--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've…" description: "\"“Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've learned to be stronger, but one thing I haven't learned, won't let myself learn, is how to enjoy causing som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/veronica-roth-66_dauntless_here-i-ve-learned-to-defend-myself-i-ve_702741.png" --- # Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've learned to be… ![“Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've learned to be stronger, but one thing I haven't learned, won't let myself learn, is how to enjoy causing someone else pain. If I'm going to become Dauntless, I'm going to do it on my terms, even if that means that a part of me will always be a Stiff.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/veronica-roth-66_dauntless_here-i-ve-learned-to-defend-myself-i-ve_702741.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/veronica-roth-66_dauntless_here-i-ve-learned-to-defend-myself-i-ve_702741.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/veronica-roth-66_dauntless_here-i-ve-learned-to-defend-myself-i-ve_702741.png) > ““Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've learned to be stronger, but one thing I haven't learned, won't let myself learn, is how to enjoy causing someone else pain. If I'm going to become Dauntless, I'm going to do it on my terms, even if that means that a part of me will always be a Stiff.”” [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 acknowledges personal growth in strength and self‑defense but admits an inability to find pleasure in harming others, choosing a personal code over cruelty. **In simple terms:** Strength learned, but no joy in hurting others. Key Takeaway Choose personal integrity over cruelty. Themes self‑defense personal growth morality identity Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - team leadership - personal decision making Key Concepts psychology ethical choice self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance strength with compassion? - What personal codes prevent you from harming others? A Different Perspective The desire for power can still corrupt even strong individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dauntless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dauntless/) [Defend Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-myself/) [Divergent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divergent/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Going Dauntless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-dauntless-5560596/) [Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned/) [Learned Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-defend-1565817/) [Learned Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-stronger-2331475/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Ve Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-learned/) [Veronica-roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veronica-roth/) ## Related quotes > [I've always said I learned to defend myself from an opponent coming for a hard hit. Tricks are part of my repertoire; I use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/i-ve-always-said-i-learned-to-defend-myself-from-an-opponent-coming/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically but with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-osb-not-physically-but-with/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [“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/) > [“We're sorry for frightening you, Tris,' another voice says, 'but anonymity is integral to our operation. We mean you no harm.' 'Let go of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-re-sorry-for-frightening-you-tris-another-voice-says-but-anonymity/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Intentions are the only thing they care about. They try to make you think they care about what you do, but they don't. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/intentions-are-the-only-thing-they-care-about-they-try-to-make-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I learned how to defend the ball with my body and to be faster than my opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/i-learned-how-to-defend-the-ball-with-my-body-and-to-be-faster-than/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [At Ajax, I got an education in how to be confident on the ball, my technique, and then, at Atletico, I learned how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-alderweireld/at-ajax-i-got-an-education-in-how-to-be-confident-on-the-ball-my/) [Toby Alderweireld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-alderweireld/) > [“You’re the one who has to live whit your choice" she says. "Everyone else will get over it, move on, no matter what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-re-the-one-who-has-to-live-whit-your-choice-she-says-everyone/) [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/) > [“It must require bravery to be honest all the time. 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/) > [“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. I don't want it. I want my parents and I have for weeks. I've been trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-what-this-is-i-realize-is-life-i-don-t-want-it-i-want-my-parents/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“She is a woman of muscle twisted around bone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/she-is-a-woman-of-muscle-twisted-around-bone/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I like to hurt people too. I can make the cruelest choice. The difference is, sometimes I don't, and you always do, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-like-to-hurt-people-too-i-can-make-the-cruelest-choice-the/) [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 Dauntless quotes > [Most men fail, not through lack of education or agreeable personal qualities, but from lack of dogged determination, from lack of dauntless will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/most-men-fail-not-through-lack-of-education-or-agreeable-personal/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Courageous? Courageous would have been admitting weakness and leaving Dauntless, no matter what shame accompanied it. Pride is what killed Al, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/courageous-courageous-would-have-been-admitting-weakness-and-leaving/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I think I speak for everyone," he says, "when I say you have earned the title of Dauntless".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-think-i-speak-for-everyone-he-says-when-i-say-you-have-earned-the/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And he’s right to say that every faction loses something when it gains a virtue: the Dauntless, brave but cruel; the Erudite, intelligent but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-he-s-right-to-say-that-every-faction-loses-something-when-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am wearing a gray shirt, blue jeans, black shoes--new clothes, but beneath them, my Dauntless tattoos. It is impossible to erase my choices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-am-wearing-a-gray-shirt-blue-jeans-black-shoes-new-clothes-but/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Intentions are the only thing they care about. They try to make you think they care about what you do, but they don't. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/intentions-are-the-only-thing-they-care-about-they-try-to-make-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I have realized that part of being Dauntless is being willing to make things more difficult for yourself in order to be self-sufficient. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-realized-that-part-of-being-dauntless-is-being-willing-to-make/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [But now I’m wondering if I need it anymore, if we ever really need these words, “Dauntless,” “Erudite,” “Divergent,” “Allegiant,” or if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/but-now-i-m-wondering-if-i-need-it-anymore-if-we-ever-really-need/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We're sorry for frightening you, Tris,' another voice says, 'but anonymity is integral to our operation. We mean you no harm.' 'Let go of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-re-sorry-for-frightening-you-tris-another-voice-says-but-anonymity/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [A chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/a-chasm-reminds-us-that-there-is-a-fine-line-between-bravery-and/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I didn't realize until that moment that Dauntless initiation had taught me an important lesson: how to keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-didn-t-realize-until-that-moment-that-dauntless-initiation-had/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [If you are really one of us, it won't matter to you that you might fail. And if it does, you are a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/if-you-are-really-one-of-us-it-won-t-matter-to-you-that-you-might/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I don't know if you know this," Tobias says, "but Edward is a little unstable." "I'm getting that," I say. "That Drew guy who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-don-t-know-if-you-know-this-tobias-says-but-edward-is-a-little/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” -Divergent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-believe-in-ordinary-acts-of-bravery-in-the-courage-that-drives-one/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“God has given us the Spirit of boldness, so that even in the wilderness, we can be dauntless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/god-has-given-us-the-spirit-of-boldness-so-that-even-in-the/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) [Browse all 120 Dauntless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dauntless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've learned to be stronger, but one thing I haven't learned, won't let myself learn, is how to enjoy causing someone else pain. 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