Character Quote by David Mamet
“Any time two characters are talking about a third, the scene is a crock of s***.”
About This Quote
Claims that when two characters discuss a third, the dialogue is often meaningless.
In simple terms: Talk about a third character often leads to empty dialogue.
Key Takeaway
Avoid filler conversation about others.
Themes
writing
dialogue
craft
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
instructional
reflective
When to use this quote
- scriptwriting
- novel drafting
- playwriting
Key Concepts
literary criticism
screenwriting
Questions to Reflect On
- How can third‑person references add depth?
- When is it effective?
A Different Perspective
Not all such dialogue is useless.
![“I don't like the strictly objective viewpoint [in which all of the characters' actions are described in the third person, but we never hear what any of them are thinking.] Which is much more of a cinematic technique. Something written in third person objective is what the camera sees. Because…” quote by George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/170/george-r-r-martin-2-926_action_i-don-t-like-the-strictly-objective-view_234026.jpg)
