--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, you know, I think the way to…" description: "\"Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever it is, whatever position they're in.\" — Mike..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg" --- # Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character… ![“Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever it is, whatever position they're in.” quote by Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg) > “Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever it is, whatever position they're in.” [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empathy is essential for authentic character portrayal, regardless of role. **In simple terms:** Understand characters through deep empathy. Key Takeaway Practice empathy to deepen performance. Themes acting empathy craft Mood thoughtful professional introspective Type artistic educational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film casting - character workshops - improvisation Key Concepts method acting psychology character study Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance empathy with self‑preservation? - What techniques keep empathy focused on the role? A Different Perspective Empathy may blur personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-character-614087/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-just/) [Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Empathy Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy-position-4101265/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Sense Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-empathy-713597/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I hope to leave my children a sense of empathy and pity and a will to right social wrongs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/i-hope-to-leave-my-children-a-sense-of-empathy-and-pity-and-a-will-to/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [Some people naturally have a sense of empathy and an understanding of how to bring their followers to do things. They become great politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/some-people-naturally-have-a-sense-of-empathy-and-an-understanding-of/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If you're going to make a movie about a character who is a supervillain, it's fantastic to have a core sense of empathy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/if-you-re-going-to-make-a-movie-about-a-character-who-is-a/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [“I think people believe empathy to be compassion, that compassion is an inner sense (a sense of the soul). But empathy is a sense,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-think-people-believe-empathy-to-be-compassion-that-compassion-is-an/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [My goal with 'Beyond' is really to create a strong sense of empathy between the player and Jodie Holmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/my-goal-with-beyond-is-really-to-create-a-strong-sense-of-empathy/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [“It's not a question we ask ourselves enough, I think; as a country, we seem to be suffering from an empathy deficit. We wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-not-a-question-we-ask-ourselves-enough-i-think-as-a-country-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think people relate to the music because I have a sense of empathy, and I think I have a good understanding about relationships,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-think-people-relate-to-the-music-because-i-have-a-sense-of-empathy/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [The great leaders that I have worked with are people who have a good sense of empathy with other people. They can walk a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-great-leaders-that-i-have-worked-with-are-people-who-have-a-good/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Why wouldn't I help? What good reason do I have as a human being with power and a sense of empathy and morality, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/why-wouldn-t-i-help-what-good-reason-do-i-have-as-a-human-being-with/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [When your own life is threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/when-your-own-life-is-threatened-your-sense-of-empathy-is-blunted-by/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“Social intelligence was therefore always at a high premium. A sharp sense of empathy can make a huge difference, and with it in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/social-intelligence-was-therefore-always-at-a-high-premium-a-sharp/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [I really like feeling connected to people and feeling like I have a good, solid sense of empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-really-like-feeling-connected-to-people-and-feeling-like-i-have-a/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [Everybody's going to approach a character differently, depending upon what they bring to it on their own intellectual level or their feelings from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cullen/everybody-s-going-to-approach-a-character-differently-depending-upon/) [Peter Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cullen/) > [Even when I do comedy, since I have no training in stand-up, I always approach a character like a character and not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/even-when-i-do-comedy-since-i-have-no-training-in-stand-up-i-always/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [I don't approach my character in a set pattern. I want to get into the skin of the character. I don't love Manoj Bajpayee;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-don-t-approach-my-character-in-a-set-pattern-i-want-to-get-into-the/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) ## More by Mike Faist > [Right before the pandemic, 'Past Lives' came across to me as something to read and possibly put myself on tape for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/right-before-the-pandemic-past-lives-came-across-to-me-as-something/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [When you're doing eight shows a week, it very much turns into relying on your technique and the job of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/when-you-re-doing-eight-shows-a-week-it-very-much-turns-into-relying/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [People, as they get older, start to learn this lesson, but if you determine your worth or your self-value based on what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/people-as-they-get-older-start-to-learn-this-lesson-but-if-you/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I'm learning not to take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/i-m-learning-not-to-take-myself-too-seriously/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [After a few nonunion shows, I got booked as the understudy for the lead of 'Newsies.' I was in the original Broadway cast for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/after-a-few-nonunion-shows-i-got-booked-as-the-understudy-for-the/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I think most actors are probably very shy - if you're a good one. Putting yourself out there in that way is terrifying, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/i-think-most-actors-are-probably-very-shy-if-you-re-a-good-one/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [People talk, or however about actors watching themselves, but no, no one likes to watch themselves. Come on. It's extremely difficult. You can't help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/people-talk-or-however-about-actors-watching-themselves-but-no-no-one/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Maybe this is so pretentious, but 'West Side Story' was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor. It's really crazy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/maybe-this-is-so-pretentious-but-west-side-story-was-everything-i-had/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Life is weird. People are weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/life-is-weird-people-are-weird/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Along this crazy journey of life, there are hills and valleys. Everyone experiences them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/along-this-crazy-journey-of-life-there-are-hills-and-valleys-everyone/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [There are some fun things about being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/there-are-some-fun-things-about-being-an-actor/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Not everybody gets the ability to pursue work that's joyful all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/not-everybody-gets-the-ability-to-pursue-work-that-s-joyful-all-the/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [There's no better feeling in the world than being a part of something that's bigger than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/there-s-no-better-feeling-in-the-world-than-being-a-part-of-something/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [There is this cesspool of talent that comes out of Ohio and they immediately come to New York, or they go to L.A, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/there-is-this-cesspool-of-talent-that-comes-out-of-ohio-and-they/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) [Explore all 100 Mike Faist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever it is, whatever position they're in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Faist" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approach-any-character-is-just-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approach-any-character-is-just-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mike-faist-5915_character_well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approac_475667.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever…” — Mike Faist", "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": "Mike Faist", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Well, you know, I think the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approach-any-character-is-just-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approach-any-character-is-just-with/#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 } } ] } ```