Cato Quote by Suzanne Collins
““When he[Thresh] shouts, I jump, never having heard him speak above a mutter. "What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" Clove is scrambling backwards on all fours, like a frantic insect, too shocked to even call for Cato. "No! No, it wasn't me!" "You said her name. I heard you. You kill her?" Another thought brings a fresh wave of rage to his features. "You cut her up like you were about to do to this girl here?" "No! No, I-" Clove sees the stone, about the size of a small loaf of bread in Thresh's hand and loses it. "Cato!" she screeches. "Cato!" "Clove!" I hear Cato's answer, but he's too far away, I can tell that much, to do her any good. What was he doing? Trying to get Foxface or Peeta? Or had he been lying in wait for Thresh and just badly misjudged his location? Thresh brings the rock down hard against Clove's temple. It's not bleeding, but I can see the dent in her skull and I know that she's a goner.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Hunger Games, 2008
Clove confronts violent chaos, hearing threats, and reacts with panic and aggression.
In simple terms: Violence triggers fear and desperate actions.
Stay calm under threat to think clearly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- combat
- high‑stress decision making
- ethical dilemmas
- betrayal
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies help maintain composure in danger?
- How does fear influence moral choices?
Violence can impair judgment and lead to fatal mistakes.