--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But a shift has occurred since I stepped…" description: "\"“But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim’s place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. At first one, then another, then al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/suzanne-collins-60_gratitude_but-a-shift-has-occurred-since-i-stepped_1646265.jpg" --- # But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim’s… ![“But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim’s place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It is an old and rarely…” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/suzanne-collins-60_gratitude_but-a-shift-has-occurred-since-i-stepped_1646265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/suzanne-collins-60_gratitude_but-a-shift-has-occurred-since-i-stepped_1646265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/suzanne-collins-60_gratitude_but-a-shift-has-occurred-since-i-stepped_1646265.jpg) > ““But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim’s place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It is an old and rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.”” [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator feels newly valued as people show respect with a rare gesture of thanks and affection. **In simple terms:** People now respect me with a special gesture. Key Takeaway Recognize and cherish newfound respect. Themes recognition respect community ritual Mood grateful reflective Type cultural emotional When to use this quote - public speaking - leadership - celebrations - farewells Key Concepts social signaling cultural tradition emotional connection Questions to Reflect On - How does this gesture change your sense of responsibility? - What does it reveal about community values? A Different Perspective The gesture may be misunderstood by outsiders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fingers Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers-left-611972/) [Gesture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gesture/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Left hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-hand/) [Means Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-admiration-611970/) [Middle Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-fingers-379296/) [Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch/) [Used Gesture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-gesture-611971/) [Young-adult-fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-adult-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-means-thanks-it-means-admiration-it-means-good-bye-to-someone-you/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“To the everlasting credit of the people of District 12, not one person claps. Not even the ones holding betting slips, the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/to-the-everlasting-credit-of-the-people-of-district-12-not-one-person-2/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/first-one-then-another-then-almost-every-member-of-the-crowd-touches/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Love means admiration for qualities in the lover that promise to correct our weaknesses and imbalances; love is a search for completion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/love-means-admiration-for-qualities-in-the-lover-that-promise-to/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“He held up the fingers of his left hand, with the thumb concealed. - There are five fingers there. Do you see five fingers?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-held-up-the-fingers-of-his-left-hand-with-the-thumb-concealed/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I kept the fingers of my left hand crossed all the time, while on my right-hand fingers I counted anything at all—steps to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/i-kept-the-fingers-of-my-left-hand-crossed-all-the-time-while-on-my/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [People like you are the reason we have middle fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-like-you-are-the-reason-we-have-middle-fingers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was not born with enough middle fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-not-born-with-enough-middle-fingers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dont have enough middle fingers to tell you how I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev/i-dont-have-enough-middle-fingers-to-tell-you-how-i-feel/) [Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev/) > [It has been observed that the height of a man from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot is equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/it-has-been-observed-that-the-height-of-a-man-from-the-crown-of-the/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [A big middle fingers up to the ones who used, refused, and abused me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-big-middle-fingers-up-to-the-ones-who-used-refused-and-abused-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shall put down my middle fingers cause I cant hate the world; I can only judge my bad decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-put-down-my-middle-fingers-cause-i-cant-hate-the-world-i-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's no coincidence we have one smile but two middle fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/it-s-no-coincidence-we-have-one-smile-but-two-middle-fingers/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I wasnt born with enough middle fingers to let you know how I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wasnt-born-with-enough-middle-fingers-to-let-you-know-how-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Suzanne Collins > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I want to interrupt the taping and beg Finnick’s forgiveness for every false thought I’ve ever had about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-want-to-interrupt-the-taping-and-beg-finnick-s-forgiveness-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [You're punishing him over and over for things that are out of his control. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have a fully loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-punishing-him-over-and-over-for-things-that-are-out-of-his/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But the significant difference between Thirteen and the Capitol are the expectations of the populace. Thirteen was used to hardship, wheras in the Capitol,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-the-significant-difference-between-thirteen-and-the-capitol-are/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) [Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More Gesture quotes > [“The first language humans had was gestures. There was nothing primitive about this language that flowed from people’s hands, nothing we say now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/the-first-language-humans-had-was-gestures-there-was-nothing/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Never raise your hand menacingly, but only in a friendly gesture!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-von-la-roche/never-raise-your-hand-menacingly-but-only-in-a-friendly-gesture/) [Sophie von La Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-von-la-roche/) > [“The desire to describe voice, gesture, skin color, is a desire to eat, take over, make into part of the pattern. I am happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lockwood/the-desire-to-describe-voice-gesture-skin-color-is-a-desire-to-eat/) [Patricia Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lockwood/) > [“Thanks. I forgot how to flip off the English. I'll use the correct hand gesture next time." "My pleasure. Always happy to educate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/thanks-i-forgot-how-to-flip-off-the-english-i-ll-use-the-correct-hand/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Even the smallest gesture can make a huge difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-butler/even-the-smallest-gesture-can-make-a-huge-difference/) [Billy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-butler/) > [All my life I have struggled to make one authentic gesture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/all-my-life-i-have-struggled-to-make-one-authentic-gesture/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“She gives me the finger and turns back around. "Did you see that?" I flinch at the gesture. "That is completely illegal in here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-moore/she-gives-me-the-finger-and-turns-back-around-did-you-see-that-i/) [Addison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-moore/) > [There's something strange about a laptop, how you can make the tiniest gesture and make the biggest sound. I don't feel I've resolved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-meredith/there-s-something-strange-about-a-laptop-how-you-can-make-the-tiniest/) [Anna Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-meredith/) > [The most shocking act, closely examined, is just a louder version of some habitual gesture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-choi/the-most-shocking-act-closely-examined-is-just-a-louder-version-of/) [Susan Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-choi/) > [“He extended a finger to her face, the simple gesture bringing into play the sleek muscles of his shoulders and arms. “You are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lange/he-extended-a-finger-to-her-face-the-simple-gesture-bringing-into/) [Chris Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lange/) > [Before they got vengeful, conservatives had some useful points to make about welfare. Government 'help' is too often guilt-assuaging gesture. It creates layers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/before-they-got-vengeful-conservatives-had-some-useful-points-to-make/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [“It is only a gesture,” he said, turning back to Shadow. “But gestures mean everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/it-is-only-a-gesture-he-said-turning-back-to-shadow-but-gestures-mean/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The gesture of taking the watch from the pocket and looking at the time is very elegant for a man, but if I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mille/the-gesture-of-taking-the-watch-from-the-pocket-and-looking-at-the/) [Richard Mille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mille/) [Browse all 180 Gesture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gesture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim’s place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. 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