--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like marginal characters, I like real…" description: "\"I like marginal characters, I like real people. I learn more from talking to my plumber when he comes to fix my toilet than I do from meeting a movie s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/jim-jarmusch-3256_character_i-like-marginal-characters-i-like-real-p_2765019.png" --- # I like marginal characters, I like real people. I learn… ![“I like marginal characters, I like real people. I learn more from talking to my plumber when he comes to fix my toilet than I do from meeting a movie star. I think my movies are in the same vein as that.” quote by Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/jim-jarmusch-3256_character_i-like-marginal-characters-i-like-real-p_2765019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/jim-jarmusch-3256_character_i-like-marginal-characters-i-like-real-p_2765019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/jim-jarmusch-3256_character_i-like-marginal-characters-i-like-real-p_2765019.png) > “I like marginal characters, I like real people. I learn more from talking to my plumber when he comes to fix my toilet than I do from meeting a movie star. I think my movies are in the same vein as that.” [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values ordinary people over celebrities, finding deeper insight in everyday interactions. **In simple terms:** Ordinary people teach more than famous ones. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom from everyday encounters. Themes humility authenticity learning everyday life Mood reflective appreciative Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - talking to service workers - listening to neighbors - observing daily routines Key Concepts human connection social observation artistic inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate everyday insights into your work? - What biases limit your appreciation of ordinary people? A Different Perspective May overlook expertise of professionals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-like/) [Marginal Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marginal-characters-3198064/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-star/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plumber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plumber/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-people/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Plumber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-plumber-3198065/) [Think Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-movies/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Toilets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toilets/) [Veins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veins/) ## Related quotes > [ The \[sexual harassment\] situation has gotten so out of hand that, in 1993, in one of the first British cases, a plumber was fired… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-sexual-harassment-situation-has-gotten-so-out-of-hand-that-in/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [“So if he'd been a plumber, \_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ would've been about toilets?" Left blank to avoid spoilers but this is just too funny :)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/so-if-he-d-been-a-plumber-would-ve-been-about-toilets-left-blank-to/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [As time goes on, the more I value doctors and plumbers. Doctors a little more. I can fix my own toilet but I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/as-time-goes-on-the-more-i-value-doctors-and-plumbers-doctors-a/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [I was focused on building things from an early age. When I was about 3, our toilet broke, and my mother was ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-angle/i-was-focused-on-building-things-from-an-early-age-when-i-was-about-3/) [Colin Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-angle/) > [Art is too popular. If plumbing was as popular as art is we would have amateur plumbers running around brandishing wrenches and Roto-Rooters, climbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/art-is-too-popular-if-plumbing-was-as-popular-as-art-is-we-would-have/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [“My series characters are like family to me. They actually talk to me, telling me what to write and what not to write. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-kellerman/my-series-characters-are-like-family-to-me-they-actually-talk-to-me/) [Faye Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-kellerman/) > [When you build characters from the outside in, they become, oftentimes they become like 'Saturday Night Live' characters or they become like caricatures of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/when-you-build-characters-from-the-outside-in-they-become-oftentimes/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [The readers are very similar. The books they know, the questions they ask, the characters they like. That is similar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-ba/the-readers-are-very-similar-the-books-they-know-the-questions-they/) [Gabriel Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-ba/) > [“It is said that there is a part of us in our characters. But I also believe there is a part of our characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wakely/it-is-said-that-there-is-a-part-of-us-in-our-characters-but-i-also/) [Lisa Wakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wakely/) > [I think I would want to be known for playing unlikeable characters that you like anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-sennott/i-think-i-would-want-to-be-known-for-playing-unlikeable-characters/) [Rachel Sennott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-sennott/) > [The identity of Studio Ghibli movies are how the characters move. They move like live, real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/the-identity-of-studio-ghibli-movies-are-how-the-characters-move-they/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [You have to play your characters, not like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/you-have-to-play-your-characters-not-like-them/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I always talk about my characters like they're real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-fanning/i-always-talk-about-my-characters-like-they-re-real-people/) [Dakota Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-fanning/) > [I like characters. I like spirited characters whether they exist in fiction or real life. Whether they're the invention of artistic people or directors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/i-like-characters-i-like-spirited-characters-whether-they-exist-in/) [Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/) > [Sometimes I pretend not to look at my own characters, because that's like different people getting off with your girlfriend or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/sometimes-i-pretend-not-to-look-at-my-own-characters-because-that-s/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) ## More by Jim Jarmusch > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [The beauty of ideas is that they are like waves in the ocean and they connect with things that came before them, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/the-beauty-of-ideas-is-that-they-are-like-waves-in-the-ocean-and-they/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Nothing is original.. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/nothing-is-original-steal-from-anywhere-that-resonates-with/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I didn't get the degree because in my last year, for my thesis film I made a feature called Permanent Vacation and they'd given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-didn-t-get-the-degree-because-in-my-last-year-for-my-thesis-film-i/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I prefer to be subcultural rather than mass-cultural. I'm not interested in hitting the vein of the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-prefer-to-be-subcultural-rather-than-mass-cultural-i-m-not/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Contradiction was something I really like when it is embraced in that kind of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/contradiction-was-something-i-really-like-when-it-is-embraced-in-that/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [The beauty of life is in small details, not in big events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/the-beauty-of-life-is-in-small-details-not-in-big-events/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like doing them and they're ridiculous and the actors can improvise a lot, and they don't have to be really realistic characters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-like-doing-them-and-they-re-ridiculous-and-the-actors-can-improvise/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Everything is not laden with potential for drama in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/everything-is-not-laden-with-potential-for-drama-in-life/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Cricket makes no sense to me. I find it beautiful to watch and I like that they break for tea. That is very cool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/cricket-makes-no-sense-to-me-i-find-it-beautiful-to-watch-and-i-like/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I'm like a navigator and I try to encourage our collaboration and find the best way that will produce fruit. I like fruit. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-m-like-a-navigator-and-i-try-to-encourage-our-collaboration-and/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [When I left Ohio when I was 17 and ended up in New York and realised that not all films had the giant crab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/when-i-left-ohio-when-i-was-17-and-ended-up-in-new-york-and-realised/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [The beauty of a movie is that you walk in, you don't know anything about it, you enter a world that's new to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/the-beauty-of-a-movie-is-that-you-walk-in-you-don-t-know-anything/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Before she married my father, my mother was a film reviewer for The Akron Beacon Journal - a small newspaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/before-she-married-my-father-my-mother-was-a-film-reviewer-for-the/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [There is something very pleasurable about watching cartoons, a really warm, comfortable feeling. My taste is quite broad, but most of all I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/there-is-something-very-pleasurable-about-watching-cartoons-a-really/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) [Explore all 135 Jim Jarmusch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) ## 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. 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