Creating Characters (8 page)
His memory has become impaired as a result of an injury.
If it held little importance for him at the time it happened, the odds are good that he won't remember it later.
His preoccupation with one thing makes him forget other things.
Related Traits:
Divinatory, expectant, farseeing, farsighted, foreknowing, foreseeing, foresighted, intuitive, long-sighted, oracular, precognitive, precognizant, predictive, predictory, premonitory, presageful, prescient, prognostic, telepathic.
As Seen by Others:
Sometimes talks about having a vague feeling that something is going to happen before it actually does.
Can look at things around him and give you a general idea of what's going to happen down the road.
Has displayed the ability to look at a situation, or some facts, and make a somewhat accurate prediction about what is likely to occur.
Has been able to determine what is happening to someone at the very moment it is taking place.
Can sometimes discern a future event, though perhaps not in specific detail.
Displays a talent for seeing the future, based upon his reading of particular signs that occur.
Uses atmospheric changes, the arrangement of numbers, biblical passages, the position of the planets to determine something that will occur in the future.
Related Traits: Inexpectant, shortsighted, unaware, unsuspecting.
As Seen by Others:
Things slip up on him, just as it does in the case of most people.
Can't even tell you what's going to happen tomorrow, much less what is going to take place far in the future.
Always caught off guard.
Surprised whenever something "unexpected" happens, though the evidence of its approach was certainly there for him to see.
Incapable of looking at the juxtaposition of events and drawing any conclusions with regard to their implications.
Related Traits:
Admirable, august, commendable, creditable, dignified, elevated, estimable, exalted, exemplary, first-rate, grand, honorable, imperial, lofty, magnanimous, majestic, meritorious, noble, outstanding, praiseworthy, principled, proper, pure, reputable, scrupulous, splendid, staunch, sterling, superlative, unblemished, unimpeachable, unsullied, upright, upstanding, venerable, worthy.
As Seen by Others:
Has acquired a good name because he is known for abiding by high-minded principles.
His traits seem unblemished.
He's done things that deserve great respect.
A purity can be detected in his actions.
He seemingly tries to do what is right.
His virtues are viewed as worth imitating.
Apparently abides by all the written and unwritten rules that define superior conduct in his society.
There is no stain on his background.
His reputation is of such sterling quality that it fills others with awe.
The praise he receives seems well justified.
Related Traits:
Amoral, conscienceless, contriving, corruptible, criminal, debauched, degraded, detested, discredited, discreditable, disgraceful, dissipated, good-for-nothing, ill-famed, indecent, infamous, inferior, lecherous, lewd, licentious, lickerish, notorious, odious, perfidious, petty, second-rate, self-serving, shady, shameful, slick, small-minded, sordid, tarnished, third-rate, uncommendable, undignified, undistinguished, unethical, unscrupulous, unworthy, wayward, worthless, wretched.
As Seen by Others:
Has a reputation for doing whatever it takes to promote or protect himself, even if that is at the expense of someone else.
There's a black mark on his background.
Known for bending a principle, ignoring a promise, shirking a duty.
Collectively, his traits seem furtive and hungry—a mercenary army on the loose.
Ethics do not concern him.
He's an inventor of schemes.
It is suspected that he has taken bribes; if he hasn't, he at least seems highly susceptible.
He has done things that have violated public laws.
Will go to any lengths to satisfy his lust.
Has squandered his money, and possibly that of others, to feed his vices.
Uses language like it was a bloody hatchet.
There's nothing about his past which pride could lay claim.
Has been disloyal to those who he was expected to support.
Most people agree that he has little worth.
Hidden within his friendliness is a vein of treachery.
He will not only easily stray from the high moral road but will do so without compunction.
Related Traits:
Altruistic, benevolent, compassionate, conscientious, decent, ethical, excellent, generous, good-natured, high-minded, humane, incorruptible, irreproachable, kind, merciful, moralistic, puritanical, righteous, sympathetic, tender, transcendent, undefiled, unselfish, virtuous.
As Seen by Others:
Makes every effort to do what is right.
Attempts to prevent the suffering of all living things, human or not.
Attends to the welfare of others.
Wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone.
The unfortunate plight of others bothers him deeply.
He would, as they say, give you the shirt off his back.
If you're in trouble, he's there to help you.
Will not accept any kind of bribe, however subtle it may be.
Not tempted to succumb to selfishness, intemperance, lustfulness, conceit, revenge, dishonesty, which fouls one's soul.
Displays a gentleness toward others.
His worthiness is among the highest order.
He is religious without going to church.
Related Traits:
Bad, baneful, barbarous, base, bestial, black-hearted, bloodthirsty, bloody, brutal, brutish, contemptible, corrupting, cruel, deadly, debased, defiling, deleterious, depraved, despicable, devilish, diabolical, dissolute, evil-minded, exploitative, ferocious, fiendish, harmful, heartless, heinous, horrible, hurtful, ignoble, ignominious, immoral, inhuman, inhumane, iniquitous, injurious, maleficent, malevolent, malicious, mean, mean-spirited, merciless, miscreant, monstrous, murderous, nefarious, noxious, outrageous, pernicious, perverted, predaceous profligate, rapacious, rotten, ruinous, ruthless, sadistic, salacious, savage, scandalous, shameless, sinful, sinister, uncivilized, unprincipled, unspeakable, unwholesome, vicious, vile, villainous, viperous, wanton, wicked.
As Seen by Others:
Attracted to the dark side of life, judging by the pleasure he takes in doing wrong.
Purposely engages in acts that will bring harm to others.
Displays instincts that are more identifiable with those that dwell in the jungle than those who live in houses.
Degrades the quality of everything in which he becomes involved, not unlike the spoors emitted by a rotten apple.
If he hurts someone, he will show no misgivings.
He'll use people for his own advantage and think nothing of it.
He is extremely poisonous to others.
He is potentially life-threatening.
Practically everything he does is contrary to what is considered to be public decency.
Collectively, his actions seemed to be aimed at making sure that someone is physically, psychologically, or socially wounded.
Initiates acts that are so abhorrent and of such magnitude that even those who are attracted to evil are dumbstruck.
He has killed and is quite willing to do so again.
Has a predatory nature, in that he will try to seize whatever suits his fancy.
Finds sexual gratification in inflicting pain on others.
Willing to harm anyone who stands in the way of his getting what he wants.
Related Traits: Adoring, cherubic, devoted, devotional, devout, godly, idolatrous, pietistic, reverent, reverential, saintly, venerating, virtuous, worshipful.
As Seen by Others:
Tries to structure his life in accordance with what he believes God expects of him.
There is a light within him.
Elevated by an illustrious spirit of great purity.
So that he might devote his life to prayer, has chosen permanent seclusion from others.
He is convinced that he is in possession of a spiritual truth that lies well outside human reason; it is something he has either gained through intuitive powers or as a result of contemplation.
Invests much of his waking hours in serving and adoring God.
Frequently interrupts his day with prayers.
All of his attention is focused upon the purification of his own soul.
Shows no regard for material matters and, instead, turns his attention toward the purification of his own soul.
His commitment to his religious faith is so overwhelming that he exhibits contempt for all other beliefs.
Will do anything that the leaders of his faith tell him to do.
Related Traits:
Agnostic, atheistic, blasphemous, disbelieving, faithless, heathen, heretical, impious, irreverent, profane, sacrilegious, sinful, unbelieving, unchristian, undevout, ungodly, unholy, unreligious, unrighteous, unspiritual.
As Seen by Others:
Shows indifference toward religion.
He is antagonistic toward religion.
Does not believe that man is capable of determining the existence of God.
Unequivocally denies the existence God.
Speaks about God in an irreverent manner.
Always introducing opinions that serve to contradict the doctrine or tenets of a particular religion.
Has a lack of respect for anything considered sacred.
Scornful of "miracles." Argues that people should contemplate improving the world we know something about rather than the soul, which is unknowable.
Related Traits:
Aboveboard, artless, blunt, candid, clear-cut, direct, forthright, frank, free-speaking, guileless, indiscreet, ingenuous, open, outspoken, plain-spoken, sincere, square-shooting, straight, straightforward, transparent, truthful, unambiguous, unconcealed, undisguised, unequivocal, upright, veracious.
As Seen by Others:
Refuses to take what doesn't belong to him, no matter how trivial it may be.
What he has, he got without any tricks or sleight-of-hand.
Blunt-spoken; doesn't try to shade the truth.
Never tries to varnish his background or his capabilities.
Doesn't embellish the facts.
He will never deceive you.
You may not want to hear it, but he'll tell you.
Comes right at you; never engages in evasiveness.
He boldly says what others would like to say.
His conversation is not perforated with double meanings.
The truth is usually written on his face before he even says one word.
Related Traits:
Affected, artificial, artful, calculating, conniving, crafty, crooked, cunning, deceitful, devious, disingenuous, disguised, dissembling, double-crossing, double-faced, duplicitous, evasive, false, foxy, fraudulent, guileful, holier than-thou, hypocritical, insincere, lying, mendacious, phony, sanctimonious, scheming, shady, shifty, side-stepping, sly, stealthy, story-telling, surreptitious, thievish, treacherous, tricky, two-faced, underhanded, venal.
As Seen by Others:
Has a propensity to steal.
Has an addiction to telling lies.
With him, you hardly ever see what you think you see.
With him, everything is a charade.
His promises often wind up being nothing but words.
If it's a choice of being truthful or promoting his own interests, he'll choose the latter.
Learning his true intentions is a game for fools only.
Depending on his smile is like playing liar's poker.
All his stories end up by either making him look good or making you feel sorry for him.
Questioning him is like trying to hit a moving target.
He preaches one thing but does another.
Not above stealing someone's identity, ideas, or friends.
He's quite willing to take credit for what someone else did.
He'll sell his soul to the highest bidder.
Sees principles and allegiances as nothing more than bargaining chips.
Willing to betray a spouse or a friend, maybe even his country.
Related Traits:
Detached, equitable, even-handed, fair, fair-minded, impartial, neutral, nonpartisan, objective, reasonable, unbiased, uncommitted, indiscriminate.
As Seen by Others:
He won't favor one person or group over another.
If he's in a position where he has to dispense punishment for some misdeed, he'll make sure it matches the offense rather than exceeds it.
Has spoken out against prejudice.
It's his opinion that everyone should get the same chance at whatever prize is being pursued.
He's not influenced by the fact that someone may belong to some kind of minority.
He'll listen to both sides of an argument without taking sides.
Related Traits:
Biased, bigoted, discriminating, factional, inequitable, one-sided, partial, partisan, predisposed, preferential, prejudicial, sectarian, unfair, unreasonable.
As Seen by Others:
He's always taking sides.
He has shown that he is incapable of making the punishment fit the so called crime.
His punishment is too severe for those he does not like, and too lenient for those he favors.
Tends to "categorize" human beings and mentally places his group at the top of the so-called pecking order.
Does not associate with those who are of a different race, religion, nationality, educational background, social level, political persuasion.
He is more likely to exclude people than include them.
Related Traits:
Constant, dedicated, dependable, devoted, dutiful, duty-bound, faithful, loyal, reliable, stable, stalwart, staunch, steadfast, steady, true, true-blue, unfailing, unswerving, unwavering.
As Seen by Others:
If he says he'll do something, you can count on it.