--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But was it wrong to put yourself first?…" description: "\"But was it wrong to put yourself first? That’s called survival, right? If you’re running for your life, you don’t get the luxury of being nice. They we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/kelley-armstrong-581_being-nice_but-was-it-wrong-to-put-yourself-first-t_2631498.png" --- # But was it wrong to put yourself first? That’s called… ![“But was it wrong to put yourself first? That’s called survival, right? If you’re running for your life, you don’t get the luxury of being nice. They were going to learn that. It’s fine to wave the pompoms for teamwork—all for one and one for all—but when push came to shove, these guys wouldn’t be…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/kelley-armstrong-581_being-nice_but-was-it-wrong-to-put-yourself-first-t_2631498.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/kelley-armstrong-581_being-nice_but-was-it-wrong-to-put-yourself-first-t_2631498.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/kelley-armstrong-581_being-nice_but-was-it-wrong-to-put-yourself-first-t_2631498.png) > “But was it wrong to put yourself first? That’s called survival, right? If you’re running for your life, you don’t get the luxury of being nice. They were going to learn that. It’s fine to wave the pompoms for teamwork—all for one and one for all—but when push came to shove, these guys wouldn’t be risking their lives for Chloe, maybe not even for each other. I was sure of it. Once things got worse, it would be every kid for himself. It always is.” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Survival instincts can override altruism, leading people to prioritize self‑preservation over group loyalty. **In simple terms:** Self‑preservation can trump teamwork. Key Takeaway Recognize when survival motives dominate. Themes survival selfishness teamwork morality Mood tense reflective Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - emergency response - competitive sports - business negotiations - survival training Key Concepts psychology ethics group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When have you placed self‑preservation above group needs? - How can teams balance individual safety with collective goals? A Different Perspective Self‑interest may erode trust and cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) [Called Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-survival-2152050/) [Chloe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chloe/) [Chloe Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chloe-maybe-2194060/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Lives Chloe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-chloe-2194059/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Risking Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risking-lives-1380558/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Survival Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival-right-2194061/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I think that the really cool thing about 'The Nine Lives of Chloe King' is that, while it has a lot of supernatural elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-samuels/i-think-that-the-really-cool-thing-about-the-nine-lives-of-chloe-king/) [Skyler Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-samuels/) > [“Call me a pussy if you want. Delusional, impractical, whatever. But, I know myself, and that shit’s called survival. The bad in me, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-horne/call-me-a-pussy-if-you-want-delusional-impractical-whatever-but-i/) [Misha Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-horne/) > [If we begin to say, "Well, maybe we can cope better with the Russians if we also transform ourselves into a managed society, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/if-we-begin-to-say-well-maybe-we-can-cope-better-with-the-russians-if/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The meaning of tolerance became changed now.In the modern terms it is called as survival.Nothing noble in that.It shows the helpless of an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/the-meaning-of-tolerance-became-changed-now-in-the-modern-terms-it-is/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) > [I let out a laugh that sounded more like the yip of a startled poodle. "Superp-powers? I wish. My powers aren't winning me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-let-out-a-laugh-that-sounded-more-like-the-yip-of-a-startled-poodle/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [All right, then. Emergency medical situation, take two.” He leaped to his feet, staggered, keeled over, then lifted his head weakly. “Chloe? Is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/all-right-then-emergency-medical-situation-take-two-he-leaped-to-his/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [No", Tori said, " I kidnapped her and forced her to escape with me. I've been using her as a human shield against those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/no-tori-said-i-kidnapped-her-and-forced-her-to-escape-with-me-i-ve/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I slid closer, feeling his arms close around me, tightening. Our lips touched-- "Derek?" his dad called. "Chloe?" Derek let out a growl. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-slid-closer-feeling-his-arms-close-around-me-tightening-our-lips/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Backup?" Tori said. "You mean he didn't need that?" "Apparently not," I murmured. Simon looked from her to me, confused, then understanding. "You guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/backup-tori-said-you-mean-he-didn-t-need-that-apparently-not-i/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Simon whispered to me, “But is everything okay?” “No,” Tori said. “I kidnapped her and forced her to escape with me. I’ve been using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/simon-whispered-to-me-but-is-everything-okay-no-tori-said-i-kidnapped/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You didn't answer my question. Are you all right?" I didn't do anything" Yeah. You did." He looked at me. "You did a lot"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-didn-t-answer-my-question-are-you-all-right-i-didn-t-do-anything/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Great. So if I saw a guy standing still, and he wasn't wearing an old uniform, I just had to ask him to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/great-so-if-i-saw-a-guy-standing-still-and-he-wasn-t-wearing-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Simon had drawn three pictures. In the top left corner, like a salutation, was a ghost. The middle had a big sketch of Arnold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/simon-had-drawn-three-pictures-in-the-top-left-corner-like-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Was she telling you to stay away from me?" I asked. He paused, then said, "Yeah." He squeezed my hand out of Aunt Lauren's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/was-she-telling-you-to-stay-away-from-me-i-asked-he-paused-then-said/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [He had a newspaper rolled in his hand, bearing down on me like a puppy that had piddled on the carpet. "Bad Chloe,” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-had-a-newspaper-rolled-in-his-hand-bearing-down-on-me-like-a-puppy/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. 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'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Being nice quotes > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [I think there's a lot of scope in broadening the way videogames approach depictions of masculinity, which is still extremely narrow in scope. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-druckmann/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-scope-in-broadening-the-way-videogames/) [Neil Druckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-druckmann/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Somewhere where people aren't so mad would be nice, but I don't know if there is anywhere like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/somewhere-where-people-aren-t-so-mad-would-be-nice-but-i-don-t-know/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Most of the people I know who were raised to be accommodating or were raised to just be nice and put everybody's needs ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/most-of-the-people-i-know-who-were-raised-to-be-accommodating-or-were/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“When we are nice to others, we generally lose all claim to their respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/when-we-are-nice-to-others-we-generally-lose-all-claim-to-their/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Being nice from now on, leaving the old BS where it's at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-from-now-on-leaving-the-old-bs-where-it-s-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. I can see that I beg and plead for love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-can-see-that-i-imagine-all-kinds-of-rejection-that-never-happens-i/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [I think music is better listened to with other people. Music is better shared. It depends what situation you're in - if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-think-music-is-better-listened-to-with-other-people-music-is-better/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great. To many people, being nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the-2/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [Give me a mirror.Or holy water. I'll drink it,even!" I gasped as someone threw water on the side of my face. "A little warning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/give-me-a-mirror-or-holy-water-i-ll-drink-it-even-i-gasped-as-someone/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [What inspired me as a child is the same thing that inspires me now: being nice. I always try to one up everybody with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joell-ortiz/what-inspired-me-as-a-child-is-the-same-thing-that-inspires-me-now/) [Joell Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joell-ortiz/) > [My ex-wife was trying to be nice once, so she took me to a concert in Los Angeles. I went with her to Symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/my-ex-wife-was-trying-to-be-nice-once-so-she-took-me-to-a-concert-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) [Browse all 659 Being nice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But was it wrong to put yourself first? That’s called survival, right? If you’re running for your life, you don’t get the luxury of being nice. They were going to learn that. It’s fine to wave the pompoms for teamwork—all for one and one for all—but when push came to shove, these guys wouldn’t be risking their lives for Chloe, maybe not even for each other. I was sure of it. Once things got worse, it would be every kid for himself. 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