Character statements (particularly the Credo – I believe”) are one way we can track a character’s shift throughout a story.

• Their credo might be sincere, insincere, conflicted; spoken or unspoken; they can say one thing but do another.
• They can believe the truth of your theme/controlling idea, a diseased version of it, or the opposite.

But once your character makes that statement, we expect to see that belief tested, tried, and even destroyed.
Here are a few Credos from memorable characters: Pick one and watch it.