--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, on a personal level, I would never…" description: "\"Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a character who didn’t have some redeemable qualities. Even the worst of people, such as Micha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/steve-carell-2000_character_well-on-a-personal-level-i-would-never-w_2719286.jpg" --- # Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a… ![“Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a character who didn’t have some redeemable qualities. Even the worst of people, such as Michael Scott in The Office [Carell’s character in the US version of the Ricky Gervais sitcom], have some decent human qualities that you can latch onto.” quote by Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/steve-carell-2000_character_well-on-a-personal-level-i-would-never-w_2719286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/steve-carell-2000_character_well-on-a-personal-level-i-would-never-w_2719286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/steve-carell-2000_character_well-on-a-personal-level-i-would-never-w_2719286.jpg) > “Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a character who didn’t have some redeemable qualities. Even the worst of people, such as Michael Scott in The Office \[Carell’s character in the US version of the Ricky Gervais sitcom\], have some decent human qualities that you can latch onto.” [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even flawed characters need redeemable traits to connect with audiences. **In simple terms:** Bad people can still be relatable. Key Takeaway Seek humanity in every role. Themes acting character empathy Mood reflective empathetic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - casting - script analysis - performance coaching Key Concepts humanism character development Questions to Reflect On - What makes a villain likable? - How to balance flaws and virtues? A Different Perspective Risk of glorifying negative behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Human qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-qualities/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) ## Related quotes > [On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-steve-carell-you-re-not-working/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [“It amazes me, Saint, that you can own so few redeemable qualities and still be so likable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-enoch/it-amazes-me-saint-that-you-can-own-so-few-redeemable-qualities-and/) [Suzanne Enoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-enoch/) > [Newsflash: Michael Scott's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. There were no survivors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/newsflash-michael-scott-s-plane-was-shot-down-over-the-sea-of-japan/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [When I retire, I don't want to just move to some island somewhere. I want to be the guy who gives it all back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/when-i-retire-i-don-t-want-to-just-move-to-some-island-somewhere-i/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Im the boss, Michael Scott, yall bitches is just Phyllis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/childish-gambino/im-the-boss-michael-scott-yall-bitches-is-just-phyllis/) [Childish Gambino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/childish-gambino/) > [Yes. It is true. I, Michael Scott, am signing up with an online dating service. Thousands of people have done it, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yes-it-is-true-i-michael-scott-am-signing-up-with-an-online-dating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the old days, when a star left a still-thriving hit show, they'd celebrate by killing him or her off. But 'The Office' dispatched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/in-the-old-days-when-a-star-left-a-still-thriving-hit-show-they-d/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [I don't think anyone wants to grow up to be Mindy Lahiri, the same way no one wants to grow up to be Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-don-t-think-anyone-wants-to-grow-up-to-be-mindy-lahiri-the-same-way/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [There are Michael Scott moments, which are character choices, but there are also Steve's reads. Usually the things that I'm the biggest fan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/there-are-michael-scott-moments-which-are-character-choices-but-there/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [The TED talk I gave, that gave me another character I didn't know about. I'm not saying the mind of a hero, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/the-ted-talk-i-gave-that-gave-me-another-character-i-didn-t-know/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Sometimes you walk away from playing somebody and you think, "Wow that was far as from my own experience as I can possibly be."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/sometimes-you-walk-away-from-playing-somebody-and-you-think-wow-that/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I never wanted to model myself on a female singer, which tells you a lot about my character. I didn't have a female role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-never-wanted-to-model-myself-on-a-female-singer-which-tells-you-a/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [The day when I left Barca, because of the treatment I was receiving and my character, it didn't go as I would have wished.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-valdes/the-day-when-i-left-barca-because-of-the-treatment-i-was-receiving/) [Victor Valdes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-valdes/) > [I love the idea of playing a character that didn't over think everything. He knows what's in front of him and he has an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/i-love-the-idea-of-playing-a-character-that-didn-t-over-think/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I appreciate the written word and spoken word more, but Atonement sort of established so much of me. It was a character that didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/i-appreciate-the-written-word-and-spoken-word-more-but-atonement-sort/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) ## More by Steve Carell > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Im not funny. Im actually quite a boring person to meet one-on-one. That seems to shock quite a few people who I run into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/im-not-funny-im-actually-quite-a-boring-person-to-meet-one-on-one/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [It's harder when people are playing along, because it's just not as funny. They're trying to be funny, and it sort of cancels out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-harder-when-people-are-playing-along-because-it-s-just-not-as/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [My wife is way funnier than I am. As much as I don't really feel I share a sense of humour with my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/my-wife-is-way-funnier-than-i-am-as-much-as-i-don-t-really-feel-i/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [From cheesecake on a stick to meat skewers to deep-fried bananas on a stick - there are no plates anymore. In Los Angeles, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/from-cheesecake-on-a-stick-to-meat-skewers-to-deep-fried-bananas-on-a/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [If I'd had a great level of success early on, who knows how I would have responded. I might have been a complete jerk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/if-i-d-had-a-great-level-of-success-early-on-who-knows-how-i-would/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [It was kind of like they were just giving us a toy to play with, to do whatever we wanted with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-was-kind-of-like-they-were-just-giving-us-a-toy-to-play-with-to-do/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I wasn't a class clown, I never developed this comedic flair as a kid. Even when I decided to become an actor, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-wasn-t-a-class-clown-i-never-developed-this-comedic-flair-as-a-kid/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Whenever I hear someone describe something as a 'kids movie' or a 'family movie,' it immediately has a negative connotation in my mind because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/whenever-i-hear-someone-describe-something-as-a-kids-movie-or-a/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I don't text, I don't have a Blackberry. Literally, I just have a cell phone that I haven't programmed and the whole Bluetooth. No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-don-t-text-i-don-t-have-a-blackberry-literally-i-just-have-a-cell/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I ate fiberglass insulation. It wasn’t cotton candy like the guy said… my tummy itches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-ate-fiberglass-insulation-it-wasn-t-cotton-candy-like-the-guy-said/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [After enjoying a tuna fish sandwich, my seven year old son kindly asked me to 'Change my breath.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/after-enjoying-a-tuna-fish-sandwich-my-seven-year-old-son-kindly/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Different things just strike people differently. And it's so subjective, too. Because what makes one person laugh won't make others laugh. I guess it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/different-things-just-strike-people-differently-and-it-s-so/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [“I hate hospitals, in my mind they are associated with sickness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-hate-hospitals-in-my-mind-they-are-associated-with-sickness/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I think when someone who's known for doing drama does a comedy but just tries to be funny, that's a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-think-when-someone-who-s-known-for-doing-drama-does-a-comedy-but/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) [Explore all 192 Steve Carell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) ## 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. 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