--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the rules that I always follow is…" description: "\"One of the rules that I always follow is that no matter how crazy characters may act, and no matter how absurd or strange their actions may be, that it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/glenn-howerton-37421_absurd_one-of-the-rules-that-i-always-follow-is_2923020.jpg" --- # One of the rules that I always follow is that no matter… ![“One of the rules that I always follow is that no matter how crazy characters may act, and no matter how absurd or strange their actions may be, that it's justified in the character's mind why they are doing it. Not to get all heady about it, but it's fun for me to test how far I can go with things…” quote by Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/glenn-howerton-37421_absurd_one-of-the-rules-that-i-always-follow-is_2923020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/glenn-howerton-37421_absurd_one-of-the-rules-that-i-always-follow-is_2923020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/glenn-howerton-37421_absurd_one-of-the-rules-that-i-always-follow-is_2923020.jpg) > “One of the rules that I always follow is that no matter how crazy characters may act, and no matter how absurd or strange their actions may be, that it's justified in the character's mind why they are doing it. Not to get all heady about it, but it's fun for me to test how far I can go with things while still keeping it grounded enough that you believe that the character really believes that what he's doing will get him what he wants. It's a personal challenge to me to see how far I can go with that.” [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer should ensure characters act consistently with their own logic, even if bizarre, to keep the story believable and engaging. **In simple terms:** Characters must act in ways that make sense to them, no matter how odd. Key Takeaway Maintain internal logic for character actions. Themes character development storytelling psychology creative challenge Mood curious analytical Type creative educational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - role‑playing games - improvisation Key Concepts motivation belief systems narrative consistency Questions to Reflect On - What limits should be set for character plausibility? - How does internal logic affect audience empathy? A Different Perspective Over‑justifying absurd actions can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I started doing standup when I was in college, and I would incorporate a lot of characters into my act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/i-started-doing-standup-when-i-was-in-college-and-i-would-incorporate/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I need to have an outlet, and so I go and make up characters and act and sing and dance like a crazy monkey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ambrose/i-need-to-have-an-outlet-and-so-i-go-and-make-up-characters-and-act/) [Lauren Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ambrose/) > [Some TV shows are like really good novels in that there are enough episodes that you start to have your own feelings about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/some-tv-shows-are-like-really-good-novels-in-that-there-are-enough/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [I tend to see my characters from inside and outside at once; this is a technique I use to retain a slight distance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-mahajan/i-tend-to-see-my-characters-from-inside-and-outside-at-once-this-is-a/) [Karan Mahajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-mahajan/) > [I'd be happy to play anyone's girlfriend. I'm happy to be working, ever. It's not an intentional thing to play these messed up, crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-zima/i-d-be-happy-to-play-anyone-s-girlfriend-i-m-happy-to-be-working-ever/) [Madeline Zima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-zima/) > [People were confused by me, and at first I was auditioning a lot for the crazy characters or the victim, someone who'd been attacked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/people-were-confused-by-me-and-at-first-i-was-auditioning-a-lot-for/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [Playing dysfunctional characters or crazy characters is only fun if they're well written. So I have been lucky enough to be asked to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/playing-dysfunctional-characters-or-crazy-characters-is-only-fun-if/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [In 20 years I want to look back and see a collection of crazy characters that I made - a menagerie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogler/in-20-years-i-want-to-look-back-and-see-a-collection-of-crazy/) [Dan Fogler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogler/) > [I don't try to make actors play crazy characters. I like where there's a certain element of who they are and truth to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baena/i-don-t-try-to-make-actors-play-crazy-characters-i-like-where-there-s/) [Jeff Baena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baena/) > [I would love to be in 'Downton Abbey.' That's the thing I thing many people would have a good laugh with me saying anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-would-love-to-be-in-downton-abbey-that-s-the-thing-i-thing-many/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [I'm not crazy. I play a lot of crazy characters, but I'm an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-quaid/i-m-not-crazy-i-play-a-lot-of-crazy-characters-but-i-m-an-actor/) [Randy Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-quaid/) > [ I read the script \[of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\] and went, "I haven't read anything this good, in a long time." I thought… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-read-the-script-of-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective-agency-and-went/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I loved the fact that Peabody was a teacher and that he would take Sherman on these incredible adventures to meet these crazy characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/i-loved-the-fact-that-peabody-was-a-teacher-and-that-he-would-take/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [From wrestling to my hip-hop thing, I've just been able to do so much and meet so many crazy characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-savage/from-wrestling-to-my-hip-hop-thing-i-ve-just-been-able-to-do-so-much/) [Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-savage/) > [Your life will have chapters, complete with crazy characters, villains and a plot you can't even imagine as you sit here today. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyn-alfonsi/your-life-will-have-chapters-complete-with-crazy-characters-villains/) Sharyn Alfonsi ## More by Glenn Howerton > [When you have a clear idea of what your character is trying to accomplish, it makes it a lot easier to riff on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/when-you-have-a-clear-idea-of-what-your-character-is-trying-to/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [Sometimes presenting the most ignorant point of view can be the best way to satirize the issue and highlight that ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/sometimes-presenting-the-most-ignorant-point-of-view-can-be-the-best/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [One of my biggest pet peeves is that I just don't like it when characters do things that are funny to the writer, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/one-of-my-biggest-pet-peeves-is-that-i-just-don-t-like-it-when/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [Anything that you really pour your heart and soul into is always rewarding. The most rewarding thing is probably making each other laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/anything-that-you-really-pour-your-heart-and-soul-into-is-always/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [I was entirely wrapped up in the idea of becoming an actor. I learned how to write on the job, basically out of necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/i-was-entirely-wrapped-up-in-the-idea-of-becoming-an-actor-i-learned/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [I'm really bad at writing jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/i-m-really-bad-at-writing-jokes/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [I take my work very seriously, and that's the only way for it to be fun for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/i-take-my-work-very-seriously-and-that-s-the-only-way-for-it-to-be/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [One of the things that makes any good entertainment, whether it's a play, drama, comedy, television, film, whatever, is that you feel a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/one-of-the-things-that-makes-any-good-entertainment-whether-it-s-a/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [It always stings a little bit when somebody doesn't like what you put out there, or at least it does for me. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/it-always-stings-a-little-bit-when-somebody-doesn-t-like-what-you-put/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [I can never remember the name of anywhere I've ever been. I will say that I've eaten at a ton of GREAT places. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/i-can-never-remember-the-name-of-anywhere-i-ve-ever-been-i-will-say/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) > [I always thought it'd be fun to write something, but it never was an ambition of mine, per se.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-howerton/i-always-thought-it-d-be-fun-to-write-something-but-it-never-was-an/) [Glenn Howerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) [Explore all 12 Glenn Howerton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-howerton/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the rules that I always follow is that no matter how crazy characters may act, and no matter how absurd or strange their actions may be, that it's justified in the character's mind why they are doing it. Not to get all heady about it, but it's fun for me to test how far I can go with things while still keeping it grounded enough that you believe that the character really believes that what he's doing will get him what he wants. 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