---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're always choosing the start point…"
description: "\"You're always choosing the start point and the end point. And almost by definition, the most interesting period is where something happens, as a result..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/edward-norton-2203_challenges_you-re-always-choosing-the-start-point-a_266692.jpg"
---

#  You're always choosing the start point and the end point…

![“You're always choosing the start point and the end point. And almost by definition, the most interesting period is where something happens, as a result of which something is different at the end. And so to me, the idea that you know everything about a character at the beginning is sort of…” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/edward-norton-2203_challenges_you-re-always-choosing-the-start-point-a_266692.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/edward-norton-2203_challenges_you-re-always-choosing-the-start-point-a_266692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/edward-norton-2203_challenges_you-re-always-choosing-the-start-point-a_266692.jpg)

> “You're always choosing the start point and the end point. And almost by definition, the most interesting period is where something happens, as a result of which something is different at the end. And so to me, the idea that you know everything about a character at the beginning is sort of ridiculous. Something has to be revealed. I like it when the deeper you go with the character, the more you see the layers start to peel away. It's more challenging to me, but it's also just interesting. Those are the things I like to watch. I like to watch the evolutions of something.”

[Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Storytelling is most compelling when characters evolve, revealing hidden layers through conflict and change rather than static exposition.

**In simple terms:** Characters grow and change, making stories interesting.

Key Takeaway

Focus on character evolution over static description.

Themes

storytelling character development conflict growth narrative structure

Mood

engaging thoughtful

Type

creative analytical

When to use this quote

- novels
- screenplays
- theatre
- character workshops
- creative writing

Key Concepts

psychology layered identity transformative arcs

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance revealing layers with maintaining mystery?
- What moments best illustrate a character’s transformation?

A Different Perspective

Emphasizing change may neglect the value of well‑crafted static characters.

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[Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-beginning-2616237/) [Definition Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-interesting-2616238/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Period](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-period-303278/) [Most interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-interesting/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/)

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