--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always try to make my characters…" description: "\"I always try to make my characters people, and yet I always want to entertain.\" — Jeffrey Combs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg" --- # I always try to make my characters people, and yet I… ![“I always try to make my characters people, and yet I always want to entertain.” quote by Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg) > “I always try to make my characters people, and yet I always want to entertain.” [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing authentic character development with audience entertainment is a core creative tension. **In simple terms:** Make characters real while keeping them engaging. Key Takeaway Prioritize truth in characters, then entertain. Themes creativity character development entertainment balance Mood thoughtful inspired Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - writing scripts - stage performance - film direction Key Concepts method acting storytelling audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep authenticity alive? - What entertains you most? A Different Perspective Entertainment may dilute character depth if over‑emphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [All I want to do is entertain. I want to get good laughs and I want to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/all-i-want-to-do-is-entertain-i-want-to-get-good-laughs-and-i-want-to/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [At the end of the day if you want to entertain people, you've got to take your ego out of the equation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/at-the-end-of-the-day-if-you-want-to-entertain-people-you-ve-got-to/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [When you go into the theatre and the lights dim, you want to entertain people from beginning to end. You want them to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/when-you-go-into-the-theatre-and-the-lights-dim-you-want-to-entertain/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [I want to entertain people, but with some substance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irrfan-khan/i-want-to-entertain-people-but-with-some-substance/) [Irrfan Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irrfan-khan/) > [As an artist, you want to entertain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-lynch/as-an-artist-you-want-to-entertain-people/) [Ross Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-lynch/) > [I want to entertain viewers as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahadh-faasil/i-want-to-entertain-viewers-as-much-as-possible/) [Fahadh Faasil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahadh-faasil/) > [You see, I've always had this thing in that I love to make people laugh, I want to entertain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/you-see-i-ve-always-had-this-thing-in-that-i-love-to-make-people/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [I want to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-szohr/i-want-to-entertain/) [Jessica Szohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-szohr/) > [Actually, I just want to entertain people. Put that in my obituary, a final picture, all dark in the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/actually-i-just-want-to-entertain-people-put-that-in-my-obituary-a/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [I want to entertain my audience. I know when then come and see me play, if I don't do 'Swing Town,' 'Jet Airliner,' 'Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/i-want-to-entertain-my-audience-i-know-when-then-come-and-see-me-play/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I want to entertain people. That's my whole life. To my last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-want-to-entertain-people-that-s-my-whole-life-to-my-last-breath/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [I live to create content and I want to entertain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrbeast/i-live-to-create-content-and-i-want-to-entertain-people/) MrBeast > [I want to entertain people, whether it be with a comedy, a drama or a movie. An idea's an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nash/i-want-to-entertain-people-whether-it-be-with-a-comedy-a-drama-or-a/) [Bruce Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nash/) > [I want to entertain, I want Newcastle United that is the best it can possibly be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-want-to-entertain-i-want-newcastle-united-that-is-the-best-it-can/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) ## More by Jeffrey Combs > [I've never sold my company or products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-ve-never-sold-my-company-or-products/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [Feelings are universal, and if an actor's doing his job, I think he's making people sit there, and if it's in a movie or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/feelings-are-universal-and-if-an-actor-s-doing-his-job-i-think-he-s/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [I think there's something in the human psyche that we're titillated by the person who flies too close to the candle and their wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-think-there-s-something-in-the-human-psyche-that-we-re-titillated/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [Writing has never been a driving force within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/writing-has-never-been-a-driving-force-within-me/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [I gravitated to acting out of a mixture of instinct, naivete and opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-gravitated-to-acting-out-of-a-mixture-of-instinct-naivete-and/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [It's who you know and who can help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/it-s-who-you-know-and-who-can-help-you/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [Its who you know and who can help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/its-who-you-know-and-who-can-help-you/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [I also sort of find the idea that not only do actors want to please when they're onstage, I find actors really want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-also-sort-of-find-the-idea-that-not-only-do-actors-want-to-please/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [If you don't have dreams, you will end up working for people who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/if-you-don-t-have-dreams-you-will-end-up-working-for-people-who-do/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) > [I went to a lot of theatre schools, got a lot of training, did a lot of repertory where you do a different play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-went-to-a-lot-of-theatre-schools-got-a-lot-of-training-did-a-lot-of/) [Jeffrey Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) [Explore all 11 Jeffrey Combs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/) ## 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 > [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 always try to make my characters people, and yet I always want to entertain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Combs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-people-and-yet-i-always-want-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-people-and-yet-i-always-want-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/jeffrey-combs-40433_character_i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-peopl_2301236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always try to make my characters people, and yet I always want to entertain.” — Jeffrey Combs", "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": "Jeffrey Combs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-combs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always try to make my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-people-and-yet-i-always-want-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-combs/i-always-try-to-make-my-characters-people-and-yet-i-always-want-to/#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 } } ] } ```