--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Divergent' was my utopian world. I mean…" description: "\"'Divergent' was my utopian world. I mean, that wasn't the plan. I never even set out to write dystopian fiction, that's just what I had when I was fini..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/veronica-roth-66_beginning_divergent-was-my-utopian-world-i-mean-th_1115800.jpg" --- # 'Divergent' was my utopian world. I mean, that wasn't the… ![“'Divergent' was my utopian world. I mean, that wasn't the plan. I never even set out to write dystopian fiction, that's just what I had when I was finished. At the beginning, I was just writing about a place I found interesting and a character with a compelling story, and as I began to build the…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/veronica-roth-66_beginning_divergent-was-my-utopian-world-i-mean-th_1115800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/veronica-roth-66_beginning_divergent-was-my-utopian-world-i-mean-th_1115800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/veronica-roth-66_beginning_divergent-was-my-utopian-world-i-mean-th_1115800.jpg) > “'Divergent' was my utopian world. I mean, that wasn't the plan. I never even set out to write dystopian fiction, that's just what I had when I was finished. At the beginning, I was just writing about a place I found interesting and a character with a compelling story, and as I began to build the world, I realized that it was my utopia.” [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 author unintentionally created a utopian setting while aiming to write dystopia, showing how personal interests shape world‑building. **In simple terms:** She wrote a utopia by accident. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected outcomes in creative work. Themes creativity world‑building unexpected outcomes Mood reflective inquisitive Type literary creative When to use this quote - writing a novel - developing a setting - exploring personal interests Key Concepts utopia dystopia authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How do personal biases influence your creative projects? - Can unintended themes become strengths? A Different Perspective Unexpected utopias may clash with intended themes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dystopian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dystopian/) [Dystopian fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dystopian-fiction/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Utopia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utopia/) [Utopian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utopian/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Although I write dystopian fiction, I don't believe in dystopian fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/although-i-write-dystopian-fiction-i-don-t-believe-in-dystopian/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [“It isn't just brave that she died for me; it is brave that she did it without announcing it, without hesitation, and without appearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-isn-t-just-brave-that-she-died-for-me-it-is-brave-that-she-did-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Its a heartening fact about the human race that utopian fiction precedes dystopian fiction in the evolution of literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/its-a-heartening-fact-about-the-human-race-that-utopian-fiction/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [“That’s the funny thing about guns; even untrained hands can feel powerful using them. But take that gun away and you’re left with nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wilson/that-s-the-funny-thing-about-guns-even-untrained-hands-can-feel/) Jennifer Wilson > [It's a heartening fact about the human race that utopian fiction precedes dystopian fiction in the evolution of literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/it-s-a-heartening-fact-about-the-human-race-that-utopian-fiction/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [I know these are going to sound like school reading-list suggestions, but if you like dystopian fiction, you should check out some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-know-these-are-going-to-sound-like-school-reading-list-suggestions/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [“I’m thinking ahead, imagining what our lives together would be like once we’re free from this hell and allowed to live and let go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-lee-sanders/i-m-thinking-ahead-imagining-what-our-lives-together-would-be-like/) Leslie Lee Sanders > [“There has to be beauty left in the world, Julia," said Kiyu. "Otherwise we have nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-christensen/there-has-to-be-beauty-left-in-the-world-julia-said-kiyu-otherwise-we/) Aron Christensen > [“Blood dripped from his blackfly bites. The bottle flies swarmed the wounds on his head and back, but with his arms secured to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/circa24/blood-dripped-from-his-blackfly-bites-the-bottle-flies-swarmed-the/) Circa24 > [“I want the next goddamn tyrant who tries to burn the past down to choke on the ash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-stepanovich/i-want-the-next-goddamn-tyrant-who-tries-to-burn-the-past-down-to/) Elijah Stepanovich > [“It feels so good to find out I mean everything to the person who means everything to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-lee-sanders/it-feels-so-good-to-find-out-i-mean-everything-to-the-person-who/) Leslie Lee Sanders > [“Not many people bothered to look for beauty beyond the greenhouses. They went about life with their heads down, just praying to get through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-lindquist/not-many-people-bothered-to-look-for-beauty-beyond-the-greenhouses/) [Erica Lindquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-lindquist/) > [“I wanted to punch him and understand him at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-wanted-to-punch-him-and-understand-him-at-the-same-time/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [Would we be so enamored with dystopian fiction if we lived in a culture where violent death was a major concern? It wouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/would-we-be-so-enamored-with-dystopian-fiction-if-we-lived-in-a/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Writers of feminist dystopian fiction are alert to the realities that grind down women's lives, that make the unthinkable suddenly thinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/writers-of-feminist-dystopian-fiction-are-alert-to-the-realities-that/) [Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/) ## 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 Beginning quotes > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. 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