Either you're growing or you're decaying; there's no middle ground. If you're standing still, you're decaying.
Alan ArkinRead
If you want to be an actor and you love acting, you can do it whether you're doing something else or not. You can be connected with community theater or make your own little movies. But if you want to be a movie star, you've got a tough road ahead of you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Pursuing acting can be fulfilling even without fame, but achieving stardom is more challenging.
This quote emphasizes that while one can pursue a passion for acting through community involvement and independent projects, the journey to becoming a recognized movie star is fraught with obstacles. It highlights that there is a distinction between enjoying a craft and seeking the fame that comes with it, suggesting that dedication and resilience are essential for those aiming for stardom.
Themes
ActingSuccessPassionCommunityStardom
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing one's dreams.
More from Alan Arkin
All quotes →I used to watch the world as if it was a performance and I would realize that certain things that people did moved me, and certain things didn't move me, and I tried to analyze, even at that age, six and seven and eight, why I was moved by certain things they did
Alan ArkinRead
Everybody's career has ups and downs. I like to take chances; I don't like to stand still. And I don't give a damn what the market is interested in; I want to try things.
Alan ArkinRead
I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?
Alan ArkinRead
Every physicist knows that things connect with each other. To isolate things is not the way the universe works - winning best actor is arbitrary.
Alan ArkinRead
I love working if it's with people who are capable of having a good time. People with a little bit of enjoyment of what they do. If it's enormous pressure, and people feel that their lives are at stake, then it's agony. So I try to pick projects where I feel like I'm going to avoid those traps.
Alan ArkinRead
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