--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's sort of what I like about this…" description: "\"That's sort of what I like about this character is that he's not the good guy, he's not truly the bad guy.\" — Nicholas Lea" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png" --- # That's sort of what I like about this character is that… ![“That's sort of what I like about this character is that he's not the good guy, he's not truly the bad guy.” quote by Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png) > “That's sort of what I like about this character is that he's not the good guy, he's not truly the bad guy.” [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character can be morally ambiguous, neither wholly good nor wholly bad, adding depth. **In simple terms:** Characters can be morally gray. Key Takeaway Embrace nuanced characters. Themes character development morality nuance Mood thoughtful engaging Type cinematic literary When to use this quote - writing - acting - film critique - roleplaying Key Concepts literary analysis psychology Questions to Reflect On - What makes morally ambiguous characters compelling? - How does ambiguity affect audience empathy? A Different Perspective Ambiguity may confuse audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) ## Related quotes > [I like to be in character a good few hours before I arrive for filming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mays/i-like-to-be-in-character-a-good-few-hours-before-i-arrive-for-filming/) [Daniel Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mays/) > [I see characters lying all the time in a lot of Hollywood movies. They can't do this because it would affect the movie this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-see-characters-lying-all-the-time-in-a-lot-of-hollywood-movies-they/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [Playing a bad guy is always more fun than playing the good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-more-fun-than-playing-the-good-guy/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [As things get worse and the State seems powerless to help, the State will seem less and less legitimate. People will lose their moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/as-things-get-worse-and-the-state-seems-powerless-to-help-the-state/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Today, the media dictatorship is becoming a substitute to military dictatorship. The big economic groups are using the media and decide who can speak,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/today-the-media-dictatorship-is-becoming-a-substitute-to-military/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [Playing a bad guy is always a freeing experience, because you don't have the same envelope of restrictions as you have playing a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-a-freeing-experience-because-you-don-t/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [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/) > [Good guys need to be a little dirty otherwise they're just boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-cassel/good-guys-need-to-be-a-little-dirty-otherwise-they-re-just-boring/) [Vincent Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-cassel/) > [Well, Ive always been a character actor, you know, and you always get your share of character actors who are bad guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-meaney/well-ive-always-been-a-character-actor-you-know-and-you-always-get/) [Colm Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-meaney/) > [“We fall into the fallacy of believing we can litigate the complicated story before us into a black-and-white binary of good guys and bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-lowery/we-fall-into-the-fallacy-of-believing-we-can-litigate-the-complicated/) [Wesley Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-lowery/) > [“Honor The difference between the good guys and the bad guys is whether they use human shields or make themselves human shields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honor-the-difference-between-the-good-guys-and-the-bad-guys-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I haven't spent my entire career playing the guy in the bad hat, although I have to say that the bad guy is frequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/i-haven-t-spent-my-entire-career-playing-the-guy-in-the-bad-hat/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [On 'CSI: NY,' the audience knew I was a really good guy, and I caught the bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/on-csi-ny-the-audience-knew-i-was-a-really-good-guy-and-i-caught-the/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [In order to have your best good guy, you have to be that bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/in-order-to-have-your-best-good-guy-you-have-to-be-that-bad-guy/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) ## More by Nicholas Lea > [When I'm on my deathbed, I'll hopefully be able to count more friends than parts that I had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/when-i-m-on-my-deathbed-i-ll-hopefully-be-able-to-count-more-friends/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I'm trying to do the kind of projects that I want to see in the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-m-trying-to-do-the-kind-of-projects-that-i-want-to-see-in-the/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [Supporting characters add depth to a story, and great actors leave their imprint with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/supporting-characters-add-depth-to-a-story-and-great-actors-leave/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [And I've been lucky in that I haven't had another job besides acting in the last five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/and-i-ve-been-lucky-in-that-i-haven-t-had-another-job-besides-acting/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I think somebody who speaks the language is going to notice immediately that I'm not Russian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-think-somebody-who-speaks-the-language-is-going-to-notice/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [My goal is to be living back in Canada as soon as I can, hopefully somewhere in the Gulf Islands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/my-goal-is-to-be-living-back-in-canada-as-soon-as-i-can-hopefully/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I've spent so much time the last seven, eight years in Los Angeles, away from my family, away from my friends, away from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-ve-spent-so-much-time-the-last-seven-eight-years-in-los-angeles/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [Two shows at once is crazy, but I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/two-shows-at-once-is-crazy-but-i-love-it/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I would like to look back on my career and be proud of what I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-would-like-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-proud-of-what-i-ve-done/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [It makes you realize that people are the same wherever you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/it-makes-you-realize-that-people-are-the-same-wherever-you-go/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [We went to the British Museum, and I was looking up my family in the books - pages and pages on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/we-went-to-the-british-museum-and-i-was-looking-up-my-family-in-the/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I'm living in L.A. but my heart's in Vancouver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-m-living-in-l-a-but-my-heart-s-in-vancouver/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I just wanted to act. I didn't want to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-just-wanted-to-act-i-didn-t-want-to-do-anything-else/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [My sister is a nurse and saves people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/my-sister-is-a-nurse-and-saves-people-s-lives/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I wanted more in depth ideas about the character and it never came.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/i-wanted-more-in-depth-ideas-about-the-character-and-it-never-came/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) [Explore all 36 Nicholas Lea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) ## More Bad guy quotes > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [“Here you can shoot the bad guys,' a mercenary says in Baghdad. 'In America we give them corporate bonuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/here-you-can-shoot-the-bad-guys-a-mercenary-says-in-baghdad-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [To us, being the bad guys is cool, because we always root for the bad guys in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/to-us-being-the-bad-guys-is-cool-because-we-always-root-for-the-bad/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [In 'Gran Torino,' Eastwood moves towards the climax of the movie not by staging a shoot-out, but by putting his weapons to one side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-gran-torino-eastwood-moves-towards-the-climax-of-the-movie-not-by/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [In order to have your best good guy, you have to be that bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/in-order-to-have-your-best-good-guy-you-have-to-be-that-bad-guy/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [After I did 'Brooklyn,' I did about five or six violent films in one way or another, and not always with me being the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-cohen/after-i-did-brooklyn-i-did-about-five-or-six-violent-films-in-one-way/) [Emory Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-cohen/) > [The first act is the easiest to plot. The second act is always the hardest to plot. Generally a good, you know, sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/the-first-act-is-the-easiest-to-plot-the-second-act-is-always-the/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [“We fall into the fallacy of believing we can litigate the complicated story before us into a black-and-white binary of good guys and bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-lowery/we-fall-into-the-fallacy-of-believing-we-can-litigate-the-complicated/) [Wesley Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-lowery/) > [“If there was a bad guy we could appeal to the people because, like it or not, we, the huddled masses, want our public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-carter/if-there-was-a-bad-guy-we-could-appeal-to-the-people-because-like-it/) [Bill Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-carter/) > [But the thing about bad guys is that they have the biggest bosomed blond, they have great clothes and cars, and get great death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-roberts/but-the-thing-about-bad-guys-is-that-they-have-the-biggest-bosomed/) [Eric Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-roberts/) > [I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [In my career, I've been lucky to do the bad guys that are more interesting, where the audience wants to spend more time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/in-my-career-i-ve-been-lucky-to-do-the-bad-guys-that-are-more/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [Playing a bad guy is always more fun than playing the good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-more-fun-than-playing-the-good-guy/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) [Browse all 1,228 Bad guy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's sort of what I like about this character is that he's not the good guy, he's not truly the bad guy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas Lea" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-character-is-that-he-s-not-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad guy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-character-is-that-he-s-not-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/nicholas-lea-17574_bad-guy_that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-ch_2695639.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's sort of what I like about this character is that he's not the good guy, he's not truly the bad guy.” — Nicholas Lea", "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": "Nicholas Lea", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's sort of what I like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-character-is-that-he-s-not-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/that-s-sort-of-what-i-like-about-this-character-is-that-he-s-not-the/#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 } } ] } ```