--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time the fight dies down, my…" description: "\"“By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the fi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg" --- # By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more… ![“By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place; not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg) > ““By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place; not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.”” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## 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 keeps a battle‑worn shirt as a reminder of why they chose a daring, imperfect path—valuing freedom and vitality over perfection. **In simple terms:** Keep reminders of why you chose a bold, imperfect path. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and freedom. Themes courage identity freedom imperfection choice Mood reflective determined inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - team building - overcoming fear - making tough decisions Key Concepts Existentialism symbolism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does your “battle‑worn shirt” represent? - How do you stay true to your original motivations? A Different Perspective A reminder can become a burden if it stops inspiring change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beatrice prior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatrice-prior/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-decide-to-keep-the-shirt-to-remind-me-why-i-chose-dauntless-in-the/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/remind-me-why-i-chose-dauntless-in-the-first-place-not-because-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Before I chose Dauntless...I felt assured of my long lifespan, if nothing else. Now there are no reassurances except that where I go, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/before-i-chose-dauntless-i-felt-assured-of-my-long-lifespan-if/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Now i remember why I chose Dauntless. Not because they were brave or anything. But because they were free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/now-i-remember-why-i-chose-dauntless-not-because-they-were-brave-or/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [It reminds me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-reminds-me-why-i-chose-dauntless-in-the-first-place-not-because/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I wasn't good enough for abnegation," I say, "and I wanted to be free. So I chose Dauntless." "Why weren't you good enough?" "Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-wasn-t-good-enough-for-abnegation-i-say-and-i-wanted-to-be-free-so/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I chose Dauntless not because they are perfect, but because they are alive, they are free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-chose-dauntless-not-because-they-are-perfect-but-because-they-are/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Maybe Dauntless was formed with good intentions, with the right ideals and the right goals. But it has strayed far from them. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/maybe-dauntless-was-formed-with-good-intentions-with-the-right-ideals-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“With that shirt you have on, you remind me of what you look like with no shirt on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/with-that-shirt-you-have-on-you-remind-me-of-what-you-look-like-with/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-chose-dauntless-in-the-first-place-not-because-they-are-perfect-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe time would not feel as heavy if I didn't have this guilt - the guilt of knowing the truth and stuffing it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-time-would-not-feel-as-heavy-if-i-didn-t-have-this-guilt-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/one-thing-i-know-for-helping-me-forget-how-awful-the-world-is-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Are you asking me to undress, Tris?' A nervous laugh gurgles from my throat. 'Only ... partially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/are-you-asking-me-to-undress-tris-a-nervous-laugh-gurgles-from-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [It's when you're acting selflessly that you are at your bravest." --Four in Divergent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-s-when-you-re-acting-selflessly-that-you-are-at-your-bravest-four/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Most of the time I can tell when people are lying, and this must be a lie, because Tris is still alive, her eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/most-of-the-time-i-can-tell-when-people-are-lying-and-this-must-be-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Beatrice prior quotes > [“Most of the time I can tell when people are lying, and this must be a lie, because Tris is still alive, her eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/most-of-the-time-i-can-tell-when-people-are-lying-and-this-must-be-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [It's when you're acting selflessly that you are at your bravest." --Four in Divergent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-s-when-you-re-acting-selflessly-that-you-are-at-your-bravest-four/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Are you asking me to undress, Tris?' A nervous laugh gurgles from my throat. 'Only ... partially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/are-you-asking-me-to-undress-tris-a-nervous-laugh-gurgles-from-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/one-thing-i-know-for-helping-me-forget-how-awful-the-world-is-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [How is it I know this little about the boy who says he loves me-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-is-it-i-know-this-little-about-the-boy-who-says-he-loves-me/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Tris!” Four calls out. Will and I exchange a look, half surprise and half apprehension. Four pulls away from the railing and walks up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/tris-four-calls-out-will-and-i-exchange-a-look-half-surprise-and-half/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Okay. Then...I can talk. Ask me something." "Okay." He laughs shakily in my ear. "Why is your heart racing Tris?" I cringe and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/okay-then-i-can-talk-ask-me-something-okay-he-laughs-shakily-in-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And I'm the kind of person who does not let inconsequential things like boys and near death experiences stop her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-does-not-let-inconsequential-things/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I reach out and take his hand. His fingers slide between mine. I can't breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-reach-out-and-take-his-hand-his-fingers-slide-between-mine-i-can-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I'll be your family now," he says. "I love you," I say. (…) He stares at me. I wait with my hands clutching his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-ll-be-your-family-now-he-says-i-love-you-i-say-he-stares-at-me-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I don't know how long it takes for me to realize it isn't going to happen, that she is gone. But when I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-takes-for-me-to-realize-it-isn-t-going-to/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You’re one to talk,” she says. “You’re always moping. We should start calling you Beatrice Prior, Queen of Tragedy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-re-one-to-talk-she-says-you-re-always-moping-we-should-start/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [My body rises with the water. Instead of kicking my feet to stay abreast of it, I push all the air from my lungs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-body-rises-with-the-water-instead-of-kicking-my-feet-to-stay/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Maybe time would not feel as heavy if I didn't have this guilt - the guilt of knowing the truth and stuffing it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-time-would-not-feel-as-heavy-if-i-didn-t-have-this-guilt-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I throw my arms out to the side and imagine that I am flying...my heart beats fast, I can't scream and I can't breathe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth-divergent/i-throw-my-arms-out-to-the-side-and-imagine-that-i-am-flying-my-heart/) Veronica Roth Divergent [Browse all 18 Beatrice prior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatrice-prior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place; not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-clothes-are-more-paint-colored/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beatrice prior" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-clothes-are-more-paint-colored/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/veronica-roth-66_beatrice-prior_by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-cloth_721704.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to…” — Veronica Roth", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Veronica Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“By the time the fight dies...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-clothes-are-more-paint-colored/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/by-the-time-the-fight-dies-down-my-clothes-are-more-paint-colored/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```