--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is sometimes the minor, not the major…" description: "\"“It is sometimes the minor, not the major, characters in a novel who hold the author's affection longest. It may be that one loses affection for the ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/larry-mcmurtry-2540_affection_it-is-sometimes-the-minor-not-the-major_378950.jpg" --- # It is sometimes the minor, not the major, characters in a… ![“It is sometimes the minor, not the major, characters in a novel who hold the author's affection longest. It may be that one loses affection for the major characters because they suck off so much energy as one pushes them through their lives.” quote by Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/larry-mcmurtry-2540_affection_it-is-sometimes-the-minor-not-the-major_378950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/larry-mcmurtry-2540_affection_it-is-sometimes-the-minor-not-the-major_378950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/larry-mcmurtry-2540_affection_it-is-sometimes-the-minor-not-the-major_378950.jpg) > ““It is sometimes the minor, not the major, characters in a novel who hold the author's affection longest. It may be that one loses affection for the major characters because they suck off so much energy as one pushes them through their lives.”” [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minor characters often receive deeper authorial care because they demand less narrative energy, allowing richer affection. **In simple terms:** Side characters get more love due to less plot pressure. Key Takeaway Notice and nurture the subtle figures in stories. Themes character development authorial focus narrative economy Mood reflective appreciative Type analytical literary When to use this quote - writing workshops - reading groups - creative analysis - character studies Key Concepts literary affection character hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance attention between main and supporting characters? - What makes a minor character memorable? A Different Perspective Major characters can also be compelling if given space, but may drain focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Writing-craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-craft/) ## Related quotes > [Book tours are almost designed to beat out of an author any affection he has for his book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/book-tours-are-almost-designed-to-beat-out-of-an-author-any-affection/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“I never really feel that I’m stuck. 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It is the only thing that has stayed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-sharda/contrary-to-popular-belief-people-always-say-it-was-a-pleasure-doing/) [Nikhil Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-sharda/) ## More by Larry McMurtry > [“if you repeat a temporary answer often enough, it acquires a degree of permanency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/if-you-repeat-a-temporary-answer-often-enough-it-acquires-a-degree-of/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“The first difference Newt noticed about being grown up was that time didn't pass as slow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/the-first-difference-newt-noticed-about-being-grown-up-was-that-time/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [-she remembered them kindly, for there was a sweetness in boys that didn't last long, once they became men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/she-remembered-them-kindly-for-there-was-a-sweetness-in-boys-that/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/a-man-who-wouldn-t-cheat-for-a-poke-don-t-want-one-bad-enough/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Ride with an outlaw, die with him," he added. 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You know more than you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/i-figured-out-something-lorie-he-said-i-figured-out-why-you-and-me/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) [Explore all 162 Larry McMurtry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. 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Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. 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