--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep…" description: "\"Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep, I thanked my friends. “For what? We didn’t do anything,” Janco grumbled. “For caring enough to follow my guar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/maria-v-snyder-1261_beats_before-kiki-and-i-headed-toward-the-keep_1674297.png" --- # Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep, I thanked my… ![“Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep, I thanked my friends. “For what? We didn’t do anything,” Janco grumbled. “For caring enough to follow my guards. And the next time, I might need the help.” “There better not be a next time,” Ari said, giving me a stern look. “How touching,” Janco said…” quote by Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/maria-v-snyder-1261_beats_before-kiki-and-i-headed-toward-the-keep_1674297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/maria-v-snyder-1261_beats_before-kiki-and-i-headed-toward-the-keep_1674297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/maria-v-snyder-1261_beats_before-kiki-and-i-headed-toward-the-keep_1674297.png) > “Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep, I thanked my friends. “For what? We didn’t do anything,” Janco grumbled. “For caring enough to follow my guards. And the next time, I might need the help.” “There better not be a next time,” Ari said, giving me a stern look. “How touching,” Janco said, pretending to wipe his eyes. “Get going, Yelena. I don’t want you to see me cry.” He faked a sniffle. “I’m sure your ego can handle it,” I said. “Or will you need to beat up some trainees to feel like a man again?” “Very funny,” he said.” [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character acknowledges gratitude for support while confronting vulnerability and pride. **In simple terms:** Thanking friends shows humility despite pride. Key Takeaway Express gratitude openly. Themes friendship pride vulnerability Mood conversational introspective Type narrative dialogue When to use this quote - team missions - conflict resolution - personal growth - leadership challenges Key Concepts literature character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does pride affect your relationships? - When do you truly need help? A Different Perspective Pride may prevent genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Janco Grumbled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/janco-grumbled-891569/) [Janco Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/janco-said-891567/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Thanked Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanked-friends-891568/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching/) [Touching Janco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching-janco-891570/) [Trainees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trainees/) [Trainees Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trainees-feel-891571/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wipe/) ## Related quotes > [“How touching,” Janco said, pretending to wipe his eyes. “Get going, Yelena. I don’t want you to see me cry.” He faked a sniffle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/how-touching-janco-said-pretending-to-wipe-his-eyes-get-going-yelena/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Ari grunted a greeting. “What took you… so long?” His breath huffed with the effort. “I stopped for a snack, and ordered us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/ari-grunted-a-greeting-what-took-you-so-long-his-breath-huffed-with/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [I know I hated magic for a reason," Janco said. "Congratulations. This is the first time you've had a VALID reason to hate something,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/i-know-i-hated-magic-for-a-reason-janco-said-congratulations-this-is/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [I say we spend some money, clean up some junkies and make them all go work for the Red Cross. You ever give blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-say-we-spend-some-money-clean-up-some-junkies-and-make-them-all-go/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [My father was very clear; I had to have an ordinary upbringing. I was put to work as a lowly-paid trainee after college. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-mallya/my-father-was-very-clear-i-had-to-have-an-ordinary-upbringing-i-was/) [Vijay Mallya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-mallya/) > [Most sailing ships take what they call trainees, who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/most-sailing-ships-take-what-they-call-trainees-who-pay-to-be-part-of/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [The training is a set of interpersonal interactions that lead to emotional and intellectual experiences that provide a circumstance and an intrument for self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humberto-maturana/the-training-is-a-set-of-interpersonal-interactions-that-lead-to/) [Humberto Maturana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humberto-maturana/) > [They were...well, Beautiful People! - not 'students', 'clerks', 'salesgirls', 'executive trainees' - Christ, don't give me your occupation-game labels! We are Beautiful People, ascendant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/they-were-well-beautiful-people-not-students-clerks-salesgirls/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I left school at 16 and my mother got me a job as a trainee wine taster. But one day I followed some girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mclaren/i-left-school-at-16-and-my-mother-got-me-a-job-as-a-trainee-wine/) [Malcolm Mclaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mclaren/) > [You want to ensure people can do it right 99 percent of time. When we have to fire one of our surgical trainees, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/you-want-to-ensure-people-can-do-it-right-99-percent-of-time-when-we/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [For the first time in living memory, the whole class of graduates faces a future of crushing debt, and a high probability, almost the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/for-the-first-time-in-living-memory-the-whole-class-of-graduates/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Training should not be confined to trainees. It should be a continuous process, and should include the entire professional staff of the agency. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/training-should-not-be-confined-to-trainees-it-should-be-a-continuous/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [The problem with you, son, is that all your brains are in your head. (to a Liverpool trainee)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/the-problem-with-you-son-is-that-all-your-brains-are-in-your-head-to/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [Okay. Now my skin is really prickling. I've read all the Harry Potter books, all five of them. I don't remember any half-blood prince.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/okay-now-my-skin-is-really-prickling-i-ve-read-all-the-harry-potter/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [The trainee knew he should leave, but he was unable to look away. He'd never seen anything snap out so fast or strike so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-trainee-knew-he-should-leave-but-he-was-unable-to-look-away-he-d/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More by Maria V. Snyder > [Yelena.” I halted in the doorway, looking back over my shoulder. “You once said I wasn’t ready to believe your reason for killing Reyad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-i-halted-in-the-doorway-looking-back-over-my-shoulder-you-once/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [We are searching for the same thing,” Stripey said. “How do you know?” Janco asked. “I read his mind.” The Sitian pointed to Ari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-are-searching-for-the-same-thing-stripey-said-how-do-you-know/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [I do know I felt as if my heart had been shredded when I found you in our storeroom, unconscious and bleeding. And leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/i-do-know-i-felt-as-if-my-heart-had-been-shredded-when-i-found-you-in/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“My future appeared to be a long twisted road fraught with knots, tangles, and traps. Just the way I liked it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/my-future-appeared-to-be-a-long-twisted-road-fraught-with-knots/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/there-s-always-another-storm-it-s-the-way-the-world-works-snowstorms/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Yippee. I’ve been promoted from fire lighter to delivery boy. I’ll write a letter home to Mother. She’ll be so pleased.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yippee-i-ve-been-promoted-from-fire-lighter-to-delivery-boy-i-ll/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Don't feel ashamed for having those feelings and those memories. What happened in the past can't be changed, but they can be a guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/don-t-feel-ashamed-for-having-those-feelings-and-those-memories-what/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [I took three steps and was wrapped in his arms, where I belonged. No confusion here. No worries here. No troubles here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/i-took-three-steps-and-was-wrapped-in-his-arms-where-i-belonged-no/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Valek smiled. “Good. First, send Kade a reply, asking him not to come.” He pointed at the unopened letter on the table. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/valek-smiled-good-first-send-kade-a-reply-asking-him-not-to-come-he/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Oh, you made an impression. Like a stone caught in my boot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/oh-you-made-an-impression-like-a-stone-caught-in-my-boot/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Interesting how life goes on in spite of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/interesting-how-life-goes-on-in-spite-of-itself/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [We talked through Gillie's life from start to finish, including all her accomplishments and major life events. The woman fell asleep with a dreamy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-talked-through-gillie-s-life-from-start-to-finish-including-all/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [In the war room, love? What if someone comes in?” I stood and removed his shirt. “Then they’ll have a good story to tell.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/in-the-war-room-love-what-if-someone-comes-in-i-stood-and-removed-his/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Can you feel your pulse? That means Valek isn’t here, because if he was, you’d be dead. No pulse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/can-you-feel-your-pulse-that-means-valek-isn-t-here-because-if-he-was/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) [Explore all 258 Maria V. Snyder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) ## More Beats quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us… But the test a loving God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/so-many-things-beat-upon-us-in-a-lifetime-that-simply-enduring-may/) [Henry B. 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We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Grand business plans are all very well, but nothing beats dipping your toe in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/grand-business-plans-are-all-very-well-but-nothing-beats-dipping-your/) [Baron Bilimoria Karan Bilimoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. 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And the next time, I might need the help.” “There better not be a next time,” Ari said, giving me a stern look. “How touching,” Janco said, pretending to wipe his eyes. “Get going, Yelena. I don’t want you to see me cry.” He faked a sniffle. “I’m sure your ego can handle it,” I said. “Or will you need to beat up some trainees to feel like a man again?” “Very funny,” he said.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maria V. 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