--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From almost the first time I stepped on a…" description: "\"From almost the first time I stepped on a stage, I knew that was what I wanted to do.\" — Sydney Pollack" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg" --- # From almost the first time I stepped on a stage, I knew… ![“From almost the first time I stepped on a stage, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” quote by Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg) > “From almost the first time I stepped on a stage, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stage performance revealed a lifelong passion for storytelling. **In simple terms:** Stage work sparked a career passion. Key Takeaway Pursue what ignites your creative drive. Themes career passion performance discovery Mood enthusiastic reflective Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - college productions - community theatre Key Concepts theatre film directing creative calling Questions to Reflect On - What moment defined your career path? - How do you balance passion with livelihood? A Different Perspective Passion may conflict with practical concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Knew Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-wanted-245113/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-knew-1896238/) [Stepped Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepped-stage-957778/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The first time I stepped on stage and I started singing, I knew that I wanted to do it for the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gonzalez/the-first-time-i-stepped-on-stage-and-i-started-singing-i-knew-that-i/) [Anthony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gonzalez/) > [I always felt like my future was at stake every time I stepped on stage and that was kind of hair-raising. At some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lee-jones/i-always-felt-like-my-future-was-at-stake-every-time-i-stepped-on/) [Rickie Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lee-jones/) > [The first time I ever stepped on stage was the O2 Arena in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nav/the-first-time-i-ever-stepped-on-stage-was-the-o2-arena-in-london/) [Nav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nav/) > [The first time I walked on a stage I knew that was what I was created to do. I knew that there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/the-first-time-i-walked-on-a-stage-i-knew-that-was-what-i-was-created/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [From the first audition on stage, I knew I loved acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/from-the-first-audition-on-stage-i-knew-i-loved-acting/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [I spent a long time in London on the stage, and you knew exactly what you were going to be doing. You not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-sharman/i-spent-a-long-time-in-london-on-the-stage-and-you-knew-exactly-what/) [Daniel Sharman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-sharman/) > [And Paul Moravec, not being a theater person, would always trust me when I said things that I am like, "you're going to need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-teachout/and-paul-moravec-not-being-a-theater-person-would-always-trust-me/) [Terry Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-teachout/) > [I knew I wanted to be a rapper when I was, like, 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-rapper-when-i-was-like-5/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [I always knew I wanted to work in music. There was no plan B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-work-in-music-there-was-no-plan-b/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I had no idea how to make it as an actor. But I knew I wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walton/i-had-no-idea-how-to-make-it-as-an-actor-but-i-knew-i-wanted-to/) [David Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walton/) > [I always knew that I wanted to do something in business and I prepared myself for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-always-knew-that-i-wanted-to-do-something-in-business-and-i/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I knew what I wanted to do from the time I was 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-knew-what-i-wanted-to-do-from-the-time-i-was-5/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [All I knew is that I NEVER wanted to be AVERAGE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/all-i-knew-is-that-i-never-wanted-to-be-average/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I always knew I wanted to make my own way; I never wanted to be dependent on my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-mellon/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-make-my-own-way-i-never-wanted-to-be/) [Tamara Mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-mellon/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) ## More by Sydney Pollack > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [It's my job to motivate the audience to believe. I have to get them to suspend their judgment in favor of involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/it-s-my-job-to-motivate-the-audience-to-believe-i-have-to-get-them-to/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [The marketing of anything is full of exploitation and lies and hype.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/the-marketing-of-anything-is-full-of-exploitation-and-lies-and-hype/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Burt Lancaster was largely responsible for me becoming a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/burt-lancaster-was-largely-responsible-for-me-becoming-a-director/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [People sense when you're pretending, when you're worried about your own ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/people-sense-when-you-re-pretending-when-you-re-worried-about-your/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I personally have never made a movie in Hollywood, because I don't want to get up in my own bed and then go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-personally-have-never-made-a-movie-in-hollywood-because-i-don-t/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Every film I've made has a kind of frustrated love story in the center of it. They were people who saw life from opposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/every-film-i-ve-made-has-a-kind-of-frustrated-love-story-in-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [You mustn't regret decisions that you make. Because the decisions are made out of your gut in a way and you have to stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-mustn-t-regret-decisions-that-you-make-because-the-decisions-are/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [When you're shooting a feature that costs $200,000 a day with a crew of 250, you don't want accidents; you want to know exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/when-you-re-shooting-a-feature-that-costs-200-000-a-day-with-a-crew/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [What makes architecture extraordinary is that you're looking at the building, but your peripheral vision is also seeing how it fits within a space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/what-makes-architecture-extraordinary-is-that-you-re-looking-at-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I don't get nervous talking about my films, but if I'm the subject, it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-get-nervous-talking-about-my-films-but-if-i-m-the-subject-it/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [You are not an active creator of the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-are-not-an-active-creator-of-the-film/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [All films are political, whether they mean to be or not. Star Wars is political. As soon as you have conflict, which is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/all-films-are-political-whether-they-mean-to-be-or-not-star-wars-is/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [There will be people who are sensitive about seeing the American point of view presented as less than sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/there-will-be-people-who-are-sensitive-about-seeing-the-american/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I don't consider myself a teacher of moral and political positions. I don't want to be that. I can't help but have a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-teacher-of-moral-and-political-positions-i/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) [Explore all 169 Sydney Pollack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) ## More First quotes > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [I watched the movie 'What We Do in the Shadows' in a packed theater when it first came out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-dacosta/i-watched-the-movie-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-in-a-packed-theater/) [Nia DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-dacosta/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) [Browse all 9,159 First quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From almost the first time I stepped on a stage, I knew that was what I wanted to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney Pollack" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on-a-stage-i-knew-that-was-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on-a-stage-i-knew-that-was-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/sydney-pollack-2385_first_from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on_3055110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“From almost the first time I stepped on a stage, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” — Sydney Pollack", "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": "Sydney Pollack", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "From almost the first time I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on-a-stage-i-knew-that-was-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/from-almost-the-first-time-i-stepped-on-a-stage-i-knew-that-was-what/#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 } } ] } ```