Logo - Feel The Words

Play Quotes

Playing a part, a game, or a song - in their own words.

This set covers 'play' in its many senses: an athlete separating their job from a coach's, an actor naming a dream role, and a musician recalling an anxiety dream about forgetting lyrics onstage. Fans of team dynamics and competition can also check out Game quotes.

In a good play every speech should be as fully flavored as a nut or apple.

Quotes by John Millington Synge

I guess when you play 'Survivor,' almost everyone gets got.

Quotes by John Morrison

Everyone needs to move - if you're a pro athlete, a contortionist, a computer programmer, or just somebody who wants to play with their kids.

Quotes by John Morrison

Cobb would have to play center field on my all time team. But where would that put Speaker? In left. If I had them both, I would certainly play them that way.

Quotes by John McGraw

I don't mind what I play, really.

Quotes by John Malkovich

He played the king as if afraid someone else would play the ace.

Quotes by John Mason Brown

I also went to art school and learned to play a piano there, but I play by ear.

Quotes by John Mayall

I play music, I paint - these things come from your depths.

Quotes by John Lurie

'Frasier' was a classy gig. I didn't for one minute think it was less prestigious or artistic than doing a play.

Quotes by John Mahoney

My first acting class was taught by a little known playwright, David Mamet, who then cast me in my first play, opposite John Malkovich.

Quotes by John Mahoney

These girls play tennis first and foremost, the fact that many of them are very glamorous is a major bonus for any promoter.

Quotes by John Lindsay

Any adaptation - and I've done three in my career. I did 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Hugo' and 'Coriolanus.' It's important to find what makes it a movie as opposed to just a film presentation of a stage play.

Quotes by John Logan

Oh, I still like to play and I still play when I want to.

Quotes by John Lee Hooker

The best training is to play by ear: trial by fire.

Quotes by John Legend

Whenever I play Shakespeare, I keep thinking, 'how did this Englishman know so much about me?'

Quotes by John Kani

You cannot just play tournament after tournament like maybe I did when I was 23, 24 years old.

Quotes by John Isner

There's a lot of times I'll just play too passive and since I'm not going to play defense as well as most guys can, I can't get away with passive play.

Quotes by John Isner

As an actor, I think a mistake that any storyteller can make is to play the ending.

Quotes by John Hawkes

Usually bad guys are much more fun to play and much more interesting to watch.

Quotes by John Gilpin

It's important to do research. I do that in every play, every actor does.

Quotes by John Gilpin

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these quotes say about playing sports?
One quote captures a simple, no-nonsense attitude toward the game: "Coaches coach, and players play." It's about trusting your role and doing your job on the field. For more sports-minded lines, see our Football page.
Is there a quote about acting ambitions?
Yes - one quote describes a common goal for performers: "I think that's every actor's dream, actually: to play lead parts."
Does the collection include any funny performance-anxiety quotes?
There's a memorable one about stage-fright dreams: "I had a dream I was onstage naked and I forgot how to play the songs" - a relatable nightmare for any performer. Browse more in our Game section.
What does the collection say about choosing roles?
One quote is refreshingly honest: "I do like to play the darker characters; I don't really know why." For more short, straightforward lines, see our Just page.
Are any of these quotes about sticking to your role?
Yes - the idea of staying in your lane comes through clearly: "Coaches coach, and players play." It's a good reminder to focus on what you do best. Explore more in our Always collection.

Several entries lean toward performance and character work rather than sport, showing how differently the word applies across professions. Related browsing includes Football quotes for the sports side and Just quotes for shorter, plainspoken lines.