--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you get older, you have to wrestle…" description: "\"When you get older, you have to wrestle with what's appropriate behavior a little bit more. Am I not acting too old or too young?\" — Stephen Malkmus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/stephen-malkmus-2984_acting_when-you-get-older-you-have-to-wrestle-w_2176385.png" --- # When you get older, you have to wrestle with what's… ![“When you get older, you have to wrestle with what's appropriate behavior a little bit more. Am I not acting too old or too young?” quote by Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/stephen-malkmus-2984_acting_when-you-get-older-you-have-to-wrestle-w_2176385.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/stephen-malkmus-2984_acting_when-you-get-older-you-have-to-wrestle-w_2176385.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/stephen-malkmus-2984_acting_when-you-get-older-you-have-to-wrestle-w_2176385.png) > “When you get older, you have to wrestle with what's appropriate behavior a little bit more. Am I not acting too old or too young?” [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging brings heightened self‑consciousness about fitting in and acting age‑appropriate, prompting internal conflict over authenticity. **In simple terms:** Older people worry about acting too old or too young. Key Takeaway Balance self‑awareness with genuine behavior. Themes identity age authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workplace interactions - family gatherings - public speaking Key Concepts self‑perception social norms Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what behavior feels authentic? - When does age become a limiting belief? A Different Perspective Social expectations can stifle personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-old-1175742/) [Appropriate behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appropriate-behavior/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-little-4681624/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Older Wrestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-wrestle-4681623/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [There is a built-in danger in old age which, if we give in to it, makes aging one of the most difficult periods of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/there-is-a-built-in-danger-in-old-age-which-if-we-give-in-to-it-makes/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [I feel old now. I feel like I'm just gonna start acting old and start dressing more mature. I ain't finna be wearing booty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/i-feel-old-now-i-feel-like-i-m-just-gonna-start-acting-old-and-start/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [I'd like this to become my principal activity: to make films about animals. Of course it's always interesting to model, but it depends who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/i-d-like-this-to-become-my-principal-activity-to-make-films-about/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [I had my first screen-acting class in March 2015, and I was, like, 18, turning 19, so it's a risk trying to get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-langford/i-had-my-first-screen-acting-class-in-march-2015-and-i-was-like-18/) [Katherine Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-langford/) > [When it came to, like, appropriate behavior towards one another, it was - I was well-versed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/when-it-came-to-like-appropriate-behavior-towards-one-another-it-was/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [Be yourself. If something you do doesn't work, don't do it the next time. Listen to yourself - you know what appropriate behavior is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/be-yourself-if-something-you-do-doesn-t-work-don-t-do-it-the-next/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [“A lot of conflicts arise when parents expect their children to behave like adults. 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It’s our job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernstein/but-passively-waiting-for-your-child-to-outgrow-his-defiant-behavior/) [Jeffrey Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernstein/) > [As a rider, you must slowly and methodically show your horse what is appropriate. You also have to discourage what's inappropriate, not by making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/as-a-rider-you-must-slowly-and-methodically-show-your-horse-what-is/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) > [“4. Reward appropriate behavior openly and generously If you want to persuade people to do the right thing, add some sort of public display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/businessnews-publishing/4-reward-appropriate-behavior-openly-and-generously-if-you-want-to/) [BusinessNews Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/businessnews-publishing/) > [Concentrate the mind on the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/concentrate-the-mind-on-the-present-moment/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“The appropriate behavior for dignified gentlemen pursuing a learned pastime within the context of a humanistic community was to exchange willingly; gifts, not sales,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-goldgar/the-appropriate-behavior-for-dignified-gentlemen-pursuing-a-learned/) [Anne Goldgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-goldgar/) ## More by Stephen Malkmus > ['Silence Kid' starts with a broken classic-rock intro. It's funny to hear us do that. Obviously, we weren't skillful rock stars. Then it's spinning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/silence-kid-starts-with-a-broken-classic-rock-intro-it-s-funny-to/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [What producers did was mostly recording in the studio, so it never changed our sound just that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/what-producers-did-was-mostly-recording-in-the-studio-so-it-never/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm better when I'm an autodidact and things just come. Or you're just blessed. I'm not bragging or anything, it just comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-better-when-i-m-an-autodidact-and-things-just-come-or-you-re-just/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Men are men and women are women, but the men are dumber than the women, usually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/men-are-men-and-women-are-women-but-the-men-are-dumber-than-the-women/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I am good at just looking in the kitchen and getting stuff on the table and keeping the mess minimal. There's an art to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-am-good-at-just-looking-in-the-kitchen-and-getting-stuff-on-the/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [ Traditionally, when we lived here \[in Portland\], we have a record player in the living room, and there's lots of stuff playing, all different… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/traditionally-when-we-lived-here-in-portland-we-have-a-record-player/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [The word "down," is very musical. It just always comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/the-word-down-is-very-musical-it-just-always-comes/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm more into describing a scenario and I move around in that scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-more-into-describing-a-scenario-and-i-move-around-in-that-scenario/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I like visual imagery in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-like-visual-imagery-in-my-head/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'll cover just about anything - except for a Kid Rock song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-ll-cover-just-about-anything-except-for-a-kid-rock-song/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [“I cannot do even one sit-up / Sit-ups are so bourgeoisie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-cannot-do-even-one-sit-up-sit-ups-are-so-bourgeoisie/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I like a narrative, even if it's fractured, or kind of psychedelic. But my favorite thing is if I hear words and I close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-like-a-narrative-even-if-it-s-fractured-or-kind-of-psychedelic-but/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Freddie Gray was a story I followed closer than others, for whatever reason, in this larger narrative of police brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/freddie-gray-was-a-story-i-followed-closer-than-others-for-whatever/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [We're not on a desperate mission to write chart compatible stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/we-re-not-on-a-desperate-mission-to-write-chart-compatible-stuff/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm not dying for things to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-not-dying-for-things-to-say/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) [Explore all 143 Stephen Malkmus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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