--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not interested in a character's…" description: "\"I'm not interested in a character's goodness. I'm interested in what makes them human.\" — Sarah Paulson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/sarah-paulson-8554_character_i-m-not-interested-in-a-character-s-good_209111.jpg" --- # I'm not interested in a character's goodness. I'm… ![“I'm not interested in a character's goodness. I'm interested in what makes them human.” quote by Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/sarah-paulson-8554_character_i-m-not-interested-in-a-character-s-good_209111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/sarah-paulson-8554_character_i-m-not-interested-in-a-character-s-good_209111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/sarah-paulson-8554_character_i-m-not-interested-in-a-character-s-good_209111.jpg) > “I'm not interested in a character's goodness. I'm interested in what makes them human.” [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) ## 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’s humanity is revealed through flaws and complexities, not through moral perfection. **In simple terms:** Humanity lies in imperfections. Key Takeaway Focus on depth, not just goodness. Themes humanity character development complexity Mood analytical inquisitive Type literary advice When to use this quote - casting auditions - writing workshops - story analysis Key Concepts flaws relatability psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do flaws make a character relatable? - What traits reveal humanity? A Different Perspective Goodness alone can make characters feel unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) ## Related quotes > [Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/human-greatness-does-not-lie-in-wealth-or-power-but-in-character-and-2/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/human-greatness-does-not-lie-in-wealth-or-power-but-in-character-and/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [I'm always interested in a character who does something and doesn't understand why they've done it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/i-m-always-interested-in-a-character-who-does-something-and-doesn-t/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [I think I'm one of those people that needed to be seen by someone else to see myself. But then on the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-krieps/i-think-i-m-one-of-those-people-that-needed-to-be-seen-by-someone/) [Vicky Krieps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-krieps/) > [That was one of the things that interested me about the character. He doesn't want to be a hero, and has no real desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-jones/that-was-one-of-the-things-that-interested-me-about-the-character-he/) [Orlando Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-jones/) > [I'm interested in character and dialogue and exchange of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-m-interested-in-character-and-dialogue-and-exchange-of-ideas/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I'm sure my agents would like me to play leading roles, and I guess I should, but I'm more interested in the character parts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-punch/i-m-sure-my-agents-would-like-me-to-play-leading-roles-and-i-guess-i/) [Lucy Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-punch/) > [Part of accepting a role is being interested in the character and part of it is being interested in the movie or what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/part-of-accepting-a-role-is-being-interested-in-the-character-and/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [I'm more interested in character. Character comes out of the work. Style is applied or imposed on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/i-m-more-interested-in-character-character-comes-out-of-the-work/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [Sci-fi fans are so interested in your character and so attached to the world that you've created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-john-kamen/sci-fi-fans-are-so-interested-in-your-character-and-so-attached-to/) [Hannah John-Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-john-kamen/) > [Be more interested in character than reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/be-more-interested-in-character-than-reputation/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I gradually work myself into a frenzy as the shoot approaches, while we're choosing the costumes or working with the make-up artist. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/i-gradually-work-myself-into-a-frenzy-as-the-shoot-approaches-while/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [I'm interested in character and people and motivations and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-m-interested-in-character-and-people-and-motivations-and-things/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [That's what makes a human a human, if we store information outside our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/that-s-what-makes-a-human-a-human-if-we-store-information-outside-our/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) ## More by Sarah Paulson > [I have friends say, "Don't you want to have a little you?" The jury's still out on that for me. I don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-have-friends-say-don-t-you-want-to-have-a-little-you-the-jury-s/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [Being in a hotel room and watching 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' is one of my great joys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/being-in-a-hotel-room-and-watching-the-real-housewives-of-beverly/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I think sometimes when you can feel the velocity of change, like nowadays, you really need a seat belt. It's almost like having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-think-sometimes-when-you-can-feel-the-velocity-of-change-like/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [Your mind knows your pretending, but, in terms of the adrenaline and the fact that you are actually crying, and that you are that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/your-mind-knows-your-pretending-but-in-terms-of-the-adrenaline-and/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I think it's very important for people to not judge the people you're playing. You have to find a way to love them because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-think-it-s-very-important-for-people-to-not-judge-the-people-you-re/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [All of my friends went to college, and I got a job at Circle Pizza, where I worked for 24 hours. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/all-of-my-friends-went-to-college-and-i-got-a-job-at-circle-pizza/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [Sometimes I think on television, you use maybe a tenth of what you are able to do. So it's nice to go, 'Well, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/sometimes-i-think-on-television-you-use-maybe-a-tenth-of-what-you-are/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I do like the immediacy of audience's reaction. I like when I can hear the stillness and I know that they're with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-do-like-the-immediacy-of-audience-s-reaction-i-like-when-i-can-hear/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I've always really made my living in television. Television has always been so good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-ve-always-really-made-my-living-in-television-television-has-always/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I've only been to one concert in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-ve-only-been-to-one-concert-in-my-life/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [When I look at my career, the bulk of it has been television, and I love working in television. But there's a speed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/when-i-look-at-my-career-the-bulk-of-it-has-been-television-and-i/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [If I had my druthers, I would be working in all different mediums, forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/if-i-had-my-druthers-i-would-be-working-in-all-different-mediums/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I just don't feel that we've traveled very far in the realm of social equality. There just seems to be a little bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-just-don-t-feel-that-we-ve-traveled-very-far-in-the-realm-of-social/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I've never been on a show that's run for more than a season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-ve-never-been-on-a-show-that-s-run-for-more-than-a-season/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I personally think it would be a very liberating thing for women to allow themselves to understand that having it all incorporates sacrifice. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-personally-think-it-would-be-a-very-liberating-thing-for-women-to/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) [Explore all 80 Sarah Paulson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) ## 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": "I'm not interested in a character's goodness. 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