Monday Quote
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” ~~ Abraham Lincoln
I think this quote encapsulates a great writing tool – we create characters and through the journey of the story, we reveal who they are and what their fears are… their inner conflict. In the beginning of the story, we see the reputation, as the story evolves, we learn the real character, the depths.
And its a killer quote LOL. What do you think?
That is a killer quote. I like the ideas that it gives. How the shadows are what we think – the tree is the real thing. So the shadows are what we might think of the characters through actions or little hints that are dropped – and it’s sometimes not until the end of the book that the real tree is known. LOL. Did that make sense? Anyway – it is a killer quote.
tammy
Totally Tammy. I think sometimes the most intriguing characters are the ones who themselves are focused on the shadow, you know? And they discover through the course of the story their inner tree *g*