--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Character is what someone does, much more…" description: "\"Character is what someone does, much more than who they are. I can be sarcastic or I can be fearful, but it doesn't really matter until there's a story..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/mitchell-hurwitz-9427_character_character-is-what-someone-does-much-more_3207476.jpg" --- # Character is what someone does, much more than who they… ![“Character is what someone does, much more than who they are. I can be sarcastic or I can be fearful, but it doesn't really matter until there's a story - until someone comes in and holds us hostage.” quote by Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/mitchell-hurwitz-9427_character_character-is-what-someone-does-much-more_3207476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/mitchell-hurwitz-9427_character_character-is-what-someone-does-much-more_3207476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/mitchell-hurwitz-9427_character_character-is-what-someone-does-much-more_3207476.jpg) > “Character is what someone does, much more than who they are. I can be sarcastic or I can be fearful, but it doesn't really matter until there's a story - until someone comes in and holds us hostage.” [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character is defined by actions and choices, not just identity; stories reveal true nature when stakes rise. **In simple terms:** Actions show character more than labels. Key Takeaway Focus on deeds, not titles. Themes identity action storytelling Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts character development narrative stakes Questions to Reflect On - How do you act when no one watches? - What story reveals your core values? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex personalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fearful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearful/) [Sarcastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarcastic/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Art means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of power which holds it hostage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/art-means-nothing-if-it-simply-decorates-the-dinner-table-of-power/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Your body holds me hostage whenever I touch you, Im a prisoner inside Baby til the end of time...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/your-body-holds-me-hostage-whenever-i-touch-you-im-a-prisoner-inside/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [I believe every person has a story that comes out from the way they talk, their opinion, their mindset and their body language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diljit-dosanjh/i-believe-every-person-has-a-story-that-comes-out-from-the-way-they/) [Diljit Dosanjh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diljit-dosanjh/) > [“It doesn't matter where the story comes from, it matters where it takes you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-meehl/it-doesn-t-matter-where-the-story-comes-from-it-matters-where-it/) J.R. Meehl > [The story comes around, pushing at our brains, and soon we are trying to ravel back to the beginning, trying to put families into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/the-story-comes-around-pushing-at-our-brains-and-soon-we-are-trying/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I talk about things that happened in my life. Now, do I embellish? Absolutely. Come on, we all do it. It makes for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-talk-about-things-that-happened-in-my-life-now-do-i-embellish/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [“All that we are is story. From the moment we are born to the time we continue on our spirit journey, we are involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagamese/all-that-we-are-is-story-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-time-we/) [Richard Wagamese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagamese/) > [A story comes to you; it isn't like you choose it. You have no real control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-downing-hahn/a-story-comes-to-you-it-isn-t-like-you-choose-it-you-have-no-real/) [Mary Downing Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-downing-hahn/) > [It's rare that I actually have a story in my head. I have events or 'what's the next move?' Like, Maggie, 'where's she going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-hernandez/it-s-rare-that-i-actually-have-a-story-in-my-head-i-have-events-or/) [Jaime Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-hernandez/) > [“The first part of a spell is to start with something true. Then you add the made-up bit, the thing you want to happen—…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-st-kevern/the-first-part-of-a-spell-is-to-start-with-something-true-then-you/) Gillian St. Kevern > [To tell one comprehensive story of how it has happened that what is is, one which shall hold true, come what may, now-after -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-riding/to-tell-one-comprehensive-story-of-how-it-has-happened-that-what-is/) [Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-riding/) > [It's not about the picture being taken.. it's about the story that comes with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lostintears/it-s-not-about-the-picture-being-taken-it-s-about-the-story-that/) LostInTears > [I write the story as it comes to me - YA is my natural voice, not a conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-write-the-story-as-it-comes-to-me-ya-is-my-natural-voice-not-a/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [You have to be dynamic. You have to be able to change. So a lot of times we'll go to a country or go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-smith/you-have-to-be-dynamic-you-have-to-be-able-to-change-so-a-lot-of/) [Shane Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-smith/) > [The success of the movie industry comes from the story. And the story comes from somebody putting something down on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-glickman/the-success-of-the-movie-industry-comes-from-the-story-and-the-story/) [Dan Glickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-glickman/) ## More by Mitchell Hurwitz > [One of the best ways into the business is to get a job with a production, which you can do by cold-calling or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/one-of-the-best-ways-into-the-business-is-to-get-a-job-with-a/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [For the most part you are dealing with jealousy, you are dealing with love, you're dealing with hatred, you are dealing with revenge and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/for-the-most-part-you-are-dealing-with-jealousy-you-are-dealing-with/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [I joked recently that I thought 30 seconds a day for three years would be the best way to enjoy it, and I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/i-joked-recently-that-i-thought-30-seconds-a-day-for-three-years/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [What you'll gain is the macro story. You'll get a good command of that. And what you might lose is some of the fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/what-you-ll-gain-is-the-macro-story-you-ll-get-a-good-command-of-that/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [I always liked magic. I was always embarrassed by liking magic because I liked the fact that they're just lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/i-always-liked-magic-i-was-always-embarrassed-by-liking-magic-because/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [The revolution is here. It's established that Netflix is a place where you can get premium content. It's a whole new world. It's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/the-revolution-is-here-it-s-established-that-netflix-is-a-place-where/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [We started writing the shows in order, and then very quickly had to jump to, "Oh, we got Tony Hale today and Jessica \[Walter."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/we-started-writing-the-shows-in-order-and-then-very-quickly-had-to/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [There's real peril in trying to repeat yourself, and apply rules that applied to something else to a new project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/there-s-real-peril-in-trying-to-repeat-yourself-and-apply-rules-that/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [The TV industry works in this crazy system where everybody's trying to get the same actors at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/the-tv-industry-works-in-this-crazy-system-where-everybody-s-trying/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [When I was on 'The Golden Girls,' we'd have eight scenes per show. And when 'Seinfeld' came along, they went to, like, 30 scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/when-i-was-on-the-golden-girls-we-d-have-eight-scenes-per-show-and/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [When we were making 'Arrested Development,' it was the hardest thing I'd ever done. You know, nobody was watching. We weren't getting feedback. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/when-we-were-making-arrested-development-it-was-the-hardest-thing-i-d/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [One of the challenges of the show has always been trying to be surprising, and that was easy to do when nobody was watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/one-of-the-challenges-of-the-show-has-always-been-trying-to-be/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [It's very easy I think when you're a creative person to wait for the right thing and to start getting self-conscious about how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/it-s-very-easy-i-think-when-you-re-a-creative-person-to-wait-for-the/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [The people that always impress me are the ones that are curious about what they're going to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/the-people-that-always-impress-me-are-the-ones-that-are-curious-about/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [If you've got a restaurant, you definitely want the line to be out the door the first night, but you're more interested in people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/if-you-ve-got-a-restaurant-you-definitely-want-the-line-to-be-out-the/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) [Explore all 72 Mitchell Hurwitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) ## 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 > [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": "Character is what someone does, much more than who they are. 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