--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cliched characters are cliches because…" description: "\"Cliched characters are cliches because they're people being described by people who are on the outside. If you take two sentences from anybody and redu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg" --- # Cliched characters are cliches because they're people… ![“Cliched characters are cliches because they're people being described by people who are on the outside. If you take two sentences from anybody and reduce them to just that, that's what you're going to get.” quote by Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg) > “Cliched characters are cliches because they're people being described by people who are on the outside. If you take two sentences from anybody and reduce them to just that, that's what you're going to get.” [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters become clichés when they are defined only by external labels, lacking depth. **In simple terms:** Clichés arise from shallow descriptions. Key Takeaway Avoid reducing people to simple labels. Themes media characterization stereotypes Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical educational When to use this quote - film - TV - literature Key Concepts depth authenticity human complexity Questions to Reflect On - How can you add depth to a stereotypical character? - When is a trope useful? A Different Perspective Clichés can still resonate if used intentionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Cliche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche/) [Cliches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliches/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [You need cliches. Cliches are what people respond to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vaughn/you-need-cliches-cliches-are-what-people-respond-to/) [Matthew Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vaughn/) > [If you look around, 90 percent of marriages are cliches - people aren't genuinely happy even if they look happy together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dev/if-you-look-around-90-percent-of-marriages-are-cliches-people-aren-t/) [Rahul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dev/) > [People love cliches. If you can give people cliches, that's very good TV, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/people-love-cliches-if-you-can-give-people-cliches-that-s-very-good/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I feel like the older I get, the more I start to think about life in general. All the clichés that people tell you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/i-feel-like-the-older-i-get-the-more-i-start-to-think-about-life-in/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [It may sound cliched, but it just shows that when you don't let people put you in a box then anything can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adebayo-akinfenwa/it-may-sound-cliched-but-it-just-shows-that-when-you-don-t-let-people/) [Adebayo Akinfenwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adebayo-akinfenwa/) > [As cliched as it sounds, music is my only form of expression. So I have to be honest with myself, and with that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-simz/as-cliched-as-it-sounds-music-is-my-only-form-of-expression-so-i-have/) [Little Simz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-simz/) > [I don't follow many cliched things in my TV shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargun-mehta/i-don-t-follow-many-cliched-things-in-my-tv-shows/) [Sargun Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargun-mehta/) > [People wanted me to become this cliched Keith Richards, Iggy Pop character. I wasn't expected to marry a beautiful wife and have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/people-wanted-me-to-become-this-cliched-keith-richards-iggy-pop/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [I think love is blind. I hate to use that cliched statement, but people, when they love somebody, they seem to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-close/i-think-love-is-blind-i-hate-to-use-that-cliched-statement-but-people/) [Eric Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-close/) > [There's a tired notion that the photojournalist has to be disengaged to be able to shoot what he shoots, and that's such a cliched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/there-s-a-tired-notion-that-the-photojournalist-has-to-be-disengaged/) [Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/) > [I haven't had trouble with writer's block. I think it's because my process involves writing very badly. My first drafts are filled with lurching,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-haven-t-had-trouble-with-writer-s-block-i-think-it-s-because-my/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It is cliched, but you have to beat the best to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/it-is-cliched-but-you-have-to-beat-the-best-to-be-the-best/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [In my time since moving to the United States, I've found that there is a dearth of great writing for black people. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/in-my-time-since-moving-to-the-united-states-i-ve-found-that-there-is/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [It might sound cliched, but choosing the right script is crucial. I think 'Badmaash Company' was a very big break for me because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/it-might-sound-cliched-but-choosing-the-right-script-is-crucial-i/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [Touring doesn't have to be a harried, cliched way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/touring-doesn-t-have-to-be-a-harried-cliched-way-of-life/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) ## More by Michael Cudlitz > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The fact that I am able to live a life and act and to do all of those things and support myself and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/the-fact-that-i-am-able-to-live-a-life-and-act-and-to-do-all-of-those/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Interestingly enough, my more high-profile things are in uniform. But if you look at my full body of work, there's a lot of stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/interestingly-enough-my-more-high-profile-things-are-in-uniform-but/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [When script is written well, then you start to make decisions of, "Well, do I want to be away from home for that long?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-script-is-written-well-then-you-start-to-make-decisions-of-well/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Sometimes you walk out of an audition and you kind of know you nailed it and you're probably going to book it, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/sometimes-you-walk-out-of-an-audition-and-you-kind-of-know-you-nailed/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I paid my way through school doing set construction for film and television. I'm a member of Local 44. I was a construction coordinator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/i-paid-my-way-through-school-doing-set-construction-for-film-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [You're never going to do as good a job as you can if you're rushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/you-re-never-going-to-do-as-good-a-job-as-you-can-if-you-re-rushed/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Don't listen to anybody. Nobody knows the magic bullet. If they did, they'd sell it and make a fortune. Follow your gut. Follow your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/don-t-listen-to-anybody-nobody-knows-the-magic-bullet-if-they-did/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The truth just happens - lies take time to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/the-truth-just-happens-lies-take-time-to-make/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I've enjoyed the time I've had working on films. I've enjoyed television movie-of-the-week format. I've enjoyed the few comedies that I've done, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/i-ve-enjoyed-the-time-i-ve-had-working-on-films-i-ve-enjoyed/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I learned construction and carpentry from my father at a young age, so I felt very comfortable and I felt very satisfied when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/i-learned-construction-and-carpentry-from-my-father-at-a-young-age-so/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [My passion lies in amazing, complex characters and really well-written stuff - not to say I wouldn't want to do a comedy if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/my-passion-lies-in-amazing-complex-characters-and-really-well-written/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Everybody works in a different way, and I've worked with actors that have no training whatsoever who are phenomenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/everybody-works-in-a-different-way-and-i-ve-worked-with-actors-that/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Jerry Orbach is just phenomenal. He is genius, so present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/jerry-orbach-is-just-phenomenal-he-is-genius-so-present/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) [Explore all 42 Michael Cudlitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) ## More Anybody quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I would never refuse to work with anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/i-would-never-refuse-to-work-with-anybody/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [Take control of who you report to, what you do, what you create. Or start a business on the side. Deliver some value, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/take-control-of-who-you-report-to-what-you-do-what-you-create-or/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [I don't know anybody that doesn't own a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/i-don-t-know-anybody-that-doesn-t-own-a-gun/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [There's no recovery on Main Street, I can tell you that for sure. And in a re - in an economy like this, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/there-s-no-recovery-on-main-street-i-can-tell-you-that-for-sure-and/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [With what all these people are saying, do you think that anybody wants to be around me? They all think that I did this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/with-what-all-these-people-are-saying-do-you-think-that-anybody-wants/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) > [I'll fight anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-ll-fight-anybody/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [The problem men seem to have, and women, too, is that they have this very structured idea that we should find a partner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/the-problem-men-seem-to-have-and-women-too-is-that-they-have-this/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [I've done more impeachments than anybody else in the history of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/i-ve-done-more-impeachments-than-anybody-else-in-the-history-of-the/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) Browse all 1,177 Anybody quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cliched characters are cliches because they're people being described by people who are on the outside. If you take two sentences from anybody and reduce them to just that, that's what you're going to get.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Cudlitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-they-re-people-being-described/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anybody" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-they-re-people-being-described/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/michael-cudlitz-15602_anybody_cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-t_2447549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cliched characters are cliches because they're people being described by people who are on the outside. If…” — Michael Cudlitz", "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": "Michael Cudlitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cliched characters are cliches because they're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-they-re-people-being-described/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/cliched-characters-are-cliches-because-they-re-people-being-described/#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 } } ] } ```