--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we do not strike now,” Nehemia went…" description: "\"“If we do not strike now,” Nehemia went on, “then whatever he is brewing will only grow more powerful. And then we will be beyond any chance of hope.” ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg" --- # If we do not strike now,” Nehemia went on, “then whatever… ![“If we do not strike now,” Nehemia went on, “then whatever he is brewing will only grow more powerful. And then we will be beyond any chance of hope.” “There is no hope,” Celaena said. “There is no hope in standing against him. Not now, not ever.” That was a truth she’d slowly been realizing. If…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg) > ““If we do not strike now,” Nehemia went on, “then whatever he is brewing will only grow more powerful. And then we will be beyond any chance of hope.” “There is no hope,” Celaena said. “There is no hope in standing against him. Not now, not ever.” That was a truth she’d slowly been realizing. If Nehemia and Elena were right about this mysterious power source, then how could they ever overthrow him? “And I will not be a part of whatever plan you have. I will not help you get yourself killed, and bring down even more innocent people in the process.” “You will not help because all you care about is yourself.” “And so what if I do?” Celaena splayed her arms. “So what if I want to spend the rest of my life in peace?” “There can never be any peace—not while he reigns. When you said you weren’t killing the men on his list, I thought you were finally taking a step toward making a stand. I thought that when the time came, I could count on you to help me start planning. I didn’t realize that you were doing it just to keep your own conscience clean!” Celaena began storming toward the door. Nehemia clicked her tongue. “I didn’t realize that you’re just a coward.” Celaena looked over her shoulder. “Say that again.” Nehemia didn’t flinch. “You’re a coward. You are nothing more than a coward.” Celaena’s fingers clenched into fists. “When your people are lying dead around you,” she hissed, “don’t come crying to me.” She didn’t give the princess the chance to reply before she stalked out of the room, Fleetfoot close on her heels.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A clash of ideals where characters grapple with hopelessness, self‑interest, and the moral cost of resistance against an oppressive ruler. **In simple terms:** Characters confront despair and selfishness while planning rebellion. Key Takeaway Recognize personal motives and the impact of choices on others. Themes conflict morality power hope rebellion Mood tense defiant melancholic Type dialogue dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - planning rebellion - personal sacrifice - standing up to tyranny - protecting innocents Key Concepts self‑interest courage conscience political oppression Questions to Reflect On - What drives a character to choose self‑preservation over collective good? - How can hope be maintained when oppression seems insurmountable? A Different Perspective The dialogue may oversimplify complex political realities and ignore possible diplomatic solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Innocent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-people/) [Life In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-in-peace/) ## Related quotes > [“You are nothing more than a coward. So Celaena didn’t get out of bed that day. And she didn’t get out of it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-are-nothing-more-than-a-coward-so-celaena-didn-t-get-out-of-bed/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Celaena made a move to her friend, but her legs gave out, and she fell to the tiles. Dorian, as if released from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/celaena-made-a-move-to-her-friend-but-her-legs-gave-out-and-she-fell/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“As for Celaena," he said again, "you do not have the right to wish she were not what she is. The only thing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/as-for-celaena-he-said-again-you-do-not-have-the-right-to-wish-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Celaena translated again, and the princess nodded. “Get rid of her,” she said flatly to Celaena, and then waved a hand toward Kaltain. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/celaena-translated-again-and-the-princess-nodded-get-rid-of-her-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Celaena threw her weight into the dagger she held aloft, and gained an inch. His arms strained. She was going to kill him. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/celaena-threw-her-weight-into-the-dagger-she-held-aloft-and-gained-an/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Hello, Celaena,” he said as calmly as he could, well aware that two Fae males behind him could hear his thundering heart. Rolfe whipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/hello-celaena-he-said-as-calmly-as-he-could-well-aware-that-two-fae/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Celaena,” he said, squeezing her wrists so hard that he hoped the pain registered somewhere—wherever she had gone. But she still wouldn’t loosen her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/celaena-he-said-squeezing-her-wrists-so-hard-that-he-hoped-the-pain/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“You have five minutes to pack your things and leave the fortress,” Celaena said quietly. “Because in twenty minutes, I’m going up to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-have-five-minutes-to-pack-your-things-and-leave-the-fortress/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Adarlan could take their freedom, it could destroy their lives and beat and break and whip them, it could force them into ridiculous contests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/adarlan-could-take-their-freedom-it-could-destroy-their-lives-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Ansel let out a breathy chuckle, the air warm on Celaena’s hands as they hovered near her face. She kept quiet while Celaena finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/ansel-let-out-a-breathy-chuckle-the-air-warm-on-celaena-s-hands-as/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“All of it—all of it for him. For Rowan, who had known exactly what sword he was picking up that day in the mountain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/all-of-it-all-of-it-for-him-for-rowan-who-had-known-exactly-what/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Dance with me, Celaena," he said again, his voice rough. When her eyes met his she forgot about the cold, and the moon, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/dance-with-me-celaena-he-said-again-his-voice-rough-when-her-eyes-met/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“You use the intonation of the peasants. Is that taught in your books?” “I knew an Eyllwe woman who taught it to me.” “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-use-the-intonation-of-the-peasants-is-that-taught-in-your-books-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-countries-it-isn-t-hard-to-do-nothing-to-kill-or/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [That night, I thanked God for seeing me through that day of days and prayed I would make it through D plus 1. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-winters/that-night-i-thanked-god-for-seeing-me-through-that-day-of-days-and/) [Richard Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-winters/) ## More by Sarah J. 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The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. 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Not now, not ever.” That was a truth she’d slowly been realizing. If Nehemia and Elena were right about this mysterious power source, then how could they ever overthrow him? “And I will not be a part of whatever plan you have. I will not help you get yourself killed, and bring down even more innocent people in the process.” “You will not help because all you care about is yourself.” “And so what if I do?” Celaena splayed her arms. “So what if I want to spend the rest of my life in peace?” “There can never be any peace—not while he reigns. When you said you weren’t killing the men on his list, I thought you were finally taking a step toward making a stand. I thought that when the time came, I could count on you to help me start planning. I didn’t realize that you were doing it just to keep your own conscience clean!” Celaena began storming toward the door. Nehemia clicked her tongue. “I didn’t realize that you’re just a coward.” Celaena looked over her shoulder. “Say that again.” Nehemia didn’t flinch. “You’re a coward. You are nothing more than a coward.” Celaena’s fingers clenched into fists. “When your people are lying dead around you,” she hissed, “don’t come crying to me.” She didn’t give the princess the chance to reply before she stalked out of the room, Fleetfoot close on her heels.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. Maas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on-then-whatever-he-is-brewing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on-then-whatever-he-is-brewing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_if-we-do-not-strike-now-nehemia-went-on_545967.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we do not strike now,” Nehemia went on, “then whatever he is brewing will only grow more powerful. And…” — Sarah J. 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