--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beware 'good' main characters who have a…" description: "\"Beware 'good' main characters who have a limited repertory of culturally acceptable feelings, while your evil bastards have a full range of vivid, pass..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png" --- # Beware 'good' main characters who have a limited repertory… ![“Beware 'good' main characters who have a limited repertory of culturally acceptable feelings, while your evil bastards have a full range of vivid, passionate feelings.” quote by Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png) > “Beware 'good' main characters who have a limited repertory of culturally acceptable feelings, while your evil bastards have a full range of vivid, passionate feelings.” [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Protagonists often lack emotional depth, while villains display richer, more vivid feelings, creating imbalance. **In simple terms:** Heroes can be emotionally shallow; villains complex. Key Takeaway Develop nuanced emotions for all characters. Themes character emotion storytelling Mood analytical creative Type literary psychological When to use this quote - novels - films - games Key Concepts complexity villainy heroic archetype Questions to Reflect On - How can heroes be made more authentic? - What impact does villain depth have? A Different Perspective One-dimensional heroes reduce relatability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) [Beware Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beware-good-2880631/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Bastards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-bastards-5170940/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feelings Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-evil-5170939/) [Main characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-characters/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Passionate Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate-feelings-2612450/) [Range](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/range/) [Screenwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriter/) [Vivid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vivid/) ## Related quotes > [Beware of too much good staying in your hand. It will fast corrupt and worm worms. Pay it away quickly in some sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/beware-of-too-much-good-staying-in-your-hand-it-will-fast-corrupt-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All the religious wars that have caused blood to be shed for centuries arise from passionate feelings and facile counter-positions, such as Us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/all-the-religious-wars-that-have-caused-blood-to-be-shed-for/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“You are not afraid of me at all, are you?” Keely swallows. She is, but at this point, what does she have to lose?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dark-calling/you-are-not-afraid-of-me-at-all-are-you-keely-swallows-she-is-but-at/) [Dark Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dark-calling/) > [When someone comes up to me and says, 'Mary, you helped save my marriage', or, 'Mary, you helped me get out of this abusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/when-someone-comes-up-to-me-and-says-mary-you-helped-save-my-marriage/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [Most people are middle class. Most people do wish their lives were better than they are. And I think by making my main characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bentley-little/most-people-are-middle-class-most-people-do-wish-their-lives-were/) [Bentley Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bentley-little/) > [I should love to do a novel, about one abnormal character seeing present-day life, very ordinary life, yet arresting through it, abnormality, until at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-should-love-to-do-a-novel-about-one-abnormal-character-seeing/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [Gettting to know your characters is so much more important than plotting. Working out every detail of your story in advance, especially when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/gettting-to-know-your-characters-is-so-much-more-important-than/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I abhor crime novels in which the main character can behave however he or she pleases, or do things that normal people do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-abhor-crime-novels-in-which-the-main-character-can-behave-however/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Introduce your main characters and themes in the first third of your novel. If you are writing a plot-driven genre novel make sure all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/introduce-your-main-characters-and-themes-in-the-first-third-of-your/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [As a hero, you have to play it straight. The audience is going to live through you, so you have to be more neutral.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/as-a-hero-you-have-to-play-it-straight-the-audience-is-going-to-live/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [All my main characters are people I'd love to sit around having coffee with. They are people who will tell you honestly about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/all-my-main-characters-are-people-i-d-love-to-sit-around-having/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [Once you're imagining being the main character, and you're having the conversations and actually being there, the magic in fiction writing takes over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/once-you-re-imagining-being-the-main-character-and-you-re-having-the/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [I don't think I ever intended specifically to write for the young adult market. It's just that when the idea for City of Bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-think-i-ever-intended-specifically-to-write-for-the-young/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The only way to change the world is to change the main character of our story - the one we believe that we are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-the-main-character-of/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [At the end of the day, if you don't identify with the main characters, no television show will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-murai/at-the-end-of-the-day-if-you-don-t-identify-with-the-main-characters/) [Hiro Murai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-murai/) ## More by Bill Johnson > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [The biggest enemy to prayer is praying for something you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/the-biggest-enemy-to-prayer-is-praying-for-something-you-already-have/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“Working from His presence is better than working for His presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/working-from-his-presence-is-better-than-working-for-his-presence/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Faith must rise beyond the recognised norm into a lifestyle that accurately represents the victorious Son of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/faith-must-rise-beyond-the-recognised-norm-into-a-lifestyle-that/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [It is unnatural for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/it-is-unnatural-for-a-christian-not-to-have-an-appetite-for-the/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [A heart of faith is anchored in the unseen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/a-heart-of-faith-is-anchored-in-the-unseen/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“I can’t afford to live in reaction to darkness. If I do, darkness has had a role in setting the agenda for my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-can-t-afford-to-live-in-reaction-to-darkness-if-i-do-darkness-has/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [So Jesus came and modelled a lifestyle of power and purity because the power of the Spirit of God was on him. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/so-jesus-came-and-modelled-a-lifestyle-of-power-and-purity-because/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“All of God’s judgments are aimed at whatever interferes with love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/all-of-god-s-judgments-are-aimed-at-whatever-interferes-with-love/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [We are not relevant when we mirror secular culture. We are relevant when we are what they long to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/we-are-not-relevant-when-we-mirror-secular-culture-we-are-relevant/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [God is better than you think. So lets change the way we think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/god-is-better-than-you-think-so-lets-change-the-way-we-think/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“Remaining poor in spirit, combined with a first love passion for Jesus are the keys God created to anchor us to the center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/remaining-poor-in-spirit-combined-with-a-first-love-passion-for-jesus/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Anything you think you know about about God, that you can't find in the person of Jesus, you have reason to question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/anything-you-think-you-know-about-about-god-that-you-can-t-find-in/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Perfectionism is the counterfeit of excellence. Excellence is Kingdom, while perfectionism is religion. What ever you do, do it with all you might, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/perfectionism-is-the-counterfeit-of-excellence-excellence-is-kingdom/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) [Explore all 282 Bill Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/) [Harold Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-covington/) > [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/) [Sally Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-struthers/) > [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) [Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Beware 'good' main characters who have a limited repertory of culturally acceptable feelings, while your evil bastards have a full range of vivid, passionate feelings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-limited-repertory-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-limited-repertory-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/bill-johnson-1147_acceptable_beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-l_3067051.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Beware 'good' main characters who have a limited repertory of culturally acceptable feelings, while your…” — Bill Johnson", "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": "Bill Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Beware 'good' main characters who have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-limited-repertory-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/beware-good-main-characters-who-have-a-limited-repertory-of/#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 } } ] } ```