--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The inspiration really comes first from…" description: "\"The inspiration really comes first from the character and the story. That vision of what the story is, and what the character is, the world that they i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/keanu-reeves-2935_character_the-inspiration-really-comes-first-from_2635140.jpg" --- # The inspiration really comes first from the character and… ![“The inspiration really comes first from the character and the story. That vision of what the story is, and what the character is, the world that they inhabit and what the story wants to tell. That's really what inspires me.” quote by Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/keanu-reeves-2935_character_the-inspiration-really-comes-first-from_2635140.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/keanu-reeves-2935_character_the-inspiration-really-comes-first-from_2635140.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/keanu-reeves-2935_character_the-inspiration-really-comes-first-from_2635140.jpg) > “The inspiration really comes first from the character and the story. That vision of what the story is, and what the character is, the world that they inhabit and what the story wants to tell. That's really what inspires me.” [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative inspiration stems from deep character and world building, shaping the story’s core message. **In simple terms:** Characters and world spark inspiration. Key Takeaway Focus on strong characters and settings. Themes creativity storytelling inspiration Mood reflective enthusiastic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing - film production - game design - novel drafting Key Concepts character development worldbuilding vision Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance character depth with plot momentum? - What world details most influence your story’s tone? A Different Perspective Great characters alone may not guarantee audience connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you have to go through a total loss of inspiration to find what really inspires you the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-mai/sometimes-you-have-to-go-through-a-total-loss-of-inspiration-to-find/) Dirk Mai > [“Every character has a back story. It’s what makes them fully formed and believable. But resist the urge to describe your character’s past with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-sandler/every-character-has-a-back-story-it-s-what-makes-them-fully-formed/) Karen Sandler > [For Marvel, we've never looked at any of our characters in terms of gender, race, or religion. It truly is about, who is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-loeb/for-marvel-we-ve-never-looked-at-any-of-our-characters-in-terms-of/) [Jeph Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-loeb/) > [I don't really have a main source for my style inspiration. It's really about however I feel about myself at the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-graham/i-don-t-really-have-a-main-source-for-my-style-inspiration-it-s/) [Kat Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-graham/) > [If I gave America any kind of hope or any kind of inspiration, I really want to say thank you for allowing me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gilman/if-i-gave-america-any-kind-of-hope-or-any-kind-of-inspiration-i/) [Billy Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gilman/) > [Inspiration is really all around us. I pay attention to a lot of different fields. I stay up on current events. I go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/inspiration-is-really-all-around-us-i-pay-attention-to-a-lot-of/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [For me, always, the big inspiration really comes from talking with my creators, my showrunners and my producers, and seeing what is their vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/for-me-always-the-big-inspiration-really-comes-from-talking-with-my/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [Before I do anything, I think, well what hasn't been seen. Sometimes, that turns out to be something ghastly and not fit for society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/before-i-do-anything-i-think-well-what-hasn-t-been-seen-sometimes/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [Inspiration is a really hard thing to describe, but it's something that triggers your brain, like the first time I heard a certain guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-5/inspiration-is-a-really-hard-thing-to-describe-but-it-s-something/) [John 5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-5/) > [Inspiration can really strike from anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-berk/inspiration-can-really-strike-from-anywhere/) [Bobby Berk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-berk/) > [When I started to take literature and poetry classes, I just started to get inspired by these new incredible works of art that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-started-to-take-literature-and-poetry-classes-i-just-started/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I find inspiration and rhythm in everything. Really I do. And I find inspiration in the really quiet moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kreutzmann/i-find-inspiration-and-rhythm-in-everything-really-i-do-and-i-find/) [Bill Kreutzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kreutzmann/) > [I trust in my inspiration, really, and that's difficult because sometimes you would rather be technical. And once you empty your mind, empty your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/i-trust-in-my-inspiration-really-and-that-s-difficult-because/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/music-has-always-been-a-matter-of-energy-to-me-a-question-of-fuel/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Really, I get inspired by just switching projects and instrumentation and things like that - that creative part of just being different every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/really-i-get-inspired-by-just-switching-projects-and-instrumentation/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) ## More by Keanu Reeves > [I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-m-a-meathead-i-can-t-help-it-man-you-ve-got-smart-people-and-you-ve/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I just felt that if I went into Speed 2, I just... wouldn't have come up out of the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-just-felt-that-if-i-went-into-speed-2-i-just-wouldn-t-have-come-up/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [My name can't be that tough to pronounce!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/my-name-can-t-be-that-tough-to-pronounce/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [Performing an exorcism was like changing your oil. It's a drag, but necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/performing-an-exorcism-was-like-changing-your-oil-it-s-a-drag-but/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [It carried quite a wallop. I have all the classic symptoms. Reflection. Where am I now? Where have I come from? What's important? Dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/it-carried-quite-a-wallop-i-have-all-the-classic-symptoms-reflection/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [It's the journey of self, I guess. You start with this kind of loner, outside guy, which a lot of people can relate to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/it-s-the-journey-of-self-i-guess-you-start-with-this-kind-of-loner/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [The serialization through the Internet or through digital portals, means of ways of communicating, and I think that's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/the-serialization-through-the-internet-or-through-digital-portals/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [Basically it starts with four months of training, just basic stretching, kicking and punching. Then you come to the choreography and getting ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/basically-it-starts-with-four-months-of-training-just-basic/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I like meeting directors. It can be helpful because sometimes when you meet filmmakers you find out if you like them and if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-like-meeting-directors-it-can-be-helpful-because-sometimes-when-you/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I'm not a photographer, so I didn't get into F-stops or ND filters or background, foreground, cross-light, all that stuff. But I was interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-m-not-a-photographer-so-i-didn-t-get-into-f-stops-or-nd-filters-or/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [How do I confront aging? With a wonder and a terror. Yeah, I'll say that. Wonder and terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/how-do-i-confront-aging-with-a-wonder-and-a-terror-yeah-i-ll-say-that/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [Environmental issues are on everyone's mind. It's part of our culture now and I can only applaud and laud anyone who is doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/environmental-issues-are-on-everyone-s-mind-it-s-part-of-our-culture/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [We are the sum of who we are. We pick certain things at certain moments that influenced us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/we-are-the-sum-of-who-we-are-we-pick-certain-things-at-certain/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [When I don't feel free and can't do what I want I just react. I go against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/when-i-don-t-feel-free-and-can-t-do-what-i-want-i-just-react-i-go/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I went with an exorcist for a bit. I just want to know really practical things, like how do you hold someone possessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-went-with-an-exorcist-for-a-bit-i-just-want-to-know-really/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) [Explore all 144 Keanu Reeves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) ## 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": "The inspiration really comes first from the character and the story. 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