--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are no moral blanks; there are no…" description: "\"There are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters.\" — Thomas Chalmers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg" --- # There are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters. ![“There are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters.” quote by Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg) > “There are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters.” [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral decisions are never neutral; every character influences ethical outcomes. **In simple terms:** No moral neutrality; all actions affect ethics. Key Takeaway Recognize impact of choices. Themes ethics responsibility character Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - policy making - storytelling Key Concepts moral philosophy agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess moral impact of a character? - Can neutrality ever truly exist? A Different Perspective Assumes clear moral categories, which can be ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blanks/) [Blanks Neutral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blanks-neutral-3550361/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-blanks-348257/) [Neutral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutral/) [Neutral Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutral-characters-1621231/) ## Related quotes > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [There is so much room for gender-neutral characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bradley/there-is-so-much-room-for-gender-neutral-characters/) [Ruth Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bradley/) > [While actors play with guns for make-believe, the guns themselves are by no means make-believe; they're real. Even when the actor is using blanks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trieste-kelly-dunn/while-actors-play-with-guns-for-make-believe-the-guns-themselves-are/) [Trieste Kelly Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trieste-kelly-dunn/) > [I feel that historical novelists owe it to our readers to try to be as historically accurate as we can with the known facts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/i-feel-that-historical-novelists-owe-it-to-our-readers-to-try-to-be/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [I think one of the few faults in Dickens is that mostly his lead characters are blanks - who is David Copperfield, who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/i-think-one-of-the-few-faults-in-dickens-is-that-mostly-his-lead/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) > [I love books that give you space to climb inside there. And you have to run to keep up in places, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hall/i-love-books-that-give-you-space-to-climb-inside-there-and-you-have/) [Steven Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hall/) > [I have everything I need, so there are no blanks left unfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-biles/i-have-everything-i-need-so-there-are-no-blanks-left-unfilled/) [Simone Biles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-biles/) > [This basic thing I always do: 'What happened between the character's birth, and page one of the script?' Anything that's not in the story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/this-basic-thing-i-always-do-what-happened-between-the-character-s/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I did around 100 episodes as Ted without the band, but the 20 I did with The Blanks are the only ones anyone ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lloyd/i-did-around-100-episodes-as-ted-without-the-band-but-the-20-i-did/) [Sam Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lloyd/) > [In writing my historical novels, I have to rely upon my imagination to a great extent. I think of it as 'filling in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/in-writing-my-historical-novels-i-have-to-rely-upon-my-imagination-to/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [I don't have a great eye for detail. I leave blanks in all of my stories. I leave out all detail, which leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-don-t-have-a-great-eye-for-detail-i-leave-blanks-in-all-of-my/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Once I get in my mind that it's going to go "da da da dadada da da," then it's kind of like filling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/once-i-get-in-my-mind-that-it-s-going-to-go-da-da-da-dadada-da-da/) [Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/) > [It's your job as an actor to fill out the blanks. I love doing that. To fill in the bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-piven/it-s-your-job-as-an-actor-to-fill-out-the-blanks-i-love-doing-that-to/) [Jeremy Piven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-piven/) > [But I just think we've got such a continuity with what we're doing that most people come in and fill in the blanks. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunter/but-i-just-think-we-ve-got-such-a-continuity-with-what-we-re-doing/) [Charlie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunter/) > [I try to research or make up for myself what happened in any character's life. From when he was born until the first page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-try-to-research-or-make-up-for-myself-what-happened-in-any/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) ## More by Thomas Chalmers > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [O Heavenly Father, convert my religion from a name to a principle! Bring all my thoughts and movements into an habitual reference to Thee!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/o-heavenly-father-convert-my-religion-from-a-name-to-a-principle/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [It has been said that there is nothing more uncommon than common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/it-has-been-said-that-there-is-nothing-more-uncommon-than-common-sense/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Enthusiasm is a virtue rarely to be met with in seasons of calm and unruffled prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/enthusiasm-is-a-virtue-rarely-to-be-met-with-in-seasons-of-calm-and/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The human mind feels restless and dissatisfied under the anxieties of ignorance. It longs for the repose of conviction; and to gain this repose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/the-human-mind-feels-restless-and-dissatisfied-under-the-anxieties-of/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Infidelity gives nothing in return for what it takes away. What, then, is it worth? Everything valuable as a compensating power. Not a blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/infidelity-gives-nothing-in-return-for-what-it-takes-away-what-then/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Acts of virtue ripen into habits; and the goodly and permanent result is the formation or establishment of a virtuous character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/acts-of-virtue-ripen-into-habits-and-the-goodly-and-permanent-result/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Shakespeare is an intellectual miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/shakespeare-is-an-intellectual-miracle/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [I want to feel my own nothingness, I want to give myself up in absolute resignation to God, to lie prostrate and passive at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/i-want-to-feel-my-own-nothingness-i-want-to-give-myself-up-in/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Not till we come to a simple reliance on the blood and mediation of the Saviour, shall we know what it is either to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/not-till-we-come-to-a-simple-reliance-on-the-blood-and-mediation-of/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The sum and substance of the preparation needed for a coming eternity is that you believe what the Bible tells you, and do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/the-sum-and-substance-of-the-preparation-needed-for-a-coming-eternity/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [By the very constitution of our nature moral evil is its own curse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/by-the-very-constitution-of-our-nature-moral-evil-is-its-own-curse/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [It is in those times of hopeless chaos when the sovereign hand of God is most likely to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/it-is-in-those-times-of-hopeless-chaos-when-the-sovereign-hand-of-god/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [It is not scholarship alone, but scholarship impregnated with religion, that tells on the great mass of society. We have no faith in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/it-is-not-scholarship-alone-but-scholarship-impregnated-with-religion/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Infidelity is one of those coinages,-a mass of base money that won't pass current with any heart that loves truly, or any head that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/infidelity-is-one-of-those-coinages-a-mass-of-base-money-that-won-t/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) [Explore all 45 Thomas Chalmers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) ## More Blanks quotes > [In writing my historical novels, I have to rely upon my imagination to a great extent. I think of it as 'filling in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/in-writing-my-historical-novels-i-have-to-rely-upon-my-imagination-to/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [While actors play with guns for make-believe, the guns themselves are by no means make-believe; they're real. Even when the actor is using blanks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trieste-kelly-dunn/while-actors-play-with-guns-for-make-believe-the-guns-themselves-are/) [Trieste Kelly Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trieste-kelly-dunn/) > [But I just think we've got such a continuity with what we're doing that most people come in and fill in the blanks. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunter/but-i-just-think-we-ve-got-such-a-continuity-with-what-we-re-doing/) [Charlie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunter/) > [It's your job as an actor to fill out the blanks. I love doing that. To fill in the bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-piven/it-s-your-job-as-an-actor-to-fill-out-the-blanks-i-love-doing-that-to/) [Jeremy Piven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-piven/) > [Once I get in my mind that it's going to go "da da da dadada da da," then it's kind of like filling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/once-i-get-in-my-mind-that-it-s-going-to-go-da-da-da-dadada-da-da/) [Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/) > [I don't have a great eye for detail. I leave blanks in all of my stories. I leave out all detail, which leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-don-t-have-a-great-eye-for-detail-i-leave-blanks-in-all-of-my/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I try to research or make up for myself what happened in any character's life. From when he was born until the first page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-try-to-research-or-make-up-for-myself-what-happened-in-any/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I did around 100 episodes as Ted without the band, but the 20 I did with The Blanks are the only ones anyone ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lloyd/i-did-around-100-episodes-as-ted-without-the-band-but-the-20-i-did/) [Sam Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lloyd/) > [This basic thing I always do: 'What happened between the character's birth, and page one of the script?' Anything that's not in the story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/this-basic-thing-i-always-do-what-happened-between-the-character-s/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I have everything I need, so there are no blanks left unfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-biles/i-have-everything-i-need-so-there-are-no-blanks-left-unfilled/) [Simone Biles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-biles/) > [I love books that give you space to climb inside there. And you have to run to keep up in places, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hall/i-love-books-that-give-you-space-to-climb-inside-there-and-you-have/) [Steven Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hall/) > [I think one of the few faults in Dickens is that mostly his lead characters are blanks - who is David Copperfield, who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/i-think-one-of-the-few-faults-in-dickens-is-that-mostly-his-lead/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) > [I feel that historical novelists owe it to our readers to try to be as historically accurate as we can with the known facts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/i-feel-that-historical-novelists-owe-it-to-our-readers-to-try-to-be/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [Shooting blanks like a pen with no ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/static-flow/shooting-blanks-like-a-pen-with-no-ink/) [Static Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/static-flow/) > [“I did not elaborate, nor did I need to. The human imagination is capable of anything when left on its own to fill in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-did-not-elaborate-nor-did-i-need-to-the-human-imagination-is/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) [Browse all 26 Blanks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blanks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Chalmers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-neutral-characters/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blanks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-neutral-characters/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/thomas-chalmers-14874_blanks_there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-n_2815452.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters.” — Thomas Chalmers", "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": "Thomas Chalmers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are no moral blanks; there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-neutral-characters/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/there-are-no-moral-blanks-there-are-no-neutral-characters/#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 } } ] } ```