--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal…" description: "\"“Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal, my hand stretches out and brushes a wave of hair from his forehead. He freezes at my touch, but doesn't reco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/suzanne-collins-60_first-time_slowly-as-i-would-with-a-wounded-animal_1701850.jpg" --- # Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal, my hand… ![“Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal, my hand stretches out and brushes a wave of hair from his forehead. He freezes at my touch, but doesn't recoil. So I continue to gently smooth back his hair. It's the first time I have voluntarily touched him since the last arena.” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/suzanne-collins-60_first-time_slowly-as-i-would-with-a-wounded-animal_1701850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/suzanne-collins-60_first-time_slowly-as-i-would-with-a-wounded-animal_1701850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/suzanne-collins-60_first-time_slowly-as-i-would-with-a-wounded-animal_1701850.jpg) > ““Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal, my hand stretches out and brushes a wave of hair from his forehead. He freezes at my touch, but doesn't recoil. So I continue to gently smooth back his hair. It's the first time I have voluntarily touched him since the last arena.”” [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. Gentle, patient contact can calm a frightened being, fostering trust. **In simple terms:** Soft touch builds trust. Key Takeaway Approach fear with patience and care. Themes compassion trust healing Mood empathetic hopeful Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - therapy - conflict resolution - parenting Key Concepts psychology animal behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does gentle touch affect fear responses? - When is firmness needed? A Different Perspective Patience may not work with all individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Wounded animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded-animal/) ## Related quotes > [“Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal, my hand stretches out and brushes a wave of hair from his forehead. He freezes at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/slowly-as-i-would-with-a-wounded-animal-my-hand-stretches-out-and/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [But Gale is not one to keep secrets from me. 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Colt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-colt/) > [“She felt like she was walking up on a wounded animal, unsure if reaching out to him was going to win her a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-adrian/she-felt-like-she-was-walking-up-on-a-wounded-animal-unsure-if/) [Lara Adrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-adrian/) > [What a strange thing it is to recognize a sound like the shriek of a wounded animal, when you've never heard the shriek of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-heureux/what-a-strange-thing-it-is-to-recognize-a-sound-like-the-shriek-of-a/) [John L'Heureux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-heureux/) > [When Trump attacks the news media, he's kicking a wounded animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/when-trump-attacks-the-news-media-he-s-kicking-a-wounded-animal/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) ## 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. 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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. 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