--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A character’s want is a superficial…" description: "\"“A character’s want is a superficial conscious desire for the thing they think they need in order to present themselves to the world, a”\" — John Yorke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg" --- # A character’s want is a superficial conscious desire for… ![“A character’s want is a superficial conscious desire for the thing they think they need in order to present themselves to the world, a” quote by John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg) > ““A character’s want is a superficial conscious desire for the thing they think they need in order to present themselves to the world, a”” [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character’s desire is a shallow, conscious goal they think they need to shape their identity for others. **In simple terms:** Surface desire shapes self‑image. Key Takeaway Explore deeper motivations. Themes character development identity desire Mood analytical creative Type literary psychological When to use this quote - scriptwriting - therapy - self‑reflection Key Concepts conscious desire self‑presentation psychology Questions to Reflect On - What hidden needs drive a character’s stated want? - How does self‑presentation affect authenticity? A Different Perspective Surface motives may mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ## Related quotes > [Of course, I write. I have stories to tell. But I don't want to do superficial stuff any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparna-sen/of-course-i-write-i-have-stories-to-tell-but-i-don-t-want-to-do/) [Aparna Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparna-sen/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“we must magnetize our minds with intense DESIRE for riches, that we must become "money conscious until the DESIRE for money drives us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/we-must-magnetize-our-minds-with-intense-desire-for-riches-that-we/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [In my life as a wife and mother, I'm always conscious of my desire to be present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/in-my-life-as-a-wife-and-mother-i-m-always-conscious-of-my-desire-to/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“He should have told us, that before we can accumulate riches in great abundance, we must magnetize our minds with intense DESIRE for riches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/he-should-have-told-us-that-before-we-can-accumulate-riches-in-great/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“before we can accumulate riches in great abundance, we must magnetize our minds with intense DESIRE for riches, that we must become "money conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/before-we-can-accumulate-riches-in-great-abundance-we-must-magnetize/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Nay, without thought or conscious desire, might not things external to ourselves vibrate in unison with our moods and passions, atom calling to atom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nay-without-thought-or-conscious-desire-might-not-things-external-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [All my life I have been haunted by the obsession that to desire a thing or to love a thing intensely is to place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/all-my-life-i-have-been-haunted-by-the-obsession-that-to-desire-a/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“If there is a real desire, if the thing desired is really light, the desire for light produces it. There is a real desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/if-there-is-a-real-desire-if-the-thing-desired-is-really-light-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Hope is the confusion of the desire for a thing with its probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/hope-is-the-confusion-of-the-desire-for-a-thing-with-its-probability/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/before-we-passionately-desire-a-thing-we-should-examine-the-happiness/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [There are certain people who so ardently and passionately desire a thing, that from dread of losing it they leave nothing undone to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/there-are-certain-people-who-so-ardently-and-passionately-desire-a/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Think before you desire a thing. There is every possibility that it will be fulfilled, and then you will suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/think-before-you-desire-a-thing-there-is-every-possibility-that-it/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [If you desire one thing for so long, its a given that you will miss other things along the way. Thats how it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berserk/if-you-desire-one-thing-for-so-long-its-a-given-that-you-will-miss/) Berserk > [We never do what we wish when we wish it, and when we desire a thing earnestly, and it does arrive, that or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-never-do-what-we-wish-when-we-wish-it-and-when-we-desire-a-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Yorke > [“If someone offered us £10 million, we’d all spend it differently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/if-someone-offered-us-10-million-we-d-all-spend-it-differently/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“Exposition, after all, is telling and drama is showing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/exposition-after-all-is-telling-and-drama-is-showing/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“The conflict between how we wish to be perceived and what we really feel is at the root of all character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/the-conflict-between-how-we-wish-to-be-perceived-and-what-we-really/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“People construct a public face in order to deal with the conflicts that rage inside them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/people-construct-a-public-face-in-order-to-deal-with-the-conflicts/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“Great characters are consciously or subconsciously at war with themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/great-characters-are-consciously-or-subconsciously-at-war-with/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally put the art of writing dialogue succinctly: ‘What’s important is not the emotion they’re playing but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/silence-of-the-lambs-screenwriter-ted-tally-put-the-art-of-writing/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“if you disguise exposition with ‘emotional overlay’, it’s rendered undetectable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/if-you-disguise-exposition-with-emotional-overlay-it-s-rendered/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“A character’s façade, then, is an outer manifestation of an inner conflict.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/a-character-s-fa-ade-then-is-an-outer-manifestation-of-an-inner/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“All good exposition is disguised by making it dramatic – by injecting conflict.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/all-good-exposition-is-disguised-by-making-it-dramatic-by-injecting/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [“The greater the conflict, the less visible the exposition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/the-greater-the-conflict-the-less-visible-the-exposition/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) [Explore all 11 John Yorke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A character’s want is a superficial conscious desire for the thing they think they need in order to present themselves to the world, a”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Yorke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-conscious-desire-for-the-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-conscious-desire-for-the-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/john-yorke-39153_desire_a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-cons_1307122.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A character’s want is a superficial conscious desire for the thing they think they need in order to present…” — John Yorke", "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": "John Yorke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A character’s want is a superficial...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-conscious-desire-for-the-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/a-character-s-want-is-a-superficial-conscious-desire-for-the-thing/#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 } } ] } ```