--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every so often you read a play and a…" description: "\"Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.\" — Alan Rickman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg" --- # Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks… ![“Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.” quote by Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg) > “Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.” [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A work can resonate so deeply that a character's voice feels like an extension of your own thoughts, creating a shared emotional space. **In simple terms:** Empathy through narrative Key Takeaway Stories can mirror inner dialogue Themes Empathy Narrative resonance Identity Self-reflection Mood Introspective Awe Type Literary observation Personal insight When to use this quote - Reading a play alone - Discussing a drama in a book club - Teaching literature Key Concepts Character identification Emotional immersion Practical Applications - Therapeutic storytelling - Creative writing workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does a character's voice reveal your own values? - What does it mean when fiction feels personal? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Basically, I only play one character; I just play him at different volumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-farley/basically-i-only-play-one-character-i-just-play-him-at-different/) [Chris Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-farley/) > [Well, you know, with every character, if you're going to expose yourself, you've got to figure out every detail that you're going to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/well-you-know-with-every-character-if-you-re-going-to-expose-yourself/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [When I take on a character, it's a sacrifice. There's something that you give up every time. I want to become these characters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/when-i-take-on-a-character-it-s-a-sacrifice-there-s-something-that/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [If you can read the play before it happens, and make the pass before the player's gonna be there, you're gonna be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/if-you-can-read-the-play-before-it-happens-and-make-the-pass-before/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [When I was first aware that I couldn't read music I didn't know I couldn't read because I could play the music that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/when-i-was-first-aware-that-i-couldn-t-read-music-i-didn-t-know-i/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [You can't just skip the boring parts." "Of course I can skip the boring parts." "How do you know they're boring if you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/you-can-t-just-skip-the-boring-parts-of-course-i-can-skip-the-boring/) [Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/) > [You read the play that's in front of you. You don't try to look back; you don't look forward. You deal with the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/you-read-the-play-that-s-in-front-of-you-you-don-t-try-to-look-back/) [Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/) > [If I could read it, I could play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/if-i-could-read-it-i-could-play-it/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I like to read the play. Some of it's luck, being at the right place, right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-like-to-read-the-play-some-of-it-s-luck-being-at-the-right-place/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [“He raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get this? Is our Anne Boleyn suddenly from Mars?" He chuckled. "I always thought she hailed from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/he-raised-an-eyebrow-where-did-you-get-this-is-our-anne-boleyn/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [When you read a play, the words speak to you. When you read a script, there's no way you can tell if that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/when-you-read-a-play-the-words-speak-to-you-when-you-read-a-script/) [Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/) > [I like to hang out with my friends, go to the theatre, watch DVDs, read, play with my niece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-like-to-hang-out-with-my-friends-go-to-the-theatre-watch-dvds-read/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [When I think about it, I was working very hard the summer before I applied to graduate school. I was going to the library…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/when-i-think-about-it-i-was-working-very-hard-the-summer-before-i/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I always just read the play and find a world. That world must honour the play, enhance it, and maybe shine some new light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farr/i-always-just-read-the-play-and-find-a-world-that-world-must-honour/) [David Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farr/) > [When I was in school, in eighth grade, someone recognized something in me. She was an English teacher, and we read a play out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morse/when-i-was-in-school-in-eighth-grade-someone-recognized-something-in/) [David Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morse/) ## More by Alan Rickman > [My definition of palatable might be slightly different from yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/my-definition-of-palatable-might-be-slightly-different-from-yours/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/three-children-have-become-adults-since-a-phone-call-with-jo-rowling/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I do feel more myself in America. I can regress there, and they have roller-coaster parks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-do-feel-more-myself-in-america-i-can-regress-there-and-they-have/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I have a love-hate relationship with white silk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-white-silk/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Unless we tell stories about ourselves, which is all that theater is, we're in deep trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/unless-we-tell-stories-about-ourselves-which-is-all-that-theater-is/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I was 7, and I remember being given a part in a play and thinking, This is exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-was-7-and-i-remember-being-given-a-part-in-a-play-and-thinking-this/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [The difference between being an actor and a director is simple. The director has to hide his panic; the actor doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/the-difference-between-being-an-actor-and-a-director-is-simple-the/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Do you know that moment when you paint a landscape as a child and, when you’re maybe under seven or something, the sky is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/do-you-know-that-moment-when-you-paint-a-landscape-as-a-child-and/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Who I am gets in the way of people looking innocently at the parts I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/who-i-am-gets-in-the-way-of-people-looking-innocently-at-the-parts-i/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I don't think it's right that everybody knows everything about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-think-it-s-right-that-everybody-knows-everything-about-me/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [One thing I will say - my job gets harder and harder. The more you understand about what you are capable of, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/one-thing-i-will-say-my-job-gets-harder-and-harder-the-more-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma and Rupert from ten years ago. They were 12. I have also recently returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/on-the-screen-were-some-flashback-shots-of-daniel-emma-and-rupert/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I was coming from a very cerebral, dark, difficult, layered play by Christopher Hampton and doing an action movie in Hollywood (Die Hard) with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-was-coming-from-a-very-cerebral-dark-difficult-layered-play-by/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I don't play villains, I play very interesting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-play-villains-i-play-very-interesting-people/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Film has to be reflecting the world that we live in, and that's all you want to be a part of. Actors inhabit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/film-has-to-be-reflecting-the-world-that-we-live-in-and-that-s-all/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) [Explore all 115 Alan Rickman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## 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. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. 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": "Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Rickman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/alan-rickman-4156_character_every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-cha_25199.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in…” — Alan Rickman", "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": "Alan Rickman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every so often you read a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/#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 } } ] } ```