--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can barely hear her whisper. \"One of us…" description: "\"“I can barely hear her whisper. \"One of us has to win this thing.\" My eyes travel up the long stems to the arrow-shaped leaves, the white petals, conce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/suzanne-collins-60_games_i-can-barely-hear-her-whisper-one-of-us_1942359.jpg" --- # I can barely hear her whisper. "One of us has to win this… ![“I can barely hear her whisper. "One of us has to win this thing." My eyes travel up the long stems to the arrow-shaped leaves, the white petals, concealing us from Capitol cameras. "Why's that?" I whisper back. "One of us has to be the worst victor in history. Tear up their scripts, tear down…” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/suzanne-collins-60_games_i-can-barely-hear-her-whisper-one-of-us_1942359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/suzanne-collins-60_games_i-can-barely-hear-her-whisper-one-of-us_1942359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/suzanne-collins-60_games_i-can-barely-hear-her-whisper-one-of-us_1942359.jpg) > ““I can barely hear her whisper. "One of us has to win this thing." My eyes travel up the long stems to the arrow-shaped leaves, the white petals, concealing us from Capitol cameras. "Why's that?" I whisper back. "One of us has to be the worst victor in history. Tear up their scripts, tear down their celebrations, set fire to the Victor's Village. Refuse to play their game." Reminds me of Pa. "Make sure they don't use our blood to paint their posters?" "Exactly. We'll paint our own posters. And I know just where we can get the paint." In a gesture I remember from the schoolyard long ago, she extends her pinkie. "Swear it." I encircle it with my own and our pinkies lock tight. They will never let me be a victor, not after my attempt to break the arena, but I can swear to try to keep her alive. "One of us paints the posters.”” [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 speaker vows to resist oppressive narratives, promising to create their own symbols and protect allies, even when victory feels compromised. **In simple terms:** Resist oppression by creating your own narrative and protecting others. Key Takeaway Create your own symbols and protect allies. Themes resistance solidarity agency Mood defiant urgent Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - activism - artistic expression - community building - personal sacrifice Key Concepts narrative control rebellion survival Questions to Reflect On - What personal sacrifices are worth making for collective freedom? - How do we balance self-preservation with resistance? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with harsh realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arena Swear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arena-swear-3102801/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Let Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-victor-3102800/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Pawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pawn/) [Play Their Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-their-game/) [Posters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posters/) [Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellion/) [Set Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-victor-3102802/) [Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victor/) [Victor Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victor-attempt-3102798/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) [Worst Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-victor-3102799/) ## Related quotes > [“The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends," Ser Jorah told her. 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Find your own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/do-what-you-really-want-to-do-don-t-play-their-game-don-t-do-what/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [The hard left labels anyone who challenges it 'divisive.' The leftists live in a world where everyone is free to look different but must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/the-hard-left-labels-anyone-who-challenges-it-divisive-the-leftists/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-are-playing-a-game-they-are-playing-at-not-playing-a-game-if-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Psychopaths are social predators who are born without a conscience and without the ability to feel love, compassion, fear or remorse. Psychopaths experience the lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-admin/psychopaths-are-social-predators-who-are-born-without-a-conscience/) [A.B. Admin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-admin/) > [At the end of the day, there's only so much that our team focuses on an individual opponent. Like, you don't want to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-anderson/at-the-end-of-the-day-there-s-only-so-much-that-our-team-focuses-on/) [Megan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-anderson/) > [“You can do anything you want. You don't believe me. You think, she's out of her head. Yeah, I'm out of my head- on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-burgess/you-can-do-anything-you-want-you-don-t-believe-me-you-think-she-s-out/) [Melvin Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-burgess/) > [“It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-is-no-matter-to-them-if-the-high-lords-play-their-game-of-thrones/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [It is being common-born that is dangerous, when the great lords play their game of thrones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-being-common-born-that-is-dangerous-when-the-great-lords-play/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, it works to my advantage when people think I'm stupid. If somebody who disdains you or wants to control you underestimates you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-webb/for-me-it-works-to-my-advantage-when-people-think-i-m-stupid-if/) [Veronica Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-webb/) > [White people love playing 'divide & rule'. We should not play their game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/white-people-love-playing-divide-rule-we-should-not-play-their-game/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [“Sometimes maybe you need an experience. The experience can be a person or it can be a drug. The experience opens a door that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-burgess/sometimes-maybe-you-need-an-experience-the-experience-can-be-a-person-2/) [melvin burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-burgess/) > [“Listen. You can be anything you want to be. Be careful. It's a spell. It's magic. Listen to the words. You can be anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-burgess/listen-you-can-be-anything-you-want-to-be-be-careful-it-s-a-spell-it/) [Melvin Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-burgess/) ## 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 Games quotes > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [You just can't let the outside world affect your game.You can't hold anything back. You can't play a different game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-palmer/you-just-can-t-let-the-outside-world-affect-your-game-you-can-t-hold/) [Carson Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-palmer/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. 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They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 11,463 Games quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I can barely hear her whisper. \"One of us has to win this thing.\" My eyes travel up the long stems to the arrow-shaped leaves, the white petals, concealing us from Capitol cameras. \"Why's that?\" I whisper back. \"One of us has to be the worst victor in history. Tear up their scripts, tear down their celebrations, set fire to the Victor's Village. Refuse to play their game.\" Reminds me of Pa. \"Make sure they don't use our blood to paint their posters?\" \"Exactly. We'll paint our own posters. And I know just where we can get the paint.\" In a gesture I remember from the schoolyard long ago, she extends her pinkie. \"Swear it.\" I encircle it with my own and our pinkies lock tight. 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