"I'm not giving up acting, I'm definitely not going to stop"
About this Quote
The intent is less inspirational poster and more boundary-setting. Acting is one of the few professions where strangers feel licensed to declare you "done" based on a quiet year, a failed pilot, or the absence of a trending headline. West isn't arguing he's winning; he's asserting continuity. That distinction matters. "I'm definitely not going to stop" doesn't promise awards or prestige, it promises persistence, which is the only thing an actor can fully control in a market governed by casting tastes, franchise economies, and fickle audience attention.
The subtext is also about identity. For performers, acting isn't just a job; it's the central claim of the self, something that can feel threatened when the phone doesn't ring. The repetition - "not giving up", "definitely not" - functions like self-talk made public, a confidence ritual in a business that quietly trains people to interpret silence as a verdict.
Contextually, it lands in the post-heartthrob reality many TV actors face: the gap between being culturally unavoidable for a moment and being professionally steady for decades. West's line is a reminder that longevity isn't glamorous. It's stubborn.
Quote Details
| Topic | Never Give Up |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
West, Shane. (2026, January 18). I'm not giving up acting, I'm definitely not going to stop. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/im-not-giving-up-acting-im-definitely-not-going-22748/
Chicago Style
West, Shane. "I'm not giving up acting, I'm definitely not going to stop." FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/im-not-giving-up-acting-im-definitely-not-going-22748/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I'm not giving up acting, I'm definitely not going to stop." FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/im-not-giving-up-acting-im-definitely-not-going-22748/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.


