--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He's not the finest character that ever…" description: "\"He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid.\" — Arthur M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/arthur-miller-947_attention_he-s-not-the-finest-character-that-ever_1336036.png" --- # He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a… ![“He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid.” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/arthur-miller-947_attention_he-s-not-the-finest-character-that-ever_1336036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/arthur-miller-947_attention_he-s-not-the-finest-character-that-ever_1336036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/arthur-miller-947_attention_he-s-not-the-finest-character-that-ever_1336036.png) > “He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid.” [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even flawed individuals deserve attention when they face tragedy; their humanity demands empathy. **In simple terms:** Flawed people need empathy in crisis. Key Takeaway Show compassion to those suffering. Themes empathy humanity tragedy Mood somber thoughtful Type ethical reflective When to use this quote - health crises - legal trials - public scandals - personal loss - war zones Key Concepts ethics social responsibility character analysis Questions to Reflect On - What prevents us from caring? - How can we broaden our compassion? A Different Perspective Empathy can be limited by personal bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Must Be Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-must-be-paid-213653/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-lived-4266034/) [Finest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finest/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-terrible-354006/) [Lived Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-human-2842820/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) ## Related quotes > [Being human is the most terrible loneliness in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-attanasio/being-human-is-the-most-terrible-loneliness-in-the-universe/) [A.A. Attanasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-attanasio/) > [I don't say he's a great man. Willie Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-don-t-say-he-s-a-great-man-willie-loman-never-made-a-lot-of-money/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Only He who really lived a human life (and I presume that only one did) can fully taste the horror of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/only-he-who-really-lived-a-human-life-and-i-presume-that-only-one-did/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Perhaps every moment of time lived in human consciousness remains in the air around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/perhaps-every-moment-of-time-lived-in-human-consciousness-remains-in/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [ I never liked the whole idea of \[creating your own\] background, if it's not pertinent, where the character lived as a child, and who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-never-liked-the-whole-idea-of-creating-your-own-background-if-it-s/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [“It is the character of lived experience I want to explore, not the nature of man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-jackson/it-is-the-character-of-lived-experience-i-want-to-explore-not-the/) [Michael D. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-jackson/) > [“Printed works do not take up mental space simply by virtue of being there; attention must be paid or their content, whether simple or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/printed-works-do-not-take-up-mental-space-simply-by-virtue-of-being/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“To successfully create illusion, the first thing you need is trust, but to perfect an illusion, the false reality most appear as authentic as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/to-successfully-create-illusion-the-first-thing-you-need-is-trust-but/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [Both learned and unlearned young men seldom go to church, and in general do not attend to their spiritual education, looking upon it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/both-learned-and-unlearned-young-men-seldom-go-to-church-and-in/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Arthur Miller said one of my favorite lines ever, that he had the mother say to her two sons about a very unstable father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/arthur-miller-said-one-of-my-favorite-lines-ever-that-he-had-the/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [Politics can be likened to driving at night over unfamiliar hills and mountains. Close attention must be paid to what the beam can reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-trimble/politics-can-be-likened-to-driving-at-night-over-unfamiliar-hills-and/) [David Trimble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-trimble/) > [Amos Oz is one of the finest novelists of this entire period. MY MICHAEL is a beautiful work of great depth and in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/amos-oz-is-one-of-the-finest-novelists-of-this-entire-period-my/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Above all else, tragedy requires the finest appreciation by the writer of cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/above-all-else-tragedy-requires-the-finest-appreciation-by-the-writer/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [A counted number of pulses only is given to us of a variegated, dramatic life. How may we see in them all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/a-counted-number-of-pulses-only-is-given-to-us-of-a-variegated/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [A thing may in itself be the finest piece of writing one has ever done, and yet have absolutely no place in the manuscript…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-forche/a-thing-may-in-itself-be-the-finest-piece-of-writing-one-has-ever/) [Carolyn Forche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-forche/) ## More by Arthur Miller > [If a person measures his spiritual fulfillment in terms of cosmic visions, surpassing peace of mind, or ecstasy, then he is not likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-a-person-measures-his-spiritual-fulfillment-in-terms-of-cosmic/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“If you can fall in love again and again, if you can forgive your parents for the crime of bringing you into the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-you-can-fall-in-love-again-and-again-if-you-can-forgive-your/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [The wedding of Christianity or Judaism with nationalism is lethal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-wedding-of-christianity-or-judaism-with-nationalism-is-lethal/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“I know what's wrong with me - I could never stand still for death! Which you've got to do by a certain age, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-what-s-wrong-with-me-i-could-never-stand-still-for-death-which/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [You cannot catch a child's spirit by running after it; you must stand still and for love it will soon itself return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/you-cannot-catch-a-child-s-spirit-by-running-after-it-you-must-stand/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [ “(Looking at the letter in his hand) Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, \[Larry\] was my son. 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And by those he has walked away from that cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/a-character-is-defined-by-the-kinds-of-challenges-he-cannot-walk-away/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends him money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/everybody-likes-a-kidder-but-nobody-lends-him-money/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [The American Dream is the largely unacknowledged screen in front of which all American writing plays itself out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-american-dream-is-the-largely-unacknowledged-screen-in-front-of/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“When it is recalled that until the Christian era the underworld was never regardded as a hostile area, that all gods were useful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/when-it-is-recalled-that-until-the-christian-era-the-underworld-was/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“Elizabeth, with great fear: I will fear nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/elizabeth-with-great-fear-i-will-fear-nothing/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [I know you're no worse than most men but I thought you were better. I never saw you as a man. I saw you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-you-re-no-worse-than-most-men-but-i-thought-you-were-better-i/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [The best of our theater is standing on tiptoe, striving to see over the shoulders of father and mother. The worst is exploiting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-best-of-our-theater-is-standing-on-tiptoe-striving-to-see-over/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“I only ask you one thing- don't trust nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-only-ask-you-one-thing-don-t-trust-nobody/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) [Explore all 322 Arthur Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He's not the finest character that ever lived. 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