Accidents Quote by Ernst Lubitsch
“It is the task of the scenarist to invent little pieces of business that are so characteristic and give so deep an insight into his creatures, that their personalities clearly and organically unfold before the eyes of the audience so that the latter feel that the actions of these people are contingent upon their characters, that there exists some kind of a logical fate, and that nothing is left to mere accident or coincidence.”
About This Quote
Source Film: The Great Ziegfeld (1936) – interview on screenwriting
A scenarist should craft distinct, revealing scenes that naturally expose character motivations, making actions feel inevitable rather than random.
In simple terms: Create scenes that show who characters truly are.
Key Takeaway
Write scenes that let character drive plot.
Themes
character development
storytelling
cause and effect
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- screenplay writing
- character analysis
- film criticism
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
dramatic structure
organic narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance character-driven plot with unexpected twists?
- What details make a scene feel inevitable?
A Different Perspective
Characters may become too deterministic, limiting surprise.
