--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: None of my characters have really had jobs." description: "\"None of my characters have really had jobs.\" — Lauren Graham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg" --- # None of my characters have really had jobs. ![“None of my characters have really had jobs.” quote by Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg) > “None of my characters have really had jobs.” [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes that her characters are defined by more than their occupations, focusing on deeper personal traits. **In simple terms:** Characters are more than jobs. Key Takeaway Develop characters through values, motivations, and relationships. Themes character development identity storytelling creativity non‑material attributes Mood creative inspirational analytical Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - character bios - role‑playing games - screenwriting classes Key Concepts literature psychology narrative design Questions to Reflect On - How do non‑job aspects enrich a character? - When is a character’s profession essential to the story? A Different Perspective The statement may overlook the practical importance of work in shaping identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) ## Related quotes > [There are really not many jobs that actually require a penis or a vagina, and all other occupations should be open to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/there-are-really-not-many-jobs-that-actually-require-a-penis-or-a/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I worked at Free People. I loved it. I worked at a gym. I did really well in those jobs, but eventually I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/i-worked-at-free-people-i-loved-it-i-worked-at-a-gym-i-did-really/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [20,000 jobs is really not that many jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/20-000-jobs-is-really-not-that-many-jobs/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I love characters who are really dedicated to a really bad plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/i-love-characters-who-are-really-dedicated-to-a-really-bad-plan/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [I've been lucky to play characters that are really broad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/i-ve-been-lucky-to-play-characters-that-are-really-broad/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) > [I've been very lucky with the roles that I've played in that they were wonderful roles for women. They're incredible, flawed characters that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-taylor-joy/i-ve-been-very-lucky-with-the-roles-that-i-ve-played-in-that-they/) [Anya Taylor-Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-taylor-joy/) > [None of the characters I've played are really like me. That would be boring. That wouldn't be acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/none-of-the-characters-i-ve-played-are-really-like-me-that-would-be/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [There are all kinds of ways that people present their films, but that's kind of a good feeling, if you can make it seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/there-are-all-kinds-of-ways-that-people-present-their-films-but-that/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I love characters that are going through turmoil. To be honest, I love characters with conflict. I love characters who are really going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/i-love-characters-that-are-going-through-turmoil-to-be-honest-i-love/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) > [Without having an emotional connection or some relatability to the characters, there's really nothing to root for, in some respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/without-having-an-emotional-connection-or-some-relatability-to-the/) [David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/) > [I really like to play these complicated characters, and I really like to transform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-really-like-to-play-these-complicated-characters-and-i-really-like/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [There's a lot about the character. It doesn't always happen, but there are some characters you really create a relationship with, almost as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/there-s-a-lot-about-the-character-it-doesn-t-always-happen-but-there/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [I've read a lot of really great characters in some really crappy stories, where I said, like, 'Boy I could shine here, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-ve-read-a-lot-of-really-great-characters-in-some-really-crappy/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [When the characters are really alive before their author, the latter does nothing but follow them in their action, in their words, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-pirandello/when-the-characters-are-really-alive-before-their-author-the-latter/) [Luigi Pirandello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-pirandello/) > [It was our goal to dig into the characters and really try to find out why they think the things they think and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-curry/it-was-our-goal-to-dig-into-the-characters-and-really-try-to-find-out/) [Marshall Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-curry/) ## More by Lauren Graham > [I personally was driven to be an actor for the love of telling a story. It was very closely linked to being a reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/i-personally-was-driven-to-be-an-actor-for-the-love-of-telling-a/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [It's core to my beliefs now: Sometimes in being given a challenge, you're actually being given a real opportunity, and a lot of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/it-s-core-to-my-beliefs-now-sometimes-in-being-given-a-challenge-you/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Honestly, I was such a tomboy as a kid. People were taking from their mothers' closets - I was taking from my dad's closet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/honestly-i-was-such-a-tomboy-as-a-kid-people-were-taking-from-their/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [“Navigating the crowd on the sidewalk is a challenge I like. I’m running without touching anyone else on the street. I’m a character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/navigating-the-crowd-on-the-sidewalk-is-a-challenge-i-like-i-m/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [There's nothing more important than a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/there-s-nothing-more-important-than-a-good-story/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [These days I have to be extra nice in stores. It never fails that whenever I look as bad as I can possibly look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/these-days-i-have-to-be-extra-nice-in-stores-it-never-fails-that/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Personally, all I ever want to be wearing are jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/personally-all-i-ever-want-to-be-wearing-are-jeans/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [You may be sensitive inside, but what I see on the outside is a soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/you-may-be-sensitive-inside-but-what-i-see-on-the-outside-is-a-soldier/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [I love TV. I think I'd do a half-hour single-camera comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/i-love-tv-i-think-i-d-do-a-half-hour-single-camera-comedy/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [“Also, while there’s nothing wrong with doing things to make you feel better, I just wish the choices were limited to simpler things many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/also-while-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-doing-things-to-make-you-feel/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Honestly, 'Parenthood' was not what I planned. I didn't plan to do another drama. I didn't plan to play a single mom. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/honestly-parenthood-was-not-what-i-planned-i-didn-t-plan-to-do/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Strangers were worried about me; that's how long I was single!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/strangers-were-worried-about-me-that-s-how-long-i-was-single/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [I came from a Sorkin-like project in the sense that there was no freedom to change a line, which, in a weird way, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/i-came-from-a-sorkin-like-project-in-the-sense-that-there-was-no/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Once again, I've been thwarted by the massive difference between my vision of the successful me and the me I'm currently stuck with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/once-again-i-ve-been-thwarted-by-the-massive-difference-between-my/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [I've pretty much always been on a diet since I was born. And the women in my family struggle, so I find the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/i-ve-pretty-much-always-been-on-a-diet-since-i-was-born-and-the-women/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) [Explore all 130 Lauren Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "None of my characters have really had jobs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lauren Graham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jobs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jobs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/lauren-graham-3440_career_none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jo_3168874.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“None of my characters have really had jobs.” — Lauren Graham", "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": "Lauren Graham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "None of my characters have really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jobs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/none-of-my-characters-have-really-had-jobs/#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 } } ] } ```