--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He must have stood there for a long time…" description: "\"“He must have stood there for a long time, making a list of all the terrible things he had done—almost killing me was one of those things—and another l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_he-must-have-stood-there-for-a-long-time_3035186.png" --- # He must have stood there for a long time, making a list of… ![“He must have stood there for a long time, making a list of all the terrible things he had done—almost killing me was one of those things—and another list of all the good, heroic, brave things he had not done, and then decided that he was tired. Tired, not just of living, but of existing. Tired of…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_he-must-have-stood-there-for-a-long-time_3035186.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_he-must-have-stood-there-for-a-long-time_3035186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_he-must-have-stood-there-for-a-long-time_3035186.png) > ““He must have stood there for a long time, making a list of all the terrible things he had done—almost killing me was one of those things—and another list of all the good, heroic, brave things he had not done, and then decided that he was tired. Tired, not just of living, but of existing. Tired of being Al. I open my eyes, and stare at the pieces of chair I can faintly see on the pavement below. For the first time I feel like I understand Al. I am tired of being Tris. I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am. Most of the time, they seem like the only thing I am.”” [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 protagonist confronts the weight of past actions and the exhaustion of existing, seeking identity beyond deeds. **In simple terms:** Tired of being defined by past deeds. Key Takeaway Accept past actions, focus on present growth. Themes identity guilt existential fatigue self‑acceptance growth Mood melancholic introspective hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - conflict resolution - creative writing Key Concepts moral complexity self‑reflection psychological struggle Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you struggle to accept? - How can you balance guilt with growth? A Different Perspective Self‑acceptance can be hindered by external judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Veronica-roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veronica-roth/) ## Related quotes > [“He must have stood there for a long time, making a list of all the terrible things he had done—almost killinng me was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-must-have-stood-there-for-a-long-time-making-a-list-of-all-the/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Trust me, I know how it feels I know exactly how it feels to cry in the shower So no one can hear you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trust-me-i-know-how-it-feels-i-know-exactly-how-it-feels-to-cry-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The hurts from my last day with my father are healed now, but I want to remember where they were; I want to remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/the-hurts-from-my-last-day-with-my-father-are-healed-now-but-i-want/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“But there is something appealing about it here too, a freedom, a refusal to belong to theses arbitrary categories we've made for ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/but-there-is-something-appealing-about-it-here-too-a-freedom-a/) [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/) > [“I don’t know how long i tis before we get cold again, and huddle under the blanket together. -It’s getting more difficult to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-don-t-know-how-long-i-tis-before-we-get-cold-again-and-huddle-under/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“And what this is, I realize, is life. 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I wouldn't know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-must-require-bravery-to-be-honest-all-the-time-i-wouldn-t-know/) [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/) > [“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/) ## 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 Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. 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I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. 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