Am Quote by Paul Haggis
“I am really drawn to damaged characters, and I have a lot of sympathy for them. Making those complicated characters empathetic is something to strive for. It's too easy to create a good guy or a good girl.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Film director discussion, 2010s
Writers should empathize with flawed characters, making them complex rather than defaulting to simple heroes.
In simple terms: Create empathy for flawed characters instead of simple heroes.
Key Takeaway
Write nuanced, empathetic characters.
Themes
storytelling
empathy
character development
complexity
Mood
thoughtful
creative
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- screenwriting
- novel writing
- character workshops
- actor preparation
Key Concepts
Narrative depth
psychological realism
moral ambiguity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance sympathy with moral responsibility?
- What makes a damaged character relatable?
A Different Perspective
Risk of glorifying negative traits if not balanced.
![“I think real humans are so complicated, and often [characters] are written more one-dimensional without maybe even the writer knowing it. I've felt numerous moments in my life where my most confident moment and my most insecure moment were exactly the same time. There's nothing funny or…” quote by Kristen Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a8/kristen-bell-4427_character_i-think-real-humans-are-so-complicated-a_1948219.jpg)
