--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: you’re playing on their natural instincts…" description: "\"“you’re playing on their natural instincts to flee danger. Thinking like your prey . . . that’s where you find their vulnerabilities,”\" — Suzanne Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/suzanne-collins-60_danger_you-re-playing-on-their-natural-instinct_3014267.jpg" --- # you’re playing on their natural instincts to flee danger… ![“you’re playing on their natural instincts to flee danger. Thinking like your prey . . . that’s where you find their vulnerabilities,” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/suzanne-collins-60_danger_you-re-playing-on-their-natural-instinct_3014267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/suzanne-collins-60_danger_you-re-playing-on-their-natural-instinct_3014267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/suzanne-collins-60_danger_you-re-playing-on-their-natural-instinct_3014267.jpg) > ““you’re playing on their natural instincts to flee danger. Thinking like your prey . . . that’s where you find their vulnerabilities,”” [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. Exploiting fear reveals opponents' weaknesses; by thinking like prey, you uncover vulnerabilities. **In simple terms:** Using fear to find enemy weak spots. Key Takeaway Study opponents' instincts to gain advantage. Themes strategy psychology conflict Mood cautious strategic Type motivational ethical When to use this quote - competitive sports - business negotiations - military training - personal safety Key Concepts tactics enemy analysis Questions to Reflect On - When is it ethical to exploit fear? - How can you protect yourself from similar tactics? A Different Perspective Assumes fear is always exploitable, ignoring ethical limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“They might. But you’re playing on their natural instincts to flee danger. Thinking like your prey . . . that’s where you find their vulnerabilities,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/they-might-but-you-re-playing-on-their-natural-instincts-to-flee/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Thinking like your prey. . . that's where you find their vulnerabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/thinking-like-your-prey-that-s-where-you-find-their-vulnerabilities/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [There’s danger in thinking joy is a matter of location. If we can’t find joy where we are, we probably won’t find it anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gulley/there-s-danger-in-thinking-joy-is-a-matter-of-location-if-we-can-t/) [Philip Gulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gulley/) > [“I dare say he thinks he has outwitted me cleverly. And this is the way men deal with women — still concealing danger from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-dare-say-he-thinks-he-has-outwitted-me-cleverly-and-this-is-the-way/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Sexual behavior is not, as is too often assumed, a superimposition of, on the one hand, desires which derive from natural instincts, and, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/sexual-behavior-is-not-as-is-too-often-assumed-a-superimposition-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“Or society places a supreme value on control -- hiding what you feel. Our culture mocks "primitive cultures" and prides itself on supression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/or-society-places-a-supreme-value-on-control-hiding-what-you-feel-our/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [After much deliberation, I have concluded that it is apt to say a real woman knows her place. Not because she is she is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-scott/after-much-deliberation-i-have-concluded-that-it-is-apt-to-say-a-real/) Kathleen Scott > [Sometimes my natural instincts take over and I just go overboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/sometimes-my-natural-instincts-take-over-and-i-just-go-overboard/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [“Going with Your Gut Your natural instincts are a great barometer for a person’s trustworthiness. Listen to your gut when something feels amiss. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/going-with-your-gut-your-natural-instincts-are-a-great-barometer-for/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I didn't have any natural instincts toward heading. It cost me lots of opportunities to score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christen-press/i-didn-t-have-any-natural-instincts-toward-heading-it-cost-me-lots-of/) [Christen Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christen-press/) > [Natural instincts are the true reflections of one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/natural-instincts-are-the-true-reflections-of-one-s-self/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [The diseases which destroy a man are no less natural than the instincts which preserve him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-diseases-which-destroy-a-man-are-no-less-natural-than-the/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I wish I were like an animal with natural instincts. Then I could find a mate without fear. I could tell the one I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guardian/i-wish-i-were-like-an-animal-with-natural-instincts-then-i-could-find/) Guardian > [I get 0.5 seconds to react to a ball, sometimes even less than that. I can't be thinking of what XYZ has said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/i-get-0-5-seconds-to-react-to-a-ball-sometimes-even-less-than-that-i/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [“It was obvious to me that all of this was Navan practicing. Practicing using his free will to go against his grain, defy his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/it-was-obvious-to-me-that-all-of-this-was-navan-practicing-practicing/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) ## 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 Danger quotes > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) Christopher Wood > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“I’ll always come back to you,” he said. “Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-ll-always-come-back-to-you-he-said-always/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [A sea setting us upon the ice has brought us close to danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hudson/a-sea-setting-us-upon-the-ice-has-brought-us-close-to-danger/) [Henry Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hudson/) > [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [There's a danger in starting a fire, you'll never know how many bridges you'll burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-danger-in-starting-a-fire-you-ll-never-know-how-many/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. 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