The only consistent hobby I've had is studying Spanish and

When William Sanderson confessed, “The only consistent hobby I've had is studying Spanish and French because of some delusion of grandeur to work around the world. I love sports but usually I'm looking for the next job,” he was revealing the restless soul of an artist, ever balancing dreams with survival. His words carry both humility and longing: the humility of a man who sees his ambitions as “delusions,” and the longing of one who seeks not only to endure but to expand, to live a life that stretches beyond borders and beyond the next paycheck.

The origin of this quote lies in Sanderson’s life as a working actor. Known for roles that added texture to film and television, he was never the man who lived in the comfort of constant certainty, but one who knew the precariousness of the profession. Like many in the arts, he loved pursuits beyond his trade—languages, sports, learning—but the need to seek the next role, the next income, weighed heavily upon him. His words ring with the truth of many who walk the uncertain path of creativity: that hobbies and passions are often secondary to the pursuit of work, yet they remain sparks of the soul that keep one alive.

Throughout history, we see this same tension between dream and necessity. The playwright Molière once wandered France with a troupe of actors, often performing for meager audiences, always searching for patronage, yet carrying within him the dream of reshaping French theater. He too might have called his ambitions a delusion, yet through persistence they became legacy. Sanderson’s yearning to “work around the world” mirrors the timeless ambition of artists to transcend their station, to find universality in their craft, even when the day-to-day struggle is for sustenance.

There is also wisdom in his mention of language as his most consistent hobby. For to study Spanish and French is not merely to learn words, but to open oneself to new cultures, new ways of thought, new identities. In this, Sanderson shows that even amidst struggle, he sought growth. His “delusion of grandeur” was in truth a noble desire: to be at home in the wide world, to speak across boundaries. Such a pursuit is never wasted, for while jobs come and go, the wisdom of language and culture deepens the soul forever.

His mention of sports, too, is telling. “I love sports but usually I’m looking for the next job.” Sports are a symbol of joy, of play, of community. Yet for him, the weight of responsibility often overshadowed that joy. This is the story of many lives—where duty overshadows delight, where the demands of livelihood consume the hours meant for play. His honesty is therefore not despair, but recognition: that balance is difficult, yet the longing for both sustenance and joy is universal.

The lesson for us is profound: pursue growth even when life demands survival. You may not always have the freedom to chase every passion, but do not abandon them. If work consumes your time, let your small consistencies—like Sanderson’s languages—be your lifeline to meaning. Do not dismiss your ambitions as delusions, for often what seems impossible today becomes tomorrow’s legacy. Above all, remember that while the search for work may shape your days, it is the search for growth that shapes your soul.

So let us take Sanderson’s words to heart: “The only consistent hobby I’ve had is studying Spanish and French… I love sports but usually I’m looking for the next job.” Let them remind us that life is often a struggle between the duties we must fulfill and the passions we wish to follow. Yet even within that struggle, there is room to nurture the seeds of greatness—through learning, through play, through the quiet pursuit of what lifts the spirit. For in the end, it is not only the jobs we held, but the growth we embraced, that will tell the true story of our lives.