Born Quote by Rex Stout
“A character who is thought-out is not born, he or she is contrived. A born character is round, a thought-out character is flat.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Thin Man” (1934)
A well‑planned character is crafted, not naturally born; crafted characters lack depth.
In simple terms: Thoughtful characters are designed, not accidental.
Key Takeaway
Create deep, intentional characters.
Themes
writing
character development
craftsmanship
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
literary
advice
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- role‑playing games
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
literature
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance planning with organic growth?
- When does a character feel too artificial?
A Different Perspective
Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity.
![“I remember working with Jackie Chan on Shanghai Noon [2000], and when we were working on the script, I thought that my character thought about being an outlaw the way a kid today would think about being a rock star, as a way to impress girls. So it was just kind of a funny idea, but once we had…” quote by Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/006/owen-wilson-10973_changed_i-remember-working-with-jackie-chan-on-s_1106361.jpg)
