->The truly passive protagonist is a regrettably common mistake. A story cannot be told about a protagonist who doesn't want anything, who cannot make decisions, whose actions effect no change at any level.
-->-- '''Robert Mckee''', ''Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting''

->''"''We'' solved the case... You came barefoot into my office and woke up my child with a list of suspects that [[spoiler:Horan]] wasn't even on! You got your ass kicked [[spoiler:on the boat]] and almost got shot in the face. That's what you did."''
-->-- '''Inspector Monroe''', ''Film/ConfessFletch''

->He no more knows his destiny than a tea leaf knows the history of the East India Company.
-->-- ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', introducing Arthur Dent

->''"I still think it's amusing that the heroes of the game had absolutely nothing to do with the plot at all and are in a constant state of confusion, at this point."''
-->-- '''LetsPlay/TheDarkId''' playing ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil0''

->''"What has Bond done this movie, really? Get captured on purpose and then just ride that train all the way through, right? I mean, other than the opening scene or two, this movie has reduced James Bond to a decent prisoner of war."''
-->-- '''Jeremy Scott''' of ''WebVideo/CinemaSins'' on Film/JamesBond in "Everything Wrong With Film/{{Goldfinger}}"

->''"He's just a dope who does nothing but agree with the last thing he heard and everyone around him seems to realize it, you can tell from the way characters give him mission briefings. Every single time they make some token instructing noises, give him a little encouraging smack on the bum, then close the door in his face and go back to the TV. Ajay's story eventually leads to his parent's dark secret that explains why the villain has an interest in him. But since Ajay reacts to the revelation like a St. Bernard being told he can't have another biscuit, my first thought was 'Any chance we could play as your parents instead? They sound more interesting than you.'"''
-->-- '''[[Creator/BenCroshaw Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw]]''' of ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'' on ''VideoGame/FarCry4''

->'''Grif:''' It just keeps happening! I get a few moments' rest, and then we go on another thing. And another thing. It never ends!\\
'''Huggins:''' And how does that make you feel?\\
'''Grif:''' Like a pinball! Trapped in a -- a never-ending cycle of shenanigans and adventures. It's like... It's like my hell.
-->-- ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', "Walk and Talk"

->''"And now ''[...]'' how little ''Literature/{{Thumbelina}}'' figures in her own story. I think this is why Creator/HansChristianAndersen doesn't translate to film very well: he doesn't tend to write very active protagonists. Whether it's ''Thumbelina'' or ''Literature/TheUglyDuckling'' or ''Literature/TheSteadfastTinSoldier'', his characters spend the story having things happen ''to'' them rather than ''making'' anything happen. It doesn't make for an interesting central character, and Thumbelina's constant whining over her predicament only makes things worse."''
-->-- '''Christi Esterle''' of ''WebVideo/MusicalHell'''s review of ''WesternAnimation/Thumbelina1994''

->'''Spirit of Battles with Kenpachi:''' The reason you haven't been able to beat your Inner Hollow, the reason you haven't been able to beat your opponents without his help, it's because... you're reactive.\\
'''Ichigo:''' What are you talking about? I'm not reactive. Have you seen the stuff I've done? I'm proactive as fuck!\\
'''Spirit of Battles with Kenpachi:''' Your family was in danger, so you turned to Rukia. Rukia was taken, so you trained with Kisuke. Byakuya beats you, you turn to Yoruichi. Your Inner Hollow began to take over, you come to the V-Club. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion What happens when the fight comes along where nobody's there to save you, or throw a three day training arc on the table?]] The point is, the difference between someone who can draw strength from inside themselves, and someone who needs to be protected, comes down to ''instinct''.\\
'''Ichigo:''' ''[thinking]'' Instinct... Up until now I've just let things happen. I've been unprepared. ''[out loud]'' I get it. If I had just jumped in headfirst all those times, fully prepared, I wouldn't need your help.
-->-- ''WebVideo/BleachSAbridged'', Ep. 20 - "300 Episodes Too Early"

->''"The world of ''Film/{{Idiocracy}}'' happens ''at'' Joe. He is at no point an active participant within it. He is given no reason to care, [[TooBleakStoppedCaring and neither are we]]. He begins and ends the film having made zero meaningful change to the world he was thrust into. This is not only hopeless, it's shallow."''
-->-- '''WebVideo/PatriciaTaxxon''', "[[https://youtu.be/_2hlss6Y3kg Idiocracy, and why Misanthropy is for Dummies]]"
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