--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I actually don't like saying 'lead…" description: "\"I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an interesting thing. If you say there's a lead, then there has to be someone to follow.\" — Len..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/lena-waithe-4351_actually_i-actually-don-t-like-saying-lead-charac_2215820.jpg" --- # I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an… ![“I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an interesting thing. If you say there's a lead, then there has to be someone to follow.” quote by Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/lena-waithe-4351_actually_i-actually-don-t-like-saying-lead-charac_2215820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/lena-waithe-4351_actually_i-actually-don-t-like-saying-lead-charac_2215820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/lena-waithe-4351_actually_i-actually-don-t-like-saying-lead-charac_2215820.jpg) > “I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an interesting thing. If you say there's a lead, then there has to be someone to follow.” [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calling a character “lead” implies a hierarchy, suggesting the need for a follower. **In simple terms:** Lead implies a follower, creating hierarchy. Key Takeaway Consider inclusive language that avoids hierarchical assumptions. Themes language leadership gender roles Mood critical analytical Type cultural reflective When to use this quote - scriptwriting - team dynamics - leadership training Key Concepts sociolinguistics media studies Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect perception? - What alternatives avoid hierarchical implication? A Different Perspective Changing terminology may not alter underlying power structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-interesting-447947/) [Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow/) [Lead Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-character-420863/) [Lead Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-follow-567537/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Say Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-lead-595569/) [Saying Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-lead-4924913/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's so trite to say you have lead characters. It's like someone saying I'm the lead in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-think-it-s-so-trite-to-say-you-have-lead-characters-it-s-like/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Whenever they sang a certain song in church, I used to sing it the loudest: 'Lead me, guide me, along the way!' One day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/whenever-they-sang-a-certain-song-in-church-i-used-to-sing-it-the/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [I think a lot of people that don't know me would say that I lead by example, which I feel like I do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/i-think-a-lot-of-people-that-don-t-know-me-would-say-that-i-lead-by/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [Men, do as I say and I will always lead you to victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-bedford-forrest/men-do-as-i-say-and-i-will-always-lead-you-to-victory/) [Nathan Bedford Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-bedford-forrest/) > [Life's a dance you learn as you go, sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-michael-montgomery/life-s-a-dance-you-learn-as-you-go-sometimes-you-lead-sometimes-you/) [John Michael Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-michael-montgomery/) > [Whats up with your motto? Will you lead? Will you follow?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/whats-up-with-your-motto-will-you-lead-will-you-follow/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I just go with the flow, I follow the yellow brick road. I don't know where it's going to lead me, but I follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-just-go-with-the-flow-i-follow-the-yellow-brick-road-i-don-t-know/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [One thing I am is a leader and if I'm not allowed to lead, then I have to follow. So then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/one-thing-i-am-is-a-leader-and-if-i-m-not-allowed-to-lead-then-i-have/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/lead-me-follow-me-or-get-out-of-my-way/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [And step by step You'll lead me / And I will follow You all of my days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/and-step-by-step-you-ll-lead-me-and-i-will-follow-you-all-of-my-days/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [One thing that I love about 'Difficult People' is that Julie Klausner and our showrunner, Scott King, have written the lead character I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/one-thing-that-i-love-about-difficult-people-is-that-julie-klausner/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [“If your novel seems to be dragging, one of the first places to look is at the heart of your lead character. Is he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-novel-seems-to-be-dragging-one-of-the-first-places-to-look-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is scary for an actor when you get hired as a lead. No matter what the plot is, it is your job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/it-is-scary-for-an-actor-when-you-get-hired-as-a-lead-no-matter-what/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [“So if your Story doesn’t change your lead character irrevocably from beginning to end, no one will deeply care about it. It may entertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-coyne/so-if-your-story-doesn-t-change-your-lead-character-irrevocably-from/) [Shawn Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-coyne/) > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) ## More by Lena Waithe > [I'm a huge fan of television, and the reason I'm a part of the world is because I'm a fan of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-television-and-the-reason-i-m-a-part-of-the-world/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [To be yourself is truly a revolutionary act, and I think more and more people should try it, because it's gotten me a pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/to-be-yourself-is-truly-a-revolutionary-act-and-i-think-more-and-more/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I love basketball! When I'm flying, and I have on sweats, a hat, and sneakers, people always assume that I'm a high school kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-love-basketball-when-i-m-flying-and-i-have-on-sweats-a-hat-and/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [The only way you really see change is by helping to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/the-only-way-you-really-see-change-is-by-helping-to-create-it/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. James Baldwin didn't want to just stay above the fray. Prince didn't think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/for-me-it-s-about-making-art-that-s-not-good-but-phenomenal-james/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [The truth is, for me, when I was a young black girl who knew I was different, was watching TV, I would always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/the-truth-is-for-me-when-i-was-a-young-black-girl-who-knew-i-was/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [There's something specific about Chicagoans, and I just felt like I'd love to tell their story in a creative way. Not in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/there-s-something-specific-about-chicagoans-and-i-just-felt-like-i-d/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [It's always been my intention to never be boxed in. I never like to do something that it feels like I've done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/it-s-always-been-my-intention-to-never-be-boxed-in-i-never-like-to-do/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Most writers stick to what they know. The black experience is our experience, so it's not that challenging for us. That's why sometimes you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/most-writers-stick-to-what-they-know-the-black-experience-is-our/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Wearing one hoop earring and playing with the androgyny - that's who I am. That's what I like to do. And I feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/wearing-one-hoop-earring-and-playing-with-the-androgyny-that-s-who-i/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [You can talk all day long, but if you don't do something, it's a waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/you-can-talk-all-day-long-but-if-you-don-t-do-something-it-s-a-waste/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I sort of knew very early on that I wanted to be a writer. Even in high school, I was a big movie buff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-sort-of-knew-very-early-on-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-even-in/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [My family still lives in Chicago: my mother, my sister, my nephew, my family is there. So even though I am not living there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/my-family-still-lives-in-chicago-my-mother-my-sister-my-nephew-my/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I feel like I've accomplished a lot, but for me, it's about pushing to the point where I can be Mark Walhberg, Ryan Murphy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-feel-like-i-ve-accomplished-a-lot-but-for-me-it-s-about-pushing-to/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [With 'The Chi,' it's me observing my own city and also pulling some things from themes I've dealt with in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/with-the-chi-it-s-me-observing-my-own-city-and-also-pulling-some/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) [Explore all 112 Lena Waithe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. 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