but I don't really see myself as a crazy artist or a shaman artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/maybe-my-work-looks-a-little-crazy-a-little-insane-but-i-don-t-really/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [What's the secret to such a long and happy relationship? I don't know. Maybe because I work a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/what-s-the-secret-to-such-a-long-and-happy-relationship-i-don-t-know/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) ## More by Sidney Lumet > [There are no minor decisions in movie making. Each decision will either contribute to a good piece of work or bring the whole movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-are-no-minor-decisions-in-movie-making-each-decision-will/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [In drama, the characters should determine the story. In melodrama, the story determines the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/in-drama-the-characters-should-determine-the-story-in-melodrama-the/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [There's a powerful magic about being a writer that I still marvel at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-s-a-powerful-magic-about-being-a-writer-that-i-still-marvel-at/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Good style, to me, is unseen style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/good-style-to-me-is-unseen-style/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [There are no personal revelations other than feelings arising from the work itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-are-no-personal-revelations-other-than-feelings-arising-from/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [The varying physical characteristics of the actors may also necessitate changes. Sean Connery is six feet four. Dustin Hoffman isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/the-varying-physical-characteristics-of-the-actors-may-also/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [I only said 'Titanic' is unwatchable because one can not watch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/i-only-said-titanic-is-unwatchable-because-one-can-not-watch-it/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Suffice to say that the theme (the WHAT of the movie) is going to determine the style (the HOW of the movie).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/suffice-to-say-that-the-theme-the-what-of-the-movie-is-going-to/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [If I don't have a script I adore, I do one I like. If I don't have one I like, I do one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/if-i-don-t-have-a-script-i-adore-i-do-one-i-like-if-i-don-t-have-one/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Don't let the difficulty of actually achieving a shot make you think that the shot is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/don-t-let-the-difficulty-of-actually-achieving-a-shot-make-you-think/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Over-length is one of the things that most often results in the destruction of the movie in the cutting room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/over-length-is-one-of-the-things-that-most-often-results-in-the/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [There's no such thing as a small part. There are just small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-small-part-there-are-just-small-actors/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [It's art. It's commerce. It's heartbreaking and it's fun. It's a great way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/it-s-art-it-s-commerce-it-s-heartbreaking-and-it-s-fun-it-s-a-great/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [“The basic 110-volt AC power line moves the electrons at 60 cycles. If a transformer is close to the power source (and all speakers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/the-basic-110-volt-ac-power-line-moves-the-electrons-at-60-cycles-if/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [For any director with a little lucidity, masterpieces are films that come to you by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/for-any-director-with-a-little-lucidity-masterpieces-are-films-that/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) [Explore all 23 Sidney Lumet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) ## More Art work quotes > [I get pretty focused when I start working on something. And I drink a lot of water, way more than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-woodman/i-get-pretty-focused-when-i-start-working-on-something-and-i-drink-a/) [Nick Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-woodman/) > [“Recluses won’t find purpose living out their days in a sacred bubble. Partake in commerce, start working out, volunteer, go on a mission. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-demarco/recluses-won-t-find-purpose-living-out-their-days-in-a-sacred-bubble/) [M.J. DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-demarco/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Smart Work + Hard Work = Genius!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-pandey/smart-work-hard-work-genius/) Manish Pandey > [When art works travel from place to place, what you have is the opportunity to engage with the intellect of another person who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/when-art-works-travel-from-place-to-place-what-you-have-is-the/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [“monotony kills the heart. Ironically, monotony is what keeps the heart working.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soumeet-lanka/monotony-kills-the-heart-ironically-monotony-is-what-keeps-the-heart/) [soumeet lanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soumeet-lanka/) > [But I think you have to - whatever the environment looks like, it does enter into people's art work one way or another; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/but-i-think-you-have-to-whatever-the-environment-looks-like-it-does/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [The longest break I have taken in my life was 14 days. On the 15th day, I started getting impatient to start work again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/the-longest-break-i-have-taken-in-my-life-was-14-days-on-the-15th-day/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [Whenever you start working on something, you have to go about it with the underlying assumption that this puzzle has a solution, right? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyan-slat/whenever-you-start-working-on-something-you-have-to-go-about-it-with/) [Boyan Slat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyan-slat/) > [When you first start working for me, directly for me, I micromanage until I trust you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/when-you-first-start-working-for-me-directly-for-me-i-micromanage/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [We are not being true to the artist as a man if we consider his art work junk simply because we differ with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-being-true-to-the-artist-as-a-man-if-we-consider-his-art/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's what I like: to kind of get up and start working right away in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/that-s-what-i-like-to-kind-of-get-up-and-start-working-right-away-in/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [The JCPOA is working - preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It's time for the Republicans to start working, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-jcpoa-is-working-preventing-iran-from-developing-a-nuclear-weapon/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I went to London to do the stuff. I was like "What am I going to do? What's going to happen?" But then once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-went-to-london-to-do-the-stuff-i-was-like-what-am-i-going-to-do/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) [Browse all 484 Art work quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-work/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don't know what my life is about and don't examine it. My life will define itself as I live it. The movies will define themselves as I make them. 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