--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There must always be a first,\" said Jem…" description: "\"There must always be a first,\" said Jem. \"It is not easy to be first, and it is not always rewarding, but it is important.\" — Cassandra Clare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg" --- # There must always be a first," said Jem. "It is not easy… ![“There must always be a first," said Jem. "It is not easy to be first, and it is not always rewarding, but it is important.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg) > “There must always be a first," said Jem. "It is not easy to be first, and it is not always rewarding, but it is important.” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being first is challenging and not always rewarding, yet it holds significance and responsibility. **In simple terms:** Being first is hard but important. Key Takeaway Embrace leadership despite difficulties. Themes leadership responsibility ambition Mood reflective motivational Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - team projects - public speaking - innovation launches Key Concepts Psychology literature social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to be a pioneer? - How do you handle the pressures of being first? A Different Perspective First‑mover advantage can be fleeting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jem/) [Rewarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding/) ## Related quotes > [There's nothing more rewarding or important than to be involved in God's work of redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashcroft/there-s-nothing-more-rewarding-or-important-than-to-be-involved-in/) [John Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashcroft/) > [You swore to stay with me,” he said. “When we made our oath, as parabatai. Our souls are knit. We are one person, James.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-swore-to-stay-with-me-he-said-when-we-made-our-oath-as-parabatai/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Ah,” said a voice from the doorway, “having your annual ‘everyone thinks Will is a lunatic’ meeting, are you? “It’s biannual,” said Jem. “And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/ah-said-a-voice-from-the-doorway-having-your-annual-everyone-thinks/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you do not help me," Tessa said to Jem, "I swear, I will change into you, and I will lift him myself. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-do-not-help-me-tessa-said-to-jem-i-swear-i-will-change-into/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I am stronger when Tessa is here, you see. I told it to you," said Jem, still in the same soft voice. At that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-am-stronger-when-tessa-is-here-you-see-i-told-it-to-you-said-jem/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Indeed." Will let his cutlery clatter onto his plate. "The Consul? Breaking up our breakfast time? Whatever next? The Inquisitor over for tea? Picnics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/indeed-will-let-his-cutlery-clatter-onto-his-plate-the-consul/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will rolled up his sleeves. "We'll probably have to knock down the door--" "Or," said Jem, reaching out and giving the knob a twist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-rolled-up-his-sleeves-we-ll-probably-have-to-knock-down-the-door/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Faith," said Jem. "That you were better than you thought you were. Forgiveness, that you need not always punish yourself. I always loved you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/faith-said-jem-that-you-were-better-than-you-thought-you-were/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will’s eyes met Tessa’s as she came closer, almost tripping again over the torn hem of her gown. For a moment, they were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-s-eyes-met-tessa-s-as-she-came-closer-almost-tripping-again-over/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You don't think I can fight." Tessa said, drawing back and matching his silvery gaze with her own. "Because I'm a girl." "I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-don-t-think-i-can-fight-tessa-said-drawing-back-and-matching-his/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You should see his older brother,” said Jem. “Makes Gabriel look sweeter than gingerbread. Hates Will even more thanGabriel, too, if that’s possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-should-see-his-older-brother-said-jem-makes-gabriel-look-sweeter/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When Will truly wants something,” said Jem, quietly, “when he feels something — he can break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-will-truly-wants-something-said-jem-quietly-when-he-feels/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will’s voice dropped. “Everyone makes mistakes, Jem.” “Yes,” said Jem. “You just make more of them than most people.” “I —” “You hurt everyone,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-s-voice-dropped-everyone-makes-mistakes-jem-yes-said-jem-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [ \[Jem\] 'It will help you sleep.' 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Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) Browse all 14,306 Easy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There must always be a first,\" said Jem. \"It is not easy to be first, and it is not always rewarding, but it is important.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cassandra Clare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it-is-not-easy-to-be-first-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it-is-not-easy-to-be-first-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/cassandra-clare-9_easy_there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it_785351.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There must always be a first,\" said Jem. \"It is not easy to be first, and it is not always rewarding, but it…” — Cassandra Clare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cassandra Clare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There must always be a first,\"...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it-is-not-easy-to-be-first-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-must-always-be-a-first-said-jem-it-is-not-easy-to-be-first-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```