--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not their slave,\" the man mutters. \"I…" description: "\"I'm not their slave,\" the man mutters. \"I am,\" I say. \"That's why I killed Cato... and he killed Thresh... and he killed Clove... and she tried to kill..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/suzanne-collins-60_cato_i-m-not-their-slave-the-man-mutters-i-am_2514677.jpg" --- # I'm not their slave," the man mutters. "I am," I say… ![“I'm not their slave," the man mutters. "I am," I say. "That's why I killed Cato... and he killed Thresh... and he killed Clove... and she tried to kill me. It just goes around and around, and who wins? Not us. Not the districts. Always the capitol. But I'm tired of being a piece in their games.” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/suzanne-collins-60_cato_i-m-not-their-slave-the-man-mutters-i-am_2514677.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/suzanne-collins-60_cato_i-m-not-their-slave-the-man-mutters-i-am_2514677.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/suzanne-collins-60_cato_i-m-not-their-slave-the-man-mutters-i-am_2514677.jpg) > “I'm not their slave," the man mutters. "I am," I say. "That's why I killed Cato... and he killed Thresh... and he killed Clove... and she tried to kill me. It just goes around and around, and who wins? Not us. Not the districts. Always the capitol. But I'm tired of being a piece in their games.” [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 feels trapped in a cycle of violence and manipulation, questioning who truly benefits. **In simple terms:** Violence perpetuates more violence, leaving no winners. Key Takeaway Seek ways to break cycles of oppression. Themes oppression violence rebellion Mood determined somber Type political motivational When to use this quote - social movements - personal relationships - political activism - conflict resolution Key Concepts power dynamics psychological trauma Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to challenge unfair power structures? - How can you protect yourself while resisting? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is difficult and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cato/) [Cato Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cato-killed-1190550/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [I'm tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-m-tired/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Kill me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-me/) [Killed Cato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-cato-1190549/) [Killed Thresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-thresh-1190551/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Thresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thresh-190930/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Tried Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-kill/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/when-he-thresh-shouts-i-jump-never-having-heard-him-speak-above-a/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Clove!" Cato's voice is much nearer now. I can tell by the pain in it that he sees her on the ground. "You better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/clove-cato-s-voice-is-much-nearer-now-i-can-tell-by-the-pain-in-it/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Do it. Before they send those mutts back or something. I don't want to die like Cato," he says. “Then you shoot me," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/do-it-before-they-send-those-mutts-back-or-something-i-don-t-want-to/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Where's your boyfriend, District 12? Still hanging on?" She asks. Well, as long as we're talking I'm alive. "He's out there now. Hunting Cato,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/where-s-your-boyfriend-district-12-still-hanging-on-she-asks-well-as/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Cato kneels beside Clove, spear in hand, begging her to stay with him. In a moment, he will realize it's futile, she can't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/cato-kneels-beside-clove-spear-in-hand-begging-her-to-stay-with-him/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I pull the sleeping bag up to his chin and kiss his forehead, not for the audience, but for me. Because I'm so grateful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pull-the-sleeping-bag-up-to-his-chin-and-kiss-his-forehead-not-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Let the Seventy-forth Hunger Games begin, Cato, I think. Let them begin for real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/let-the-seventy-forth-hunger-games-begin-cato-i-think-let-them-begin/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said; The recent buds relax and spread, Their greenness is a kind of grief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/the-trees-are-coming-into-leaf-like-something-almost-being-said-the/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [WEATHERS This is the weather the cuckoo likes, And so do I; When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly; And the little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/weathers-this-is-the-weather-the-cuckoo-likes-and-so-do-i-when/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/the-trees-are-coming-into-leaf-like-something-almost-being-said/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [You better run now, Fire Girl. -Thresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunger-games/you-better-run-now-fire-girl-thresh/) [Hunger Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunger-games/) > [“If you'd been taken by the Capitol, and hijacked, and then tried to kill Peeta, is this the way he would be treating you?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/if-you-d-been-taken-by-the-capitol-and-hijacked-and-then-tried-to/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [If you'd been taken by the Capital and hijacked and then tried to kill Peeta, is this the way he would be treating you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/if-you-d-been-taken-by-the-capital-and-hijacked-and-then-tried-to/) [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/) > [The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, And heavily in clouds brings on the day, The great, the important day, big with the fate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-dawn-is-overcast-the-morning-lowers-and-heavily-in-clouds-brings/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## 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 Cato quotes > [The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, And heavily in clouds brings on the day, The great, the important day, big with the fate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-dawn-is-overcast-the-morning-lowers-and-heavily-in-clouds-brings/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute have criticized Bush for his big increases in spending, which far exceed those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/conservative-think-tanks-like-the-heritage-foundation-and-cato/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [Cato kneels beside Clove, spear in hand, begging her to stay with him. In a moment, he will realize it's futile, she can't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/cato-kneels-beside-clove-spear-in-hand-begging-her-to-stay-with-him/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [It is said that the propriety even of old Cato often yielded to the exciting influence of the grape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/it-is-said-that-the-propriety-even-of-old-cato-often-yielded-to-the/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Someone praising a man for his foolhardy bravery, Cato, the elder, said, ''There is a wide difference between true courage and a mere contempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/someone-praising-a-man-for-his-foolhardy-bravery-cato-the-elder-said/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [He (Cato) used to say that in all his life he never repented but of three things. The first was that he had trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/he-cato-used-to-say-that-in-all-his-life-he-never-repented-but-of/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The agricultural population produces the bravest men, the most valiant soldiers,46 and a class of citizens the least given of all to evil designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-agricultural-population-produces-the-bravest-men-the-most-valiant/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [What should a wise person do when given a blow? Same as Cato when he was attacked; not fire up or revenge the insult.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/what-should-a-wise-person-do-when-given-a-blow-same-as-cato-when-he/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/when-he-thresh-shouts-i-jump-never-having-heard-him-speak-above-a/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [ My contact with \[Cato\] was strange. They're ideologues, like Trotskyites. All questions must be seen and solved within the true faith of libertarianism, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-contact-with-cato-was-strange-they-re-ideologues-like-trotskyites/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [When confronted by a hungry wolf, it is unwise to goad the beast, as Cato would have us do. But it is equally unwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/when-confronted-by-a-hungry-wolf-it-is-unwise-to-goad-the-beast-as/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Clove!" Cato's voice is much nearer now. I can tell by the pain in it that he sees her on the ground. "You better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/clove-cato-s-voice-is-much-nearer-now-i-can-tell-by-the-pain-in-it/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/cato-used-to-assert-that-wise-men-profited-more-by-fools-than-fools/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The well-known old remark of Cato, who used to wonder how two soothsayers could look one another in the face without laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-well-known-old-remark-of-cato-who-used-to-wonder-how-two/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I have been…moved to wonder whether my job is a job or a racket, whether economists, and particularly economic theorists, may not be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/i-have-been-moved-to-wonder-whether-my-job-is-a-job-or-a-racket/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) [Browse all 29 Cato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cato/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not their slave,\" the man mutters. \"I am,\" I say. \"That's why I killed Cato... and he killed Thresh... and he killed Clove... and she tried to kill me. 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