---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you can incubate a character…"
description: "\"Sometimes you can incubate a character and that can take me a month just sitting on it imagining it, doing everything from sketching it to taking long ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png"
---

#  Sometimes you can incubate a character and that can take…

![“Sometimes you can incubate a character and that can take me a month just sitting on it imagining it, doing everything from sketching it to taking long walks, but sometimes you can see the character immediately. A lot of it is instinctive.” quote by Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png)

> “Sometimes you can incubate a character and that can take me a month just sitting on it imagining it, doing everything from sketching it to taking long walks, but sometimes you can see the character immediately. A lot of it is instinctive.”

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creative work can emerge slowly through deep immersion or instantly through intuition, reflecting varied artistic processes.

**In simple terms:** Ideas can form slowly or appear instantly.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both patience and intuition in creation.

Themes

creativity process intuition

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- writing
- visual art
- character design
- storyboarding

Key Concepts

artistic flow incubation instinct

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you favor slow incubation or quick insight?
- How can you balance both approaches?

A Different Perspective

Instant ideas may lack depth without further development.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Long walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-walks/) [Sketching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketching/)

## Related quotes

> [I think 'Dark Blue' came to me while I was doing a project in London. I read it, and the character immediately popped out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-think-dark-blue-came-to-me-while-i-was-doing-a-project-in-london-i/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

> [For me, what grabs my attention about the project is usually the character immediately and then the story, and then the people that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-ventimiglia/for-me-what-grabs-my-attention-about-the-project-is-usually-the/)

[Milo Ventimiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-ventimiglia/)

> [I rented a summer home in the winter on Long Island, I took long walks, and then I ended up moving to Woodstock. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-millington/i-rented-a-summer-home-in-the-winter-on-long-island-i-took-long-walks/)

[June Millington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-millington/)

> [Video screenshot Facts and figures from Nelson Mandela's life, set to the trailer from 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.' "Man's goodness is a flame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/video-screenshot-facts-and-figures-from-nelson-mandela-s-life-set-to/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [I find that the rhythm of going on long walks will suggest melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-find-that-the-rhythm-of-going-on-long-walks-will-suggest-melodies/)

[Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/)

> [I want to go home and just go for a long walk. And where I want to go, I have no idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-want-to-go-home-and-just-go-for-a-long-walk-and-where-i-want-to-go/)

[Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/)

> [“I like long walks, especialy when they are taken by people who annoy me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/i-like-long-walks-especialy-when-they-are-taken-by-people-who-annoy-me/)

[Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/)

> [ Racism and prejudice exist there \[at the National Film Board\] like anywhere else. My history at the Board has not been easy. It's been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-obomsawin/racism-and-prejudice-exist-there-at-the-national-film-board-like/)

[Alanis Obomsawin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-obomsawin/)

> [I do a bit of yoga - by myself, not classes. I like to go for long walks and to garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freja-beha-erichsen/i-do-a-bit-of-yoga-by-myself-not-classes-i-like-to-go-for-long-walks/)

[Freja Beha Erichsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freja-beha-erichsen/)

> [Let us dig our gardens and not be elsewhere; Let us take long walks in the open air... Let us bathe in the rivers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-linssen/let-us-dig-our-gardens-and-not-be-elsewhere-let-us-take-long-walks-in/)

[Robert Linssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-linssen/)

> [I also go on long walks with my dog, a golden retriever named Breeze-and I work out with weights at a health club a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hughes/i-also-go-on-long-walks-with-my-dog-a-golden-retriever-named-breeze/)

[Karen Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hughes/)

> [My favourite thing to do in any city is just to get lost and go for long walks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/my-favourite-thing-to-do-in-any-city-is-just-to-get-lost-and-go-for/)

[Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/)

> [Happiness is a long walk with a putter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/happiness-is-a-long-walk-with-a-putter/)

[Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/)

> [I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/i-like-long-walks-especially-when-they-are-taken-by-people-who-annoy/)

[Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/)

> [I work out with a trainer three times a week, and I try to take long walks and hikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-gayheart/i-work-out-with-a-trainer-three-times-a-week-and-i-try-to-take-long/)

[Rebecca Gayheart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-gayheart/)

## More by Rebecca Hall

> [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [Anyone who commits an act of violence to themselves or others is worth consideration in the sense that there must be something that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/anyone-who-commits-an-act-of-violence-to-themselves-or-others-is/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [As someone who works and travels as much, you could feel... A bit rootless?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/as-someone-who-works-and-travels-as-much-you-could-feel-a-bit-rootless/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [Of course, any job is scary, but you tackle the challenges head on and hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/of-course-any-job-is-scary-but-you-tackle-the-challenges-head-on-and/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [Yes, I'm a complete itinerant. I keep making attempts not to be, but then circumstances make me uproot and go somewhere else again. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/yes-i-m-a-complete-itinerant-i-keep-making-attempts-not-to-be-but/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [I think acting can be very frustrating, and there's no experience that doesn't make you a better actor. So people may choose to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-think-acting-can-be-very-frustrating-and-there-s-no-experience-that/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [In high drama or high tragedy or anything, it's not really human unless there's some humor at the same time. And vice versa. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/in-high-drama-or-high-tragedy-or-anything-it-s-not-really-human/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [I try and avoid thinking of strategy and I tend to stick to my gun of doing things that I like and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-try-and-avoid-thinking-of-strategy-and-i-tend-to-stick-to-my-gun-of/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [For better or worse, I don't necessarily categorize myself as a method actor; I'm not going to make claims that I stayed in character 24/7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/for-better-or-worse-i-don-t-necessarily-categorize-myself-as-a-method/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [When I was 22, I thought I couldn't wear heels because of my height.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/when-i-was-22-i-thought-i-couldn-t-wear-heels-because-of-my-height/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [It sounds trite, but I like telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/it-sounds-trite-but-i-like-telling-stories/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [I grew up watching his movies; I know everyone did, but I really feel that a lot of my formative years were informed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-grew-up-watching-his-movies-i-know-everyone-did-but-i-really-feel/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [You sit there, and you argue and you argue, and you sort of bully the hell out of the text until you're quite sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/you-sit-there-and-you-argue-and-you-argue-and-you-sort-of-bully-the/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [I was a really pretentious teenager,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-was-a-really-pretentious-teenager/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [I felt very fulfilled after doing 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' because I'd always wanted to work with Woody Allen. That was like a lifelong dream,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-felt-very-fulfilled-after-doing-vicky-cristina-barcelona-because-i/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

[Explore all 124 Rebecca Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

## 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": "Sometimes you can incubate a character and that can take me a month just sitting on it imagining it, doing everything from sketching it to taking long walks, but sometimes you can see the character immediately. A lot of it is instinctive.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rebecca Hall"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-and-that-can-take-me-a-month/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-and-that-can-take-me-a-month/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/rebecca-hall-3694_character_sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-a_1870566.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes you can incubate a character and that can take me a month just sitting on it imagining it, doing…” — Rebecca Hall",
                "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": "Rebecca Hall",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometimes you can incubate a character...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-and-that-can-take-me-a-month/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/sometimes-you-can-incubate-a-character-and-that-can-take-me-a-month/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
