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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.

The harm which is done by credulity in a man is not confined to the fostering of a credulous character in others, and consequent support of false beliefs.

Quotes by William Kingdon Clifford

Just to assassinate Michael Brown's character is wrong.

Quotes by William Lacy Clay, Jr.

The proper time to influence the character of a child is about a hundred years before he is born.

Quotes by William Inge

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.

Quotes by William J. H. Boetcker

I'm a firm believer that character is highly overrated. Character is a trick that we do with the audience's collusion.

Quotes by William H. Macy

If I like the story and it's well written, and it's a character I want to play and they'll pay me, then I decide to do it.

Quotes by William H. Macy

Any one who believes that any great enterprise of an industrial character can be started without labor must have little experience of life.

Quotes by William Graham Sumner

Here's the bottom line: I can't play someone if I can't figure out what he cares about. Everybody cares about something, even a rough character. It defines where we step in life. As soon as you find out what somebody...

Quotes by William Fichtner

What I truly get excited about is not the genre of a movie or the size of a part - it's character. I like to find characters.

Quotes by William Fichtner

I never say, 'I only want to do things like this,' I am not that sort of actor. I don't have that grand plan - some do, but I don't - I am really a character guy.

Quotes by William Fichtner

I prefer people to say to me, 'You're one of my favorite actors,' rather than 'You're one of my favorite character actors.' It sounds like a slam. At least it sounds that way to me.

Quotes by William Forsythe

Technique is of less interest than character and story.

Quotes by William Friedkin

Each of us is meant to have a character all our own, to be what no other can exactly be, and do what no other can exactly do.

Quotes by William Ellery Channing

Every human being is intended to have a character of his own; to be what no others are, and to do what no other can do.

Quotes by William Ellery Channing

The great hope of society is in individual character.

Quotes by William Ellery Channing

Grandeur of character lies wholly in force of soul, that is, in the force of thought, moral principle, and love, and this may be found in the humblest condition of life.

Quotes by William Ellery Channing

There are two men in Tolstoy. He is a mystic and he is also a realist. He is addicted to the practice of a pietism that for all its sincerity is nothing if not vague and sentimental; and he is...

Quotes by William Ernest Henley

At one time, whenever the hell it was, they wanted a character to come in and stir up the pot. They brought me in for 8-10 episodes and said we'll try it for that.

Quotes by William Devane

David was the kind of guy who was totally supportive of the actors and instructed the writing staff to trust the actor's instincts, since after all, it's the actors playing the character.

Quotes by William Devane

It is our character that supports the promise of our future - far more than particular government programs or policies.

Quotes by William Bennett

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.