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Character Quotes

Character shows up in fiction, politics and physics.

"Character" is used two distinct ways in this collection — as a literary term about how a fictional character carries moral weight, and as a description of personal integrity tied to one's politics and work. For traits and personality more broadly, see Personality quotes.

Every actor wants to have a character that changes, that has some kind of movement, that gets from point A to point B, that doesn't just supply one note.

Quotes by Jeffrey Jones

The character of Matt LeBlanc in 'Episodes' has some real dark sides, and Matt wasn't afraid to explore those.

Quotes by Jeffrey Klarik

When I was growing up, there was a character on TV; there was a character stereotype: it was personified by Mel on 'The Dick Van Dyke Show.'

Quotes by Jeffrey Tambor

You want to feel, 'I know that character.'

Quotes by Jeffrey Tambor

One of the things that Dostoevsky talks about is that no character is too high to fall and no character is too low to be redeemed. 'Crime and Punishment' began with a person going out and consciously becoming a cold-blooded...

Quotes by Jeffrey Bell

I just didn't want to get bored playing a character, and that's kind of the benefit of doing films; you've lived with a character for four or five months and that's it, and you walk away from that character and...

Quotes by Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Ian McShane's character in 'Deadwood' was awesome.

Quotes by Jeffrey Dean Morgan

In any character you do, especially something like 'Watchmen,' if you're gonna do this, you're gonna do this right. I'm fighting for the Comedian every step of the way; there's not even a question, Adrian is a scumbag.

Quotes by Jeffrey Dean Morgan

I've done tons of guest spots and in parts where the character invariably dies or is dead.

Quotes by Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Basically you come up with the fictional idea and you start writing that story, but then in order to write it and to make it seem real, you sometimes put your own memories in. Even if it's a character that's...

Quotes by Jeffrey Eugenides

What I do when I create a character is put in details from all the people I know who might be like that person, and then put in a huge amount of myself.

Quotes by Jeffrey Eugenides

I see music as an aid. It overcomes my internal editor, especially when the music evokes the character or the mood I'm trying to build.

Quotes by Jeff Vandermeer

When you describe a character's dream, it has to be sharper than reality in some way and more meaningful. It has to somehow speak to plot, character, and all the rest.

Quotes by Jeff Vandermeer

The beauty of performance for me is finding details with which to betray character.

Quotes by Jefferson Mays

I never really approach any project or story thinking of themes first or what a certain character 'represents.' Maybe other writers do, but for me, it just starts with the characters and a certain emotion I want to convey. It...

Quotes by Jeff Lemire

I think we're so advanced when it comes to watching narrative material. I mean, it's all we do is consume content all day long. So when a character walks onscreen, you immediately start making connections for that character: Is that...

Quotes by Jeff Nichols

Actors usually respond to minor aspects of their own character or things that even feel disparate from themselves.

Quotes by Jeff Perry

Most actors will tell you this - I don't really know how to connect, empathize with, or make worthy of any revelation a character that doesn't have love in there somewhere, that doesn't have an idealism or an empathy in...

Quotes by Jeff Perry

'Guild Wars 2' is a wider world in that we have a lot of different mechanics available for storytelling. We have our personal story, the story of you, which is tailored for your character. You answer some basic questions; you...

Quotes by Jeff Grubb

John Cena is John Cena - it's really not a character he is playing.

Quotes by Jeff Jarrett

Frequently Asked Questions

What different meanings of "character" appear on this page?
Several - literary character in the sense of a written character's moral dimension, the idea that one's politics and the character of their work are inseparable, the freeing quality of dialogue comedy, and even a scientific reference to the "duality of character" in matter and radiation.
Is there a quote about writing and moral character in fiction?
Yes, one quote discusses how everything in fiction ultimately comes down to the relationship between the reader, the writer, and the characters, questioning whether a character addresses moral being in an important way. For more, see the Characters page.
Is there a quote connecting politics and creative work?
Yes, one quote states a belief that "one's politics and the character of his particular work are inseparable," reflecting a radical viewpoint. Browse the Personality page for more on how personal outlook shapes expression.
Is there a quote about comedy writing and characters?
Yes, one quote describes finding it liberating that in dialogue comedy, the characters and what they say aren't the writer themselves - just fleeting thoughts and observations rather than stated truths. For more on how characters take shape, see the Character Development page.
Is there a scientific quote about "character" here?
Yes, interestingly - one quote uses "duality of character" to describe how matter and radiation sometimes behave like waves and sometimes like particles, applying the word in a scientific rather than literary sense. For more on how character is portrayed, check out the Characterization page.

Unusually, one entry borrows the word from physics, describing the dual wave-and-particle character of matter and radiation. Continue with Characters quotes or Character Development quotes.