--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He said that no matter whether you were…" description: "\"“He said that no matter whether you were describing the major character or a minor one, you had to be able to become each character—to know how they th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg" --- # He said that no matter whether you were describing the… ![“He said that no matter whether you were describing the major character or a minor one, you had to be able to become each character—to know how they thought and what motivated them throughout their lives, for good or bad.” quote by Agnes Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg) > ““He said that no matter whether you were describing the major character or a minor one, you had to be able to become each character—to know how they thought and what motivated them throughout their lives, for good or bad.”” Agnes Nixon ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a character requires fully inhabiting their mindset and motivations, both positive and negative. **In simple terms:** Know a character’s thoughts and drives. Key Takeaway Empathize deeply with each role. Themes character development empathy psychology Mood introspective creative Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - acting classes - novel analysis - role‑playing games Key Concepts method acting motivation perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance empathy with critical analysis? - What techniques help you switch perspectives quickly? A Different Perspective May overlook the character’s external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ## Related quotes > [In common discourse we denominate persons and things according to the major part of their character; he is to be called a wise man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/in-common-discourse-we-denominate-persons-and-things-according-to-the/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [A major character has to come somehow out of the unconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/a-major-character-has-to-come-somehow-out-of-the-unconscious/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [I think every major character I've played was originally for an older woman. I have no idea what that says. I guess I'm mature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-zea/i-think-every-major-character-i-ve-played-was-originally-for-an-older/) [Natalie Zea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-zea/) > [For me, one thing I love is having an arc for a character. I love being able to see a character go through something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-whitman/for-me-one-thing-i-love-is-having-an-arc-for-a-character-i-love-being/) [Mae Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-whitman/) > [I should be able to become the character given to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-chakraborty/i-should-be-able-to-become-the-character-given-to-me/) [Mimi Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-chakraborty/) > [I think you can find yourself on one of these shows for a long period of time and think that all you'll ever be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-petersen/i-think-you-can-find-yourself-on-one-of-these-shows-for-a-long-period/) [William Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-petersen/) > [I consider myself fortunate that I've been able to find a character that people have responded to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-franz/i-consider-myself-fortunate-that-i-ve-been-able-to-find-a-character/) [Dennis Franz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-franz/) > [Perhaps I am better prepared to create a certain amount of integrity in the character because I know so much about the parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-morris/perhaps-i-am-better-prepared-to-create-a-certain-amount-of-integrity/) [Phil Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-morris/) > [It's challenging to play a real-life character because you know that it existed in the history and you have certain parameters to follow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/it-s-challenging-to-play-a-real-life-character-because-you-know-that/) [Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/) > [I never base a character on someone I know. You can get ideas from real life, but every character you write is some aspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-never-base-a-character-on-someone-i-know-you-can-get-ideas-from/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > ['On the Road' is another one of those, a film in which the audience has a very clear idea of who they think your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-riley/on-the-road-is-another-one-of-those-a-film-in-which-the-audience-has/) [Sam Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-riley/) > [You're sent scripts, and for some, as soon as you start reading them, you feel an instant connection to the character. You know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-lovibond/you-re-sent-scripts-and-for-some-as-soon-as-you-start-reading-them/) [Ophelia Lovibond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-lovibond/) > [Get to know two things about a man. How he earns his money and how he spends it. You will then have the clue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccracken/get-to-know-two-things-about-a-man-how-he-earns-his-money-and-how-he/) [Robert McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccracken/) > [If it's time for your character to go, it's time for your character to go - you know what I mean? That's it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-schirripa/if-it-s-time-for-your-character-to-go-it-s-time-for-your-character-to/) [Steve Schirripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-schirripa/) > [You should think about your character. Know where you are changing, how you will be changed, what cannot be changed back again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/you-should-think-about-your-character-know-where-you-are-changing-how/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) ## More by Agnes Nixon > [“The Great and the Least, The Rich and the Poor, The Weak and the Strong, In Joy and Sorrow, In Tragedy and Triumph, You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-nixon/the-great-and-the-least-the-rich-and-the-poor-the-weak-and-the-strong/) Agnes Nixon > [“I’ve often thought the biggest element of successful writing is the ability to get the seat of your pants to the seat of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-nixon/i-ve-often-thought-the-biggest-element-of-successful-writing-is-the/) Agnes Nixon Explore all 3 Agnes Nixon quotes ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He said that no matter whether you were describing the major character or a minor one, you had to be able to become each character—to know how they thought and what motivated them throughout their lives, for good or bad.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Agnes Nixon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-nixon/he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were-describing-the-major/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-nixon/he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were-describing-the-major/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/agnes-nixon-74255_character_he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were_369493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He said that no matter whether you were describing the major character or a minor one, you had to be able to…” — Agnes Nixon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Agnes Nixon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-nixon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He said that no matter whether...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-nixon/he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were-describing-the-major/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-nixon/he-said-that-no-matter-whether-you-were-describing-the-major/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```