--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like bait?” I say to the ceiling. “Like…" description: "\"“Like bait?” I say to the ceiling. “Like how they’ll use Annie for bait, Finnick?” I can hear him weeping but I don’t care.”\" — Suzanne Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/suzanne-collins-60_quote_like-bait-i-say-to-the-ceiling-like-how_1045701.jpg" --- # Like bait?” I say to the ceiling. “Like how they’ll use… ![“Like bait?” I say to the ceiling. “Like how they’ll use Annie for bait, Finnick?” I can hear him weeping but I don’t care.” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/suzanne-collins-60_quote_like-bait-i-say-to-the-ceiling-like-how_1045701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/suzanne-collins-60_quote_like-bait-i-say-to-the-ceiling-like-how_1045701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/suzanne-collins-60_quote_like-bait-i-say-to-the-ceiling-like-how_1045701.jpg) > ““Like bait?” I say to the ceiling. “Like how they’ll use Annie for bait, Finnick?” I can hear him weeping but I don’t care.”” [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. A character cynically questions using a loved one as bait, showing emotional detachment and survival focus. **In simple terms:** He dismisses caring about others’ suffering. Key Takeaway Recognize moral costs of survival. Themes survival morality manipulation empathy conflict Mood dark tense Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - war zones - competitive environments - high‑stakes negotiations Key Concepts ethical dilemmas psychological coping strategic sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to use others as tools? - What are the long‑term effects of emotional numbness? A Different Perspective Cynicism can erode humanity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I had to work on a Marlin boat, like gutting fish, like as the bait boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/i-had-to-work-on-a-marlin-boat-like-gutting-fish-like-as-the-bait-boy/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [BAIT GOAT There is a distance where magnets pull, we feel, having held them back. Likewise there is a distance where words attract. Set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ryan/bait-goat-there-is-a-distance-where-magnets-pull-we-feel-having-held/) [Kay Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ryan/) > [I don't know why it's so hard for me to say those three words. Most guys throw it around like breath, like bait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/i-don-t-know-why-it-s-so-hard-for-me-to-say-those-three-words-most/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [Desire for an idea is like bait. When you're fishing, you have to have patience. You bait your hook, and then you wait. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/desire-for-an-idea-is-like-bait-when-you-re-fishing-you-have-to-have/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [Survival strategy. If you’re not careful, this place will eat you alive, and Kaylee’s like bait for the beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/survival-strategy-if-you-re-not-careful-this-place-will-eat-you-alive/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“He made a point of complimenting Lysistrara's brilliant handling of the rabies situation and thanking her for her generosity in the last minutes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-made-a-point-of-complimenting-lysistrara-s-brilliant-handling-of/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [No one will forget me. Not my look, not my name. Katniss. The girl who was on fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/no-one-will-forget-me-not-my-look-not-my-name-katniss-the-girl-who/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“it’s like they can read my thoughts. “The locket didn’t work, did it?” Peeta says, even though Finnick is right there. Even though everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-like-they-can-read-my-thoughts-the-locket-didn-t-work-did-it/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I will never have a life with Gale even if I want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-will-never-have-a-life-with-gale-even-if-i-want-to/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“We got them all out. Except Enobaria. But since she’s from Two, we doubt she’s being held anyway. Peeta’s at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/we-got-them-all-out-except-enobaria-but-since-she-s-from-two-we-doubt/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“He says he’d like to see you.” I’m on a frosting sailboat, tossed around by blue-green waves, the deck shifting beneath my feet. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-says-he-d-like-to-see-you-i-m-on-a-frosting-sailboat-tossed-around/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Katniss blew it out, Peeta,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/katniss-blew-it-out-peeta/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Katniss…he's still trying to keep you alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/katniss-he-s-still-trying-to-keep-you-alive/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Katniss?" Peeta says. I meet his eyes, knowing my face must be some shade of green. He mouths the words. "How about that kiss?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/katniss-peeta-says-i-meet-his-eyes-knowing-my-face-must-be-some-shade/) [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/) ## 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 Bait quotes > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [So, Diana thought, that was the bait she had to lay out for Jack. Of course. What else? He might lust for Diana, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/so-diana-thought-that-was-the-bait-she-had-to-lay-out-for-jack-of/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [Every man has his price. This is not true. But for every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing. To win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-man-has-his-price-this-is-not-true-but-for-every-man-there/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Sitting still and wishing Makes no person great; The good Lord sends the fishing, But you must dig the bait!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hoole/sitting-still-and-wishing-makes-no-person-great-the-good-lord-sends/) Daryl Hoole > [As children, we dug for worms or we used crawdads for bait. We caught catfish, or crappies, a delicous fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/as-children-we-dug-for-worms-or-we-used-crawdads-for-bait-we-caught/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-you-fish-for-love-bait-with-your-heart-not-your-brain/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The finer the bait, the shorter the wait!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gorshin/the-finer-the-bait-the-shorter-the-wait/) [Frank Gorshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gorshin/) > [Pleasure is the bait of sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/pleasure-is-the-bait-of-sin/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Stand in despair anywhere old-growth forest has been clear-felled. All life has been replaced by blackened, poisoned desolation. Animals and birds have either fled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundall/stand-in-despair-anywhere-old-growth-forest-has-been-clear-felled-all/) [Peter Cundall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundall/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) Kuki Gallmann > [“he remained absolutely convinced that his way of life was no worse than mine, only different, pointing out in the process certain inconsistencies: Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/he-remained-absolutely-convinced-that-his-way-of-life-was-no-worse/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. So with boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baden-powell-de-aquino/a-fisherman-does-not-bait-his-hook-with-food-he-likes-he-uses-food/) [Baden Powell de Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baden-powell-de-aquino/) > [The scheme of separate confederacies, which will always multiply the chances of ambition, will be a never failing bait to all such influential characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-scheme-of-separate-confederacies-which-will-always-multiply-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [We are assailed by the temptation of the love of money. If you wish to acquire riches ? they are the bait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pachomius-the-great/we-are-assailed-by-the-temptation-of-the-love-of-money-if-you-wish-to/) [Pachomius the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pachomius-the-great/) > [“I could be held back just by being needed. Please try not to need me. 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