--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to explain to people that you get…" description: "\"I try to explain to people that you get the roles that are right when they're right. If you have a nerd character but you're kind of a cool guy, you're..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png" --- # I try to explain to people that you get the roles that are… ![“I try to explain to people that you get the roles that are right when they're right. If you have a nerd character but you're kind of a cool guy, you're probably not going to get the nerd part. The nerd is going to get the nerd part. You know, someone like me.” quote by Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png) > “I try to explain to people that you get the roles that are right when they're right. If you have a nerd character but you're kind of a cool guy, you're probably not going to get the nerd part. The nerd is going to get the nerd part. You know, someone like me.” [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are cast into roles that fit their authentic selves; trying to force a mismatched role leads to inauthenticity. **In simple terms:** You get roles that match who you truly are. Key Takeaway Embrace roles that align with your genuine self. Themes authenticity identity roles self‑discovery career Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - job interviews - casting decisions - personal branding - team assignments Key Concepts psychology media storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What role feels most authentic to you? - How do you handle roles that don’t fit? A Different Perspective The view may ignore external pressures that force role changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) [Cool guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool-guy/) [Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-nerd-884496/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd/) [Nerd Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd-character-884494/) [Nerd Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd-nerd-438678/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-nerd-884495/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Actually, I'm going to nerd out on you, so prepare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/actually-i-m-going-to-nerd-out-on-you-so-prepare/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [A nerd can call another nerd a nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-scott/a-nerd-can-call-another-nerd-a-nerd/) [Travis Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-scott/) > [A nerd will be a nerd all his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/a-nerd-will-be-a-nerd-all-his-life/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [One of the most heartening phenomena in today's Britain is the great diversity of the modern nerd - the nerd is out and proud,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/one-of-the-most-heartening-phenomena-in-today-s-britain-is-the-great/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [A nerd will be a nerd all his life. When we did The Nerd Book at National Lampoon, the nerds got picked up as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/a-nerd-will-be-a-nerd-all-his-life-when-we-did-the-nerd-book-at/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [I'm definitely not a nerd, not a nerd at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/i-m-definitely-not-a-nerd-not-a-nerd-at-all/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [The difference between a Normal Person and a Nerd…Nerd: I got one question wrong :(..Normal Person: I got one question right! :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-difference-between-a-normal-person-and-a-nerd-nerd-i-got-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rachel Maddow calls herself a nerd. You're not a nerd. You're smart, you have your own TV show and you're a lesbian. That's everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-dore/rachel-maddow-calls-herself-a-nerd-you-re-not-a-nerd-you-re-smart-you/) [Jimmy Dore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-dore/) > [I was a nerd, and now I m no more nerd but a trendsetter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweety/i-was-a-nerd-and-now-i-m-no-more-nerd-but-a-trendsetter/) [Sweety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweety/) > [“Did you just say 'nerd'?" "Not a 'nerd' - node." "Oh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-benson/did-you-just-say-nerd-not-a-nerd-node-oh/) [Raymond Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-benson/) > [I shopped at J. Crew in high school, I studied computer science. I was a nerd-nerd, now I'm a music-nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-shopped-at-j-crew-in-high-school-i-studied-computer-science-i-was-a/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [I feel like John McCain is a really cool guy who is surrounded by idiotic friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-feel-like-john-mccain-is-a-really-cool-guy-who-is-surrounded-by/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [“christien is a really cool guy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-beckmeyer/christien-is-a-really-cool-guy/) [Christian Beckmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-beckmeyer/) > [Dear xams.. sorry to say this but we dont get along qte well..! the more closer u cum the more am pissed off...n to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allarefake/dear-xams-sorry-to-say-this-but-we-dont-get-along-qte-well-the-more/) [Allarefake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allarefake/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) ## More by Ed Helms > [First there was the New Hampshire primary, and we had nearly a year leading up to it. And now, look! Three primaries in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/first-there-was-the-new-hampshire-primary-and-we-had-nearly-a-year/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [The biggest thing that comes out of improv that gets built on is just character traits. You know, for me the singing was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/the-biggest-thing-that-comes-out-of-improv-that-gets-built-on-is-just/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [When you're playing a fictional character reacting to the real world, it's incredibly difficult and confusing and kind of messes with your values a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/when-you-re-playing-a-fictional-character-reacting-to-the-real-world/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ It was never tough \[ being the new guy\]. It's just the warmest group of people \[The Office stuff\] you could ever hope to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/it-was-never-tough-being-the-new-guy-it-s-just-the-warmest-group-of/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ What's cool is that in the story of the movie \[The Hangover\] our characters are also really kind of getting to know each other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/what-s-cool-is-that-in-the-story-of-the-movie-the-hangover-our/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [Sometimes you just create a joke out of thin air in the editing room. I'm really glad I've had that experience. It gives me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/sometimes-you-just-create-a-joke-out-of-thin-air-in-the-editing-room/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I love travel. I love to go spend time in new places. And even though I got horribly sick in Thailand, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-love-travel-i-love-to-go-spend-time-in-new-places-and-even-though-i/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ One of the biggest breaks we had actually, one of the biggest, the hardest I laughed on the movie \[The Hangover\] was the baby… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/one-of-the-biggest-breaks-we-had-actually-one-of-the-biggest-the/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ Todd \[Phillips\] doesn't care. That's part of his genius as a director, he will say anything to anybody. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/todd-phillips-doesn-t-care-that-s-part-of-his-genius-as-a-director-he/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [So long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you're on the right track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/so-long-as-your-desire-to-explore-is-greater-than-your-desire-to-not/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [People now genuinely respond to it and associate me with music. It's really fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/people-now-genuinely-respond-to-it-and-associate-me-with-music-it-s/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I'm a very jaded and cynical person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-m-a-very-jaded-and-cynical-person/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [When you're in New York City or Los Angeles, even if you're not dealing with show business, there's still this sense that it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/when-you-re-in-new-york-city-or-los-angeles-even-if-you-re-not/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [That's actually a rare thing to be on a set full of people that you admire and make you laugh all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/that-s-actually-a-rare-thing-to-be-on-a-set-full-of-people-that-you/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [People who grew up in New York City or Los Angeles tend not to even understand what goes on in the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/people-who-grew-up-in-new-york-city-or-los-angeles-tend-not-to-even/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) [Explore all 104 Ed Helms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "I try to explain to people that you get the roles that are right when they're right. If you have a nerd character but you're kind of a cool guy, you're probably not going to get the nerd part. The nerd is going to get the nerd part. You know, someone like me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Helms" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get-the-roles-that-are-right-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get-the-roles-that-are-right-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/ed-helms-4996_character_i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get_2483011.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to explain to people that you get the roles that are right when they're right. If you have a nerd…” — Ed Helms", "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": "Ed Helms", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to explain to people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get-the-roles-that-are-right-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-try-to-explain-to-people-that-you-get-the-roles-that-are-right-when/#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 } } ] } ```