--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time you have your protagonist…" description: "\"By the time you have your protagonist attempting to assassinate the Pope, you've sort of signaled that everything is on the table.\" — Brian K. Vaughan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/brian-k-vaughan-2421_assassinate_by-the-time-you-have-your-protagonist-at_2661518.png" --- # By the time you have your protagonist attempting to… ![“By the time you have your protagonist attempting to assassinate the Pope, you've sort of signaled that everything is on the table.” quote by Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/brian-k-vaughan-2421_assassinate_by-the-time-you-have-your-protagonist-at_2661518.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/brian-k-vaughan-2421_assassinate_by-the-time-you-have-your-protagonist-at_2661518.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/brian-k-vaughan-2421_assassinate_by-the-time-you-have-your-protagonist-at_2661518.png) > “By the time you have your protagonist attempting to assassinate the Pope, you've sort of signaled that everything is on the table.” [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Introducing extreme plot twists signals that all boundaries are open, affecting tone. **In simple terms:** Extreme plots open narrative possibilities. Key Takeaway Balance shock with purpose. Themes storytelling boundaries shock value creativity Mood exciting provocative Type creative controversial When to use this quote - writing - editing - genre blending Key Concepts narrative theory media studies Questions to Reflect On - Why choose extreme conflict? - How does it serve the story? A Different Perspective Shock can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assassinate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassinate/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope/) [Protagonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonist/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ We've all seen lots of stories about a young protagonist having adventures, and usually they're all boys, \[and\] there is sometimes a token female,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/we-ve-all-seen-lots-of-stories-about-a-young-protagonist-having/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I like animal sidekicks. They seem to be a pretty cool trope of post-apocalyptic fiction - just because if you're going to have this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-like-animal-sidekicks-they-seem-to-be-a-pretty-cool-trope-of-post/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Assassinate me you may; intimidate me you cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-philpot-curran/assassinate-me-you-may-intimidate-me-you-cannot/) [John Philpot Curran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-philpot-curran/) > [“Every person we assassinate dies to serve a greater purpose." "I'm sure they would be happy if they knew it," Ileni said sarcastically, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-cypess/every-person-we-assassinate-dies-to-serve-a-greater-purpose-i-m-sure/) [Leah Cypess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-cypess/) > [As far as anybody in the rap game ever tryin' to assassinate my character, that's impossible. You talkin' about a man who has always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/as-far-as-anybody-in-the-rap-game-ever-tryin-to-assassinate-my/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [“When a police officer is pointing a gun at you, pulling your pants up is a proven way of getting you legally killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-a-police-officer-is-pointing-a-gun-at-you-pulling-your-pants-up/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [In America, you assassinate president. In Soviet Russia, president assassinate you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakov-smirnoff/in-america-you-assassinate-president-in-soviet-russia-president/) [Yakov Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakov-smirnoff/) > [Typically, you get a year in prison for making a threat to assassinate the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/typically-you-get-a-year-in-prison-for-making-a-threat-to-assassinate/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [“She could assassinate streets with her eyes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dionne-brand/she-could-assassinate-streets-with-her-eyes/) [Dionne Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dionne-brand/) > [See, Quentin, that’s why you should wear a cup before trying to assassinate someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/see-quentin-that-s-why-you-should-wear-a-cup-before-trying-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We can export terrorism. We can assassinate and set fires inside the territory of the United States as it did to all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/we-can-export-terrorism-we-can-assassinate-and-set-fires-inside-the/) [Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/) > [Anybody else want to assassinate drama starters or is it just me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-else-want-to-assassinate-drama-starters-or-is-it-just-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I said what I was really thinking about this f\*\*ked up world, the government would assassinate me like all the other people they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ryan/if-i-said-what-i-was-really-thinking-about-this-f-ked-up-world-the/) [Lee Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ryan/) > [“Anyway, if the Cetagandans really wanted to assassinate you, they'd hardly do it here. They'd slip something subtle under your skin that wouldn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/anyway-if-the-cetagandans-really-wanted-to-assassinate-you-they-d/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [They can't kill your dreams, so they assassinate your character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/they-can-t-kill-your-dreams-so-they-assassinate-your-character/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by Brian K. Vaughan > [“By the time they're out of preschool, most children have already seen thousands of acts of violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/by-the-time-they-re-out-of-preschool-most-children-have-already-seen/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I'm really happiest living life 22 pages at a time and putting things in little boxes on pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-m-really-happiest-living-life-22-pages-at-a-time-and-putting-things/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [You'd never be able to convince someone to give you money to do a bilingual story where you're not translating half of it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/you-d-never-be-able-to-convince-someone-to-give-you-money-to-do-a/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“I´ve held you in my heart since the day you left me. But you´re too heavy to carry another step. And I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-ve-held-you-in-my-heart-since-the-day-you-left-me-but-you-re-too/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Every issue, the characters and I duke it out. They usually win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/every-issue-the-characters-and-i-duke-it-out-they-usually-win/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [ I love that the book \[Paper Girls \] gets to kind of evolve and change in each era. Our third storyline is our best… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-love-that-the-book-paper-girls-gets-to-kind-of-evolve-and-change-in/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I know I'm a grumpy old man, but I'm always more delighted by readers talking about the actual comics than people talking about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-know-i-m-a-grumpy-old-man-but-i-m-always-more-delighted-by-readers/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I'm still digesting the '90s. It takes some time to get perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-m-still-digesting-the-90s-it-takes-some-time-to-get-perspective/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Ask a child's guardians what it takes to be good at their jobs, and most will answer with a single word... SACRIFICE. Parents give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/ask-a-child-s-guardians-what-it-takes-to-be-good-at-their-jobs-and/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I think some people are just very passionate that things remain the way they were when they were kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-think-some-people-are-just-very-passionate-that-things-remain-the/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Fuck the Bureau! Their entire outfit is half the size of the NYPD. I've got more officers who speak Arabic in one precinct that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/fuck-the-bureau-their-entire-outfit-is-half-the-size-of-the-nypd-i-ve/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [In film, you have the luxury of accomplishing what you need in 24 frames every second. Comics, you only have five or six panels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/in-film-you-have-the-luxury-of-accomplishing-what-you-need-in-24/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Sooner or later, every last echo fades. Even the loudest thunder in the deepest valley.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/sooner-or-later-every-last-echo-fades-even-the-loudest-thunder-in-the/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [There's just something about that late '80s that suddenly feels like it has something to teach us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/there-s-just-something-about-that-late-80s-that-suddenly-feels-like/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Fans of my books have just been supremely nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/fans-of-my-books-have-just-been-supremely-nice/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) [Explore all 166 Brian K. Vaughan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) ## More Assassinate quotes > [Assassinate me you may; intimidate me you cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-philpot-curran/assassinate-me-you-may-intimidate-me-you-cannot/) [John Philpot Curran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-philpot-curran/) > [“Anyway, if the Cetagandans really wanted to assassinate you, they'd hardly do it here. They'd slip something subtle under your skin that wouldn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/anyway-if-the-cetagandans-really-wanted-to-assassinate-you-they-d/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [If I said what I was really thinking about this f\*\*ked up world, the government would assassinate me like all the other people they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ryan/if-i-said-what-i-was-really-thinking-about-this-f-ked-up-world-the/) [Lee Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ryan/) > [Anybody else want to assassinate drama starters or is it just me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-else-want-to-assassinate-drama-starters-or-is-it-just-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We can export terrorism. We can assassinate and set fires inside the territory of the United States as it did to all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/we-can-export-terrorism-we-can-assassinate-and-set-fires-inside-the/) [Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/) > [See, Quentin, that’s why you should wear a cup before trying to assassinate someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/see-quentin-that-s-why-you-should-wear-a-cup-before-trying-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She could assassinate streets with her eyes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dionne-brand/she-could-assassinate-streets-with-her-eyes/) [Dionne Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dionne-brand/) > [Typically, you get a year in prison for making a threat to assassinate the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/typically-you-get-a-year-in-prison-for-making-a-threat-to-assassinate/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [In America, you assassinate president. In Soviet Russia, president assassinate you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakov-smirnoff/in-america-you-assassinate-president-in-soviet-russia-president/) [Yakov Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakov-smirnoff/) > [“When a police officer is pointing a gun at you, pulling your pants up is a proven way of getting you legally killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-a-police-officer-is-pointing-a-gun-at-you-pulling-your-pants-up/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [As far as anybody in the rap game ever tryin' to assassinate my character, that's impossible. You talkin' about a man who has always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/as-far-as-anybody-in-the-rap-game-ever-tryin-to-assassinate-my/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [“Every person we assassinate dies to serve a greater purpose." "I'm sure they would be happy if they knew it," Ileni said sarcastically, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-cypess/every-person-we-assassinate-dies-to-serve-a-greater-purpose-i-m-sure/) [Leah Cypess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-cypess/) > [They can't kill your dreams, so they assassinate your character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/they-can-t-kill-your-dreams-so-they-assassinate-your-character/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The best way to make somebody feel important is to try to assassinate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/the-best-way-to-make-somebody-feel-important-is-to-try-to-assassinate/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Just to assassinate Michael Brown's character is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lacy-clay-jr/just-to-assassinate-michael-brown-s-character-is-wrong/) [William Lacy Clay, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lacy-clay-jr/) [Browse all 36 Assassinate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassinate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By the time you have your protagonist attempting to assassinate the Pope, you've sort of signaled that everything is on the table.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian K. 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