--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every human being has hundreds of…" description: "\"Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, ident..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/mel-brooks-2308_ability_every-human-being-has-hundreds-of-separa_2861362.png" --- # Every human being has hundreds of separate people living… ![“Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him.” quote by Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/mel-brooks-2308_ability_every-human-being-has-hundreds-of-separa_2861362.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/mel-brooks-2308_ability_every-human-being-has-hundreds-of-separa_2861362.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/mel-brooks-2308_ability_every-human-being-has-hundreds-of-separa_2861362.png) > “Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him.” [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers must recognize and name the many inner voices that shape a person, then let those voices interact as distinct characters. **In simple terms:** Writers give inner selves distinct identities. Key Takeaway Identify and give voice to your inner parts. Themes identity creativity psychology character development Mood introspective creative Type literary psychological When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - therapy - self‑reflection Key Concepts inner dialogue persona narrative voice Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish your inner voices? - What benefits arise from giving them names? A Different Perspective Naming inner voices can oversimplify complex emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've thought of becoming a photographer! To save my talent as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/i-ve-thought-of-becoming-a-photographer-to-save-my-talent-as-a-writer/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [If there's any single talent a writer needs, it's persistence. If you can keep at your writing and you can learn as you write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/if-there-s-any-single-talent-a-writer-needs-it-s-persistence-if-you/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [We like to think about how smart we are. But I think talent as a writer is hard-wired in, it's all there, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/we-like-to-think-about-how-smart-we-are-but-i-think-talent-as-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Having a little talent as a writer is like having a little talent as a brain surgeon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/having-a-little-talent-as-a-writer-is-like-having-a-little-talent-as/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [But I think talent as a writer is hard-wired in, it's all there, at least the basic elements of it. You can't change it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/but-i-think-talent-as-a-writer-is-hard-wired-in-it-s-all-there-at/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [A lot of writers do think of their characters as living beings. I know that's the way people think. That's why I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/a-lot-of-writers-do-think-of-their-characters-as-living-beings-i-know/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [Besides, it doesn't make any sense to have these characters living in the year 3000 when all their points of reference are from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/besides-it-doesn-t-make-any-sense-to-have-these-characters-living-in/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [“Brian's eyeborw shot up. "Don't m ind me for asking silly questions, Anna, but aren't you the one who determines Bux's fate?" "You obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-kouzel/brian-s-eyeborw-shot-up-don-t-m-ind-me-for-asking-silly-questions/) Judy Kouzel > [You need to know the characters as living, breathing people before you start the plot; otherwise, you'll feel panic, anarchy and chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-moggach/you-need-to-know-the-characters-as-living-breathing-people-before-you/) [Deborah Moggach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-moggach/) > [“They discuss the characters as though they were living people, and ask frequently, 'What happened to so-and-so?'... as if I got letters from them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/they-discuss-the-characters-as-though-they-were-living-people-and-ask/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I type even faster than I talk. I'm very proud of that. I type so fast. And I have to because the characters are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-holmes/i-type-even-faster-than-i-talk-i-m-very-proud-of-that-i-type-so-fast/) [Rupert Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-holmes/) > [As for most writers, language is vital for me: a writer's ability to render a fictional world - characters, landscape, emotions - into something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/as-for-most-writers-language-is-vital-for-me-a-writer-s-ability-to/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [As every writer knows... there is something mysterious about the writer's ability, on any given day, to write. When the juices are flowing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-every-writer-knows-there-is-something-mysterious-about-the-writer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Writing is emblematic art form, which means that the book will never be any greater than the writer’s ability to perceive, classify, and describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/writing-is-emblematic-art-form-which-means-that-the-book-will-never/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“The best thing about being a writer is the ability to live vicariously through your own imagination, with no boundaries as to how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-goodwin/the-best-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-the-ability-to-live/) Dawn Goodwin ## More by Mel Brooks > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [ Comedy is lively, comedy is joy, and that's what keeps us \[people\] going, we've got to look forward to little, little happiness's. Little, little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/comedy-is-lively-comedy-is-joy-and-that-s-what-keeps-us-people-going/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [All right, I am often brash, rude and brutally direct. Someday I'm going to die and I don't have time to toe-dance around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/all-right-i-am-often-brash-rude-and-brutally-direct-someday-i-m-going/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I don't think in terms of results at all. I think: what next insanity can I shock the world with?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/i-don-t-think-in-terms-of-results-at-all-i-think-what-next-insanity/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [My mother is very short - four-eleven. She could walk under tables and never hit her head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/my-mother-is-very-short-four-eleven-she-could-walk-under-tables-and/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [The audience. They see the name Mel Brooks, they want something really funny. They don't want to be moved; they don't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/the-audience-they-see-the-name-mel-brooks-they-want-something-really/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I realised that all one really had to do was just observe. Observe and slightly exaggerate, and you had comedy. Instead of creating a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/i-realised-that-all-one-really-had-to-do-was-just-observe-observe-and/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Life literally abounds in comedy if you just look around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/life-literally-abounds-in-comedy-if-you-just-look-around-you/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Look, I really don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive, you got to flap your arms and legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/look-i-really-don-t-want-to-wax-philosophic-but-i-will-say-that-if/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I knew it... I'm surrounded by assholes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/i-knew-it-i-m-surrounded-by-assholes/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I was in the army, and to me it was like a newsreel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/i-was-in-the-army-and-to-me-it-was-like-a-newsreel/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [But I have bad taste with a deep fount of intellectuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/but-i-have-bad-taste-with-a-deep-fount-of-intellectuality/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > ['Mad About You' was very fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/mad-about-you-was-very-fun/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Immortality is a by-product of good work. Masterpieces are not for artists, they're for critics. Critics can't even make music by rubbing their back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/immortality-is-a-by-product-of-good-work-masterpieces-are-not-for/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [If Ivan the Terrible had been kissed and loved between zero and three, he probably would have become Ivan Not So Terrible. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/if-ivan-the-terrible-had-been-kissed-and-loved-between-zero-and-three/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) [Explore all 173 Mel Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. 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