--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there wasn't something called acting…" description: "\"If there wasn't something called acting, they would probably hospitalize people like me.\" — Whoopi Goldberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg" --- # If there wasn't something called acting, they would… ![“If there wasn't something called acting, they would probably hospitalize people like me.” quote by Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg) > “If there wasn't something called acting, they would probably hospitalize people like me.” [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting provides an outlet; without it, he might be institutionalized. **In simple terms:** Acting is a vital outlet. Key Takeaway Seek creative expression. Themes mental health acting creativity Mood thoughtful hopeful Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - Theatre - film - personal coping - social stigma Key Concepts Psychology of performance self-expression Questions to Reflect On - What role does performance play in mental health? - Can art replace professional help? A Different Perspective Acting may not solve deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-probably-247553/) [Called Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-acting-243004/) [Hospitalize People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitalize-people-1068681/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Like me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-me/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Probably Hospitalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-hospitalize-1068680/) ## Related quotes > [People assume that displaying your own personal ego on screen is called acting, which is actually not what acting is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/people-assume-that-displaying-your-own-personal-ego-on-screen-is/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [I feel like God has moved me into a different way of doing things. I teach basic on-camera acting class called Acting 101...In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mauceri/i-feel-like-god-has-moved-me-into-a-different-way-of-doing-things-i/) [Patricia Mauceri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mauceri/) > [Can you explore real issues as a fake character? Yes - it's called acting. Or fiction. But acting is not a method of engaging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-young/can-you-explore-real-issues-as-a-fake-character-yes-it-s-called/) [Kevin Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-young/) > [What I've been doing with my misfit, so-called acting career in film from day one on my first film, 'Spanking The Monkey', is, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-davies/what-i-ve-been-doing-with-my-misfit-so-called-acting-career-in-film/) [Jeremy Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-davies/) > [When you take on different roles and become a different person, that's called acting ... It's a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-loggia/when-you-take-on-different-roles-and-become-a-different-person-that-s/) [Robert Loggia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-loggia/) > [Playing with guns you revert to a little boy sometimes. But they're not great things to play with, so it's just making them look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-winstone/playing-with-guns-you-revert-to-a-little-boy-sometimes-but-they-re/) [Ray Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-winstone/) > [I'm an actor because I love acting, and my romance with this craft called acting is too intense. I'm in this business for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-m-an-actor-because-i-love-acting-and-my-romance-with-this-craft/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-you-see-what-is-small-as-it-sees-itself-and-accept-what-is-weak/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [An actor is an impersonator; he plays many different roles. If you played the same role all the time, God - that'd be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-loggia/an-actor-is-an-impersonator-he-plays-many-different-roles-if-you-2/) [Robert Loggia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-loggia/) > [My family was always supportive when I decided that I wanted to pursue this thing called acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selenis-leyva/my-family-was-always-supportive-when-i-decided-that-i-wanted-to/) [Selenis Leyva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selenis-leyva/) > [Don't think for a moment that I'm really like any of the characters I've played. I'm not. That's why it's called 'acting'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/don-t-think-for-a-moment-that-i-m-really-like-any-of-the-characters-i/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [God has called me to do this thing called acting and the performing arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-mclaughlin/god-has-called-me-to-do-this-thing-called-acting-and-the-performing/) [Caleb McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-mclaughlin/) > [When I was about 16 or 17, I had a teacher who took a group of us to the National Theater in Washington, D.C.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/when-i-was-about-16-or-17-i-had-a-teacher-who-took-a-group-of-us-to/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > ["Maybe I just don't want another rejection," he shrugs. "I've had enough of that in my so-called acting career." Oh, so this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-potter/maybe-i-just-don-t-want-another-rejection-he-shrugs-i-ve-had-enough/) [Alexandra Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-potter/) > [Did Anthony Hopkins really have to be a serial killer to be in 'Silence of the Lambs?,' I don't think so, no. It's called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/did-anthony-hopkins-really-have-to-be-a-serial-killer-to-be-in/) [Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/) ## More by Whoopi Goldberg > [My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/my-family-is-jewish-buddhist-baptist-and-catholic-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [“Remember what the fashion big mouths were saying about Jessica Simpson? Looking at her magazine pictures, sucking their teeth, going, "Oh, look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/remember-what-the-fashion-big-mouths-were-saying-about-jessica/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [ \[The original Sister Act\] is running all over the world now, on-stage as a musical. It lives! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/the-original-sister-act-is-running-all-over-the-world-now-on-stage-as/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I want Carl Sagan to explain the sky to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-want-carl-sagan-to-explain-the-sky-to-me/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I dig being a mother...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-dig-being-a-mother/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [What we're doing is not just about becoming a model. It's bigger than that. It's shining a spotlight on folks who know who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/what-we-re-doing-is-not-just-about-becoming-a-model-it-s-bigger-than/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm a big old egotistical baby and that's okay. I can accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-m-a-big-old-egotistical-baby-and-that-s-okay-i-can-accept-it/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [For some reason, all artists have self-esteem issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/for-some-reason-all-artists-have-self-esteem-issues/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I fear waking up one morning and finding out my life was all for nothing. We're here for a reason. I believe a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-fear-waking-up-one-morning-and-finding-out-my-life-was-all-for/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [ \[On her monologue as the thief 'Fontaine':\] People always got things. People always want things. So I provide a service. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/on-her-monologue-as-the-thief-fontaine-people-always-got-things/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [“People have the power we give them. Words have the power we give them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/people-have-the-power-we-give-them-words-have-the-power-we-give-them/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I don't have pet peeves like some people. I have whole kennels of irritation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-don-t-have-pet-peeves-like-some-people-i-have-whole-kennels-of/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [If You don't like Gay Marriage, Don't Marry a Gay Person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-you-don-t-like-gay-marriage-don-t-marry-a-gay-person/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [Now, I've always known that there were bullies in the world. We've seen a lot of it in politics lately as well as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/now-i-ve-always-known-that-there-were-bullies-in-the-world-we-ve-seen/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [You don't want to think something might be racist, but it might be, because your gut is telling you it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/you-don-t-want-to-think-something-might-be-racist-but-it-might-be/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) [Explore all 133 Whoopi Goldberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) ## 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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there wasn't something called acting, they would probably hospitalize people like me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Whoopi Goldberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting-they-would-probably/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting-they-would-probably/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/whoopi-goldberg-3323_acting_if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting_2501889.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there wasn't something called acting, they would probably hospitalize people like me.” — Whoopi Goldberg", "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": "Whoopi Goldberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there wasn't something called acting,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting-they-would-probably/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-there-wasn-t-something-called-acting-they-would-probably/#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 } } ] } ```