--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would never slay the dragon, because…" description: "\"“I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also me.”\" — John Green" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg" --- # I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also… ![“I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also me.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg) > ““I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also me.”” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that the external enemy we fight is often a reflection of our own inner struggles and flaws. **In simple terms:** Our battles are often with ourselves. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront your inner conflicts. Themes self-awareness conflict identity growth Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal therapy - creative writing - conflict resolution - team dynamics - self-improvement Key Concepts psychology inner shadow self-reflection Questions to Reflect On - What part of yourself do you see in your adversary? - How can acknowledging this change your approach? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex external problems as purely internal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) [Dragon Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon-dragon-1495955/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Slay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slay/) [Slay Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slay-dragon-516594/) ## Related quotes > [“It is no easy thing to slay a dragon, but it can be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-is-no-easy-thing-to-slay-a-dragon-but-it-can-be-done/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Slay that dragon once, and he will never have power over you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/slay-that-dragon-once-and-he-will-never-have-power-over-you-again/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“If you wish to slay a dragon you must charm it first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-attia/if-you-wish-to-slay-a-dragon-you-must-charm-it-first/) [Stephan Attia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-attia/) > [“Sammi was completely and utterly enthralled with the man who was also a dragon. A dragon who had saved her life. A dragon who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sammi-was-completely-and-utterly-enthralled-with-the-man-who-was-also/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-you-set-off-to-slay-the-dragon/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [You can rescue a woman from a dragon - because you can go slay the dragon - but you can't rescue a woman from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-can-rescue-a-woman-from-a-dragon-because-you-can-go-slay-the/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [“Give that man what he doesn’t even know he wants—which is everything that’s you—and you’ll be just fine. Now, get going. Put that armor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-march/give-that-man-what-he-doesn-t-even-know-he-wants-which-is-everything/) [Meghan March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-march/) > [“I would always be like this, always have this within me. There was no beating it. I would never slay the dragon, because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-would-always-be-like-this-always-have-this-within-me-there-was-no/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Why wouldn't you be afraid of a Komodo dragon? It's a dragon. It's a dinosaur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/why-wouldn-t-you-be-afraid-of-a-komodo-dragon-it-s-a-dragon-it-s-a/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [“The thing to recall about Dragons is that it takes a special person to deal with them at all. If you lie to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lee/the-thing-to-recall-about-dragons-is-that-it-takes-a-special-person/) [Sharon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lee/) > [“Black or red, a dragon is still a dragon." - Illyrio Mopatis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/black-or-red-a-dragon-is-still-a-dragon-illyrio-mopatis/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“I wanted to help him but I guess ultimately you can only slay the dragon yourself. All that I could do was help him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/i-wanted-to-help-him-but-i-guess-ultimately-you-can-only-slay-the/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“You can’t just hope for happy endings. You have to believe in them. Then do the work, take the risks. Slay the dragon—though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-just-hope-for-happy-endings-you-have-to-believe-in-them-2/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Take it from a guy: If you're in love with somebody, you will swim the stream, you will climb the mountain, you will slay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/take-it-from-a-guy-if-you-re-in-love-with-somebody-you-will-swim-the/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me, but try waking up every morning and loving the world all over again. That's what takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/anyone-can-slay-a-dragon-he-told-me-but-try-waking-up-every-morning/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Dragon quotes > [ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus \[ never tickle a sleeping dragon \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/draco-dormiens-nunquam-titillandus-never-tickle-a-sleeping-dragon/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“If you banish the dragons, you banish the heroes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/if-you-banish-the-dragons-you-banish-the-heroes/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [“You must see her pucker when she’s a dragon.” “This pucker can light your ass on fire, missy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-woods/you-must-see-her-pucker-when-she-s-a-dragon-this-pucker-can-light/) [Adrienne Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-woods/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) > [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [The Soyuz is probably only slightly smaller than the Dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/the-soyuz-is-probably-only-slightly-smaller-than-the-dragon/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I know how the birds fly, how the fishes swim, how animals run. But there is the Dragon. I cannot tell how it mounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-know-how-the-birds-fly-how-the-fishes-swim-how-animals-run-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It was always that detail that drove me. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to get into the nitty gritty... when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-base/it-was-always-that-detail-that-drove-me-ever-since-i-was-a-little-kid/) [Graeme Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-base/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Browse all 704 Dragon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Green" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-the-dragon-was-also-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dragon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-the-dragon-was-also-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-green-12_dragon_i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-th_2925613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also me.” — John Green", "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": "John Green", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I would never slay the dragon,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-the-dragon-was-also-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-would-never-slay-the-dragon-because-the-dragon-was-also-me/#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 } } ] } ```