--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out as an actor, but I forced…" description: "\"I started out as an actor, but I forced myself to be a writer, even though I wasn't very good at it and had never written. I don't think I ever passed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/sylvester-stallone-966_actors_i-started-out-as-an-actor-but-i-forced-m_2348305.jpg" --- # I started out as an actor, but I forced myself to be a… ![“I started out as an actor, but I forced myself to be a writer, even though I wasn't very good at it and had never written. I don't think I ever passed an English course in my life. My first eight to 10 scripts were pretty horrendous, but I stayed at it, stayed at it, and stayed at it, until I…” quote by Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/sylvester-stallone-966_actors_i-started-out-as-an-actor-but-i-forced-m_2348305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/sylvester-stallone-966_actors_i-started-out-as-an-actor-but-i-forced-m_2348305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/sylvester-stallone-966_actors_i-started-out-as-an-actor-but-i-forced-m_2348305.jpg) > “I started out as an actor, but I forced myself to be a writer, even though I wasn't very good at it and had never written. I don't think I ever passed an English course in my life. My first eight to 10 scripts were pretty horrendous, but I stayed at it, stayed at it, and stayed at it, until I eventually found a voice and a subject like Rocky that people were interested in.” [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence in a craft despite early failure can eventually reveal talent and audience interest. **In simple terms:** He kept writing despite poor early scripts. Key Takeaway Keep practicing despite setbacks. Themes perseverance creativity growth Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - acting auditions - career pivots Key Concepts Skill development self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to persist? - How do you measure progress? A Different Perspective Success may still require external validation and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Forced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-forced-1170777/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forced Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forced-writer-5708475/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Started Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-actor-900055/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Very good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-good/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writer Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-wasn-930617/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [In this day and age, if you're aspiring to be an actor, and you're putting all your eggs in one basket, you could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/in-this-day-and-age-if-you-re-aspiring-to-be-an-actor-and-you-re/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I don't like waiting around for work, and sometimes as an actor you're forced into that position, so that's sort of how I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/i-don-t-like-waiting-around-for-work-and-sometimes-as-an-actor-you-re/) [Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/) > [I was someone who wanted to be a writer but who wasn't writing. I was someone buying books on writing. I was someone telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/i-was-someone-who-wanted-to-be-a-writer-but-who-wasn-t-writing-i-was/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [And at the end of the day, there was an attempt to suppress a book. The book wasn't suppressed. It's freely available in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/and-at-the-end-of-the-day-there-was-an-attempt-to-suppress-a-book-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I realized that I might not ever make it as a writer, that it might be because I wasn't good enough, or that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-realized-that-i-might-not-ever-make-it-as-a-writer-that-it-might-be/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Becoming a writer wasn't a choice (there would have been far more worthwhile things to do); it was the best, most fruitful way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/becoming-a-writer-wasn-t-a-choice-there-would-have-been-far-more/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I didn't know it was possible to be successful as a writer, so I wasn't afraid to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-didn-t-know-it-was-possible-to-be-successful-as-a-writer-so-i-wasn/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Then I understood. There was no book. My father wasn’t a writer. He wasn’t even a vampire. He was a madman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/then-i-understood-there-was-no-book-my-father-wasn-t-a-writer-he-wasn/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I definitely prefer directing, hands down. I'm a lazy writer and it wasn't until I got into directing that I now have a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coley-sohn/i-definitely-prefer-directing-hands-down-i-m-a-lazy-writer-and-it/) [Coley Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coley-sohn/) > [I wasn't entitled to dream so big. The idea of me being a writer wasn't even possible in my mind. Even when I began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/i-wasn-t-entitled-to-dream-so-big-the-idea-of-me-being-a-writer-wasn/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [I never met a writer who wasn't lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-never-met-a-writer-who-wasn-t-lazy/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-never-thought-about-being-a-writer-as-i-grew-up-a-writer-wasn-t/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [“He often said he had to be a writer because he wasn't good at anything else. He was not good at being an employee.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/he-often-said-he-had-to-be-a-writer-because-he-wasn-t-good-at/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [I've been doing short-form writing for a decade, and six years ago I signed with an agent, and we've been working on figuring out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-west/i-ve-been-doing-short-form-writing-for-a-decade-and-six-years-ago-i/) [Lindy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-west/) > [I started off as an actor thinking that I would be this Romeo, this dashing leading man. It turns out that I'm a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-nivola/i-started-off-as-an-actor-thinking-that-i-would-be-this-romeo-this/) [Alessandro Nivola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-nivola/) ## More by Sylvester Stallone > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I just like stories about redemption about getting a second chance at life, I think everyone in the world has a few major mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-just-like-stories-about-redemption-about-getting-a-second-chance-at/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I am not the richest, smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeed because I keep going and going and going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-am-not-the-richest-smartest-or-most-talented-person-in-the-world/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/every-champion-was-once-a-contender-that-refused-to-give-up/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Plan B. You've always got to have a Plan B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/plan-b-you-ve-always-got-to-have-a-plan-b/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [“It ain't over till its over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/it-ain-t-over-till-its-over/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [On the sequel, you've lost the element of surprise. Usually, on the first one you may not go very, very deep into character; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/on-the-sequel-you-ve-lost-the-element-of-surprise-usually-on-the/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [In this day and age, if you're aspiring to be an actor, and you're putting all your eggs in one basket, you could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/in-this-day-and-age-if-you-re-aspiring-to-be-an-actor-and-you-re/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [People asked if I could have played the Terminator. Are you kidding? Not a chance, I never could have played the Terminator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/people-asked-if-i-could-have-played-the-terminator-are-you-kidding/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Sometimes worst enemies like a Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier that's what makes you fight so hard. Without them they never would have achieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/sometimes-worst-enemies-like-a-mohammed-ali-and-joe-frazier-that-s/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [A lot of guys have muscles. A lot of strong men in this world. I think it's important to show that even under all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/a-lot-of-guys-have-muscles-a-lot-of-strong-men-in-this-world-i-think/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [That's the hardest thing about doing sequels - you've lost the element of surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/that-s-the-hardest-thing-about-doing-sequels-you-ve-lost-the-element/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I tend to think of action movies as exuberant morality plays in which good triumphs over evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-tend-to-think-of-action-movies-as-exuberant-morality-plays-in-which/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Adrian: It was Thanksgiving. Rocky: Yeah, to you, but to me it's Thursday, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/adrian-it-was-thanksgiving-rocky-yeah-to-you-but-to-me-it-s-thursday/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I think everyone has questions in their mind. Did they do their very best?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-everyone-has-questions-in-their-mind-did-they-do-their-very/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) [Explore all 318 Sylvester Stallone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started out as an actor, but I forced myself to be a writer, even though I wasn't very good at it and had never written. I don't think I ever passed an English course in my life. 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