--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always looking for work. There are…" description: "\"I'm always looking for work. There are only two states of being an actor, so if I'm not working, I'm looking for employment.\" — Terry O'Quinn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/terry-o-quinn-14978_actor_i-m-always-looking-for-work-there-are-on_529775.jpg" --- # I'm always looking for work. There are only two states of… ![“I'm always looking for work. There are only two states of being an actor, so if I'm not working, I'm looking for employment.” quote by Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/terry-o-quinn-14978_actor_i-m-always-looking-for-work-there-are-on_529775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/terry-o-quinn-14978_actor_i-m-always-looking-for-work-there-are-on_529775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/terry-o-quinn-14978_actor_i-m-always-looking-for-work-there-are-on_529775.jpg) > “I'm always looking for work. There are only two states of being an actor, so if I'm not working, I'm looking for employment.” [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor views unemployment as a proactive search for new roles, framing it as an active pursuit rather than a passive state. **In simple terms:** Job hunting is active work, not idle waiting. Key Takeaway Treat joblessness as a proactive search. Themes career employment acting mindset Mood determined realistic Type professional motivational When to use this quote - freelance - gig economy - industry downturns Key Concepts Networking skill development auditions self‑promotion Questions to Reflect On - How can actors stay motivated during dry spells? - What strategies expand an actor’s prospects? A Different Perspective The market may be saturated, limiting opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Looking for work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-for-work/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [If I'm in L.A. for longer than 20 days, I'm looking for work, because I don't do vacations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-m-in-l-a-for-longer-than-20-days-i-m-looking-for-work-because-i/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [A lot of people quit looking for work as soon as they find a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/a-lot-of-people-quit-looking-for-work-as-soon-as-they-find-a-job/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I'm taking my own time but I don't want to just relax either. Also, when you're looking for work, everybody approaches you, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sana-khan/i-m-taking-my-own-time-but-i-don-t-want-to-just-relax-either-also/) [Sana Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sana-khan/) > [We have to create jobs but also make sure that those who are looking for work aren't just left without any assistance whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sander-levin/we-have-to-create-jobs-but-also-make-sure-that-those-who-are-looking/) [Sander Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sander-levin/) > [It had always been a dream of mine to come to New York to work. Coming to New York and looking for work is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-vanasse/it-had-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-to-come-to-new-york-to-work-coming/) [Karine Vanasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-vanasse/) > [Well, I've always just - I've never really gone out looking for work. I always waited for it to sort of hit me on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/well-i-ve-always-just-i-ve-never-really-gone-out-looking-for-work-i/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [My hands are full. I am a workaholic. So, I am always looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kaushik/my-hands-are-full-i-am-a-workaholic-so-i-am-always-looking-for-work/) [Satish Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kaushik/) > [As a struggling actor, you're not looking for parts that define you; you're just looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/as-a-struggling-actor-you-re-not-looking-for-parts-that-define-you/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [There are Universes begging for Gods, yet he hangs around this one looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-jose-farmer/there-are-universes-begging-for-gods-yet-he-hangs-around-this-one/) [Philip Jose Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-jose-farmer/) > [I'm OK with being the Old Spice Guy because before I was the Old Spice Guy I was the guy looking for work on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-mustafa/i-m-ok-with-being-the-old-spice-guy-because-before-i-was-the-old/) [Isaiah Mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-mustafa/) > [“Looking for work sounds almost as bad as finding it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-black/looking-for-work-sounds-almost-as-bad-as-finding-it/) [Bob Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-black/) > [Nobody is looking for work who doesn't need work. That's why we look for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/nobody-is-looking-for-work-who-doesn-t-need-work-that-s-why-we-look/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [In the afterlife you don't have to worry about looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-wood/in-the-afterlife-you-don-t-have-to-worry-about-looking-for-work/) [Ed Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-wood/) > [Every month, we get the reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that say even more people have given up looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/every-month-we-get-the-reports-from-the-bureau-of-labor-statistics/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-people-quit-looking-for-work-when-they-find-a-job/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Terry O'Quinn > [I like New York in the spring and in the fall. It's one of the best cities to walk that I've ever been in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-like-new-york-in-the-spring-and-in-the-fall-it-s-one-of-the-best/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [It's easier to be healthy in Hawaii than it is, almost anywhere else I've lived. You spend a lot of time outside, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/it-s-easier-to-be-healthy-in-hawaii-than-it-is-almost-anywhere-else-i/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I know 'Lost' used to drive people mad trying to anticipate what was happening or what something meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-know-lost-used-to-drive-people-mad-trying-to-anticipate-what-was/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [Things like Facebook and Twitter, all that stuff, are about, 'I'm here! Here I am! I'm somebody special!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/things-like-facebook-and-twitter-all-that-stuff-are-about-i-m-here/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles, but I probably wouldn't say it's my favorite city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-los-angeles-but-i-probably-wouldn-t-say-it-s/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [There's no particular formula for 'Lost.' I mean, I think there were a few attempts to follow it and copy it, but it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/there-s-no-particular-formula-for-lost-i-mean-i-think-there-were-a/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [The reality is that most of us actors have to take work that we would rather not at some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/the-reality-is-that-most-of-us-actors-have-to-take-work-that-we-would/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > ['Heaven's Gate' I remember, because it was the first movie I ever was cast in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/heaven-s-gate-i-remember-because-it-was-the-first-movie-i-ever-was/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I think when you get to a certain age, older people become more emotional than younger people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-think-when-you-get-to-a-certain-age-older-people-become-more/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I think that you only occasionally have to play evil because everything you're doing is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-think-that-you-only-occasionally-have-to-play-evil-because/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration, anger, shame, helplessness and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-don-t-think-i-could-play-a-character-that-i-couldn-t-relate-to/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I'm not sure it's possible to stay in Hawaii. It's kind of impractical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-m-not-sure-it-s-possible-to-stay-in-hawaii-it-s-kind-of-impractical/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I developed more as an actor in the course of 'Lost' than I had in any period in my career before because they trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-developed-more-as-an-actor-in-the-course-of-lost-than-i-had-in-any/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [The people I meet on the street satisfy my need to make contact with the fans. I love to meet them and I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/the-people-i-meet-on-the-street-satisfy-my-need-to-make-contact-with/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [We all hope we have something else to do. We're going to be unemployed actors. It's a consistent state of being a professional actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/we-all-hope-we-have-something-else-to-do-we-re-going-to-be-unemployed/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) [Explore all 44 Terry O'Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) ## 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": "I'm always looking for work. 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