Arcs Quote by Sandra Scofield
““Character is too deep to catch in a single storyline. What really moves us - what makes the great stories, and there aren't so many of them - is the inevitability of character. The destiny. All we see is the arc. We'll never penetrate the secrets of the living, let alone the dead. I've spent my whole life trying to understand people, and all I've learned is that the deeper we look, the greater the mystery. At the core, each person is unknowable. Maybe that's the soul? I have to respect that. The mystery, in fact, is what I've loved the most, in people and in stories as well.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Writer's Journey Podcast, 2015
Character depth exceeds plot; true stories arise from inevitable, unknowable human nature, not just events.
In simple terms: Stories matter because of complex characters.
Key Takeaway
Focus on character development.
Themes
character
storytelling
human nature
mystery
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- character studies
- psychotherapy
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
psychology
existentialism
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers balance plot and character?
- What methods reveal hidden character traits?
A Different Perspective
Characters can be reduced to archetypes, losing nuance.
![“[Of the ether] it is no greater mystery at all events than the shoemakers' wax.” quote by Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c06/lord-kelvin-10819_events_of-the-ether-it-is-no-greater-mystery-at_2051482.jpg)
