Character Quotes | Beyond Motive 14/25

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Character Quotes

"The tenacious character I've possessed since I was a small child propelled me to successfully meet this challenge, and I was able to safely gain acceptance to the university of my choice."

"The tenacious character I've possessed since I was a small child propelled me to successfully meet this challenge, and I was able to safely gain acceptance to the university of my choice."

Koichi Tanaka, Japanese Scientist

Character, Acceptance, Challenge, Choice

36

"51st State was one that I loved doing because the character was so out there, and in a way I was sad to leave the character behind. I'm afraid I could never be that cool in real life!"

"51st State was one that I loved doing because the character was so out there, and in a way I was sad to leave the character behind. I'm afraid I could never be that cool in real life!"

Emily Mortimer, British Actress

Character, State

36

"That's what makes a character interesting from an actor's perspective - the more screwed up, the better."

"That's what makes a character interesting from an actor's perspective - the more screwed up, the better."

Jeri Ryan, American Actress

Character, Actor, Perspective

36

"Every character I play has to be the hero of his own story, the way we're all heroes of our own lives."

"Every character I play has to be the hero of his own story, the way we're all heroes of our own lives."

Jesse Eisenberg, American Actor

Character, Heroes, Play

36

"I did private study for about a month, five days a week, six hours a day. I came to understand the character in ways that I never would've previous to that. I was so innocent in respect to ways of creating characters."

"I did private study for about a month, five days a week, six hours a day. I came to understand the character in ways that I never would've previous to that. I was so innocent in respect to ways of creating characters."

Corin Nemec, American Actor

Character, Day, Respect, Study

36

"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble."

"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble."

Charles Spurgeon, British Clergyman

Character, Forget, Name, Will

36

"I get to play a great character while working with great actors and great directors on a great show."

"I get to play a great character while working with great actors and great directors on a great show."

Harry Hamlin, American Actor

Character, Actors, Play

36

"And I have been able to establish this sort of decent reputation as being a decent character actor."

"And I have been able to establish this sort of decent reputation as being a decent character actor."

Vincent D'Onofrio, American Actor

Character, Being, Reputation

36

"Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit a man; Simplicity, a child."

"Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit a man; Simplicity, a child."

Alexander Pope, English Poet

Character, Man, Manners, Simplicity, Wit

36

"An absolutely different and distinctive character."

"An absolutely different and distinctive character."

George Edmund Street, English Architect

36

"I'd give up being a bitch, but I'm not a quitter."

"I'd give up being a bitch, but I'm not a quitter."

Jill Shalvis, American Novelist

Character, Determination, Persistence, Identity, Self

36

"I don't think my spirituality has affected my character. I feel like my character is much more cynical about his beliefs, and I think I have to kind of drop what I believe in order to play him."

"I don't think my spirituality has affected my character. I feel like my character is much more cynical about his beliefs, and I think I have to kind of drop what I believe in order to play him."

Jason Ritter, American Actor

Character, Beliefs, Order, Play

36

"What are the aspects of yourself that line up with the character? You magnify those, and the ones that don't match up you kind of kick to the curb."

"What are the aspects of yourself that line up with the character? You magnify those, and the ones that don't match up you kind of kick to the curb."

Jeff Bridges, American Actor

36

"If better were within, better would come out."

"If better were within, better would come out."

J.R. Rim, American Author

Character, Expression, Authenticity, Integrity

36

"Not a having and a resting, but a growing and becoming, is the character of perfection as culture conceives it."

"Not a having and a resting, but a growing and becoming, is the character of perfection as culture conceives it."

Matthew Arnold, English Poet

Character, Culture, Perfection

36

"Infelicity is an ill to which all acts are heir which have the general character of ritual or ceremonial, all conventional acts."

"Infelicity is an ill to which all acts are heir which have the general character of ritual or ceremonial, all conventional acts."

J. L. Austin, English Philosopher

Character, Heir, Ritual

36

"If I had to choose criteria, for me, it's about first the director. I want to be a part of something that's good and intellectually challenging. After the director it's the character and the story. That's the deal for me."

"If I had to choose criteria, for me, it's about first the director. I want to be a part of something that's good and intellectually challenging. After the director it's the character and the story. That's the deal for me."

Giovanni Ribisi, American Actor

Character, First, Want

36

"The mind is exercised by the variety and multiplicity of the subject matter, while the character is moulded by the contemplation of virtue and vice."

"The mind is exercised by the variety and multiplicity of the subject matter, while the character is moulded by the contemplation of virtue and vice."

Quintilian, Roman Educator

Character, Virtue, Contemplation, Mind

36

"Reflect that nothing merits admiration except thespirit, the impressiveness of which prevents it from being impressed by anything."

"Reflect that nothing merits admiration except thespirit, the impressiveness of which prevents it from being impressed by anything."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Character, Spirit, Strength, Admiration, Mind

36

"I enjoy the character interplay. Sometimes the audience is not laughing, but smiling, and that is almost just as good because it keeps them ready to laugh."

"I enjoy the character interplay. Sometimes the audience is not laughing, but smiling, and that is almost just as good because it keeps them ready to laugh."

Keenen Ivory Wayans, American Comedian

36

"When I draw a character, very often as I'm doing a face, my face mirrors the expression."

"When I draw a character, very often as I'm doing a face, my face mirrors the expression."

Matthew Ashford, American Actor

Character, Expression

36

"The highest qualities of character... must be earned."

"The highest qualities of character... must be earned."

Lyman Abbott, American Author

35

"A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name."

"A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name."

Evan Esar, American Writer

Character, Man, Name

35

"I really fought to make my character not a stereotype. I play a soap star with dyed blonde hair."

"I really fought to make my character not a stereotype. I play a soap star with dyed blonde hair."

Sadie Frost, English Actress

Character, Hair, Play

35

"When you are developing a character you have to bring so much of yourself to the role."

"When you are developing a character you have to bring so much of yourself to the role."

Lori Loughlin, American Actress

35

"For me, clothes are kind of character; I don't follow fashion or understand trends."

"For me, clothes are kind of character; I don't follow fashion or understand trends."

Meryl Streep, American Actress

Character, Clothes, Fashion

35

"Having your own character in a video game is pretty cool."

"Having your own character in a video game is pretty cool."

Josie Maran, American Model

Character, Pretty

35

"Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down within incredible swiftness."

"Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down within incredible swiftness."

Faith Baldwin, American Novelist

35

"As we celebrate President Reagan's remarkable career and historic legacy, we also celebrate a man of strong character, deep conviction, unforgettable charm, and wonderful wit."

"As we celebrate President Reagan's remarkable career and historic legacy, we also celebrate a man of strong character, deep conviction, unforgettable charm, and wonderful wit."

Jim Ramstad, American Politician

Character, Career, Charm, Conviction

35

"The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby."

"The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby."

John Milton, English Poet

Character, Deeds, Man, Order

35

"I try to play characters who are different from myself, so I feel like this character is someone who is really different. I actually think that if I did what he did in this movie, I would get a restraining order put against me."

"I try to play characters who are different from myself, so I feel like this character is someone who is really different. I actually think that if I did what he did in this movie, I would get a restraining order put against me."

Ryan Gosling, Canadian Actor

Character, Order, Play

35

"The Greeks already understood that there was more interest in portraying an unusual character than a usual character - that is the purpose of films and theatre."

"The Greeks already understood that there was more interest in portraying an unusual character than a usual character - that is the purpose of films and theatre."

Isabelle Huppert, French Actress

Character, Purpose, Interest, Theatre

35

"After doing this, going away, trying other things and working on other shows, this character, and working within Days of Our Lives, has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my career."

"After doing this, going away, trying other things and working on other shows, this character, and working within Days of Our Lives, has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my career."

Matthew Ashford, American Actor

Character, Career, Trying

35

"Among those who are satisfactory in this respect it is desirable to have represented as great a diversity of intellectual tradition, social milieu and personal character as possible."

"Among those who are satisfactory in this respect it is desirable to have represented as great a diversity of intellectual tradition, social milieu and personal character as possible."

Talcott Parsons, American Sociologist

Character, Diversity, Respect, Tradition

35

"No, I feel like my personality probably influenced the character, more than the character influenced me."

"No, I feel like my personality probably influenced the character, more than the character influenced me."

Sara Gilbert, American Actress

Character, Personality

35

"To me, Shakespeare uses the supernatural elements to reveal his character's inner desires and fears."

"To me, Shakespeare uses the supernatural elements to reveal his character's inner desires and fears."

John Foster, British Architect

Character, Shakespeare, Supernatural

35

"I wanted to be as comfortable in that environment as she was. I moved around those areas in character."

"I wanted to be as comfortable in that environment as she was. I moved around those areas in character."

Debbie Reynolds, American Actress

Character, Environment

35

"It seems odd that as far as I know nobody has yet been murdered for having too perfect a character! And yet perfection is undoubtedly an irritating thing!"

"It seems odd that as far as I know nobody has yet been murdered for having too perfect a character! And yet perfection is undoubtedly an irritating thing!"

Agatha Christie, English Writer

Character, Perfection, Humanity, Emotion

35

"I suppose there is a certain crucial interval in everyone's life when character is fixed forever."

"I suppose there is a certain crucial interval in everyone's life when character is fixed forever."

Donna Tartt, American Novelist

Character, Development, Time, Destiny

35

"I remember that it was never that difficult for me to get a director to look up and pay attention to me. Mind you, I don't know if that's necessarily charm. But I've played roles where my character has to be charming and I've found it quite easy to do. I think some of it is in my bones, but some of it is more deliberate."

"I remember that it was never that difficult for me to get a director to look up and pay attention to me. Mind you, I don't know if that's necessarily charm. But I've played roles where my character has to be charming and I've found it quite easy to do. I think some of it is in my bones, but some of it is more deliberate."

James McAvoy, Scottish Actor

Character, Attention, Charm, Mind

35

"You don't want to shock them and do something totally opposite, but you also want to play a different character."

"You don't want to shock them and do something totally opposite, but you also want to play a different character."

Ray Romano, American Actor

Character, Play, Want

35

"When you're creating a character out of nothing, you have to make all the guesses as to how they walk, how they talk, how they think. It was all there on the table for us to pick and choose for Murrow."

"When you're creating a character out of nothing, you have to make all the guesses as to how they walk, how they talk, how they think. It was all there on the table for us to pick and choose for Murrow."

David Strathairn, American Actor

Character, Nothing, Talk

34

"Especially when you play a character for so many years, the character ends up reflecting a lot of who you are and I think I've changed a lot since then, but that represented a lot of who I was as a teenager."

"Especially when you play a character for so many years, the character ends up reflecting a lot of who you are and I think I've changed a lot since then, but that represented a lot of who I was as a teenager."

Sara Gilbert, American Actress

Character, Play, Years

34

"Obama is a very good actor. He knows how to play it. And he is very adept at creating this 'Obama' - this character who is there whenever the world needs something."

"Obama is a very good actor. He knows how to play it. And he is very adept at creating this 'Obama' - this character who is there whenever the world needs something."

Jon Voight, American Actor

Character, Needs, Play

34

"For the third season, we do a sit around on one episode where we were in character and then we commented on one episode just being ourselves, so - not really. I was comfortable, though. I wasn't nervous."

"For the third season, we do a sit around on one episode where we were in character and then we commented on one episode just being ourselves, so - not really. I was comfortable, though. I wasn't nervous."

Carlos Alazraqui, American Actor

Character, Being

34

"From slavery to segregation, we remember that America did not always live up to its ideals. In fact, we often fell far short of them. But we also learned that fundamental to our national character is the drive to live out the true meaning of our creed."

"From slavery to segregation, we remember that America did not always live up to its ideals. In fact, we often fell far short of them. But we also learned that fundamental to our national character is the drive to live out the true meaning of our creed."

Bill Frist, American Politician

Character, America, Fact, Ideals

34

"I would rather have played a character like Opie than Little Ricky."

"I would rather have played a character like Opie than Little Ricky."

Keith Thibodeaux, American Musician

34

"It's not a pretty face, I grant you. But underneath its flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character."

"It's not a pretty face, I grant you. But underneath its flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character."

Alan Jay Lerner, American Dramatist

Character, Pretty

34

"The trick to acting is not to show off, it's to think the thoughts of the character."

"The trick to acting is not to show off, it's to think the thoughts of the character."

Eddie Marsan, English Actor

Character, Thoughts, Acting

34

"I guess there's a certain amount of poking fun at certain characters, but that's because there is something amusing about them or about the way they behave, so I guess you can say that that's poking fun at the character. But the character is your own invention, so who cares?"

"I guess there's a certain amount of poking fun at certain characters, but that's because there is something amusing about them or about the way they behave, so I guess you can say that that's poking fun at the character. But the character is your own invention, so who cares?"

Joel Coen, American Director

Character, Fun, Invention

34

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