--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't force you. I can't make you want…" description: "\"I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this.\" He pulls me against him and runs his hand over my hair, tucking it behind my ear. His finger..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg" --- # I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this."… ![“I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this." He pulls me against him and runs his hand over my hair, tucking it behind my ear. His fingers trail down my neck and over my shoulder, and he says, "But you will do it. It doesn't matter if you believe you can or not. You will, because…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg) > “I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this." He pulls me against him and runs his hand over my hair, tucking it behind my ear. His fingers trail down my neck and over my shoulder, and he says, "But you will do it. It doesn't matter if you believe you can or not. You will, because that's who you are.” [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 urges acceptance of an innate drive to survive, suggesting that belief is secondary to an essential part of identity. **In simple terms:** Survival is part of who you are, not just a belief. Key Takeaway Embrace your inherent resilience. Themes identity survival motivation psychology Mood intense hopeful Type motivational dramatic When to use this quote - personal crisis - recovering from trauma - supportive relationships - self‑help contexts Key Concepts self‑determination inner drive identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your core identity? - When does encouragement become control? A Different Perspective The line may romanticize coercion and ignore personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [If you believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-you-believe/) [Make Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-want-391852/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Necks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necks/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Shoulder Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulder-says-697422/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Survive Pulls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive-pulls-697423/) [Trails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trails/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/) ## Related quotes > [“Is this your feller?” “No, not really,” I say, and Peter throws his arm around my shoulder and says, “Yes, sir. I'm her feller”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/is-this-your-feller-no-not-really-i-say-and-peter-throws-his-arm/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [If you believe in yourself you can make yourself whatever you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-michele/if-you-believe-in-yourself-you-can-make-yourself-whatever-you-want-to/) [Lea Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-michele/) > [Nobody was perfect. Not even close. And everybody had wrinkles from smiling and squinting and craining their necks. Everybody has marks on their bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/nobody-was-perfect-not-even-close-and-everybody-had-wrinkles-from/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [Tension pulled my eyes open when her fingers traced a trail down my neck. Sensation blossomed, and I threw my head back and sucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/tension-pulled-my-eyes-open-when-her-fingers-traced-a-trail-down-my/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [He touches my face, covering my cheeks with his hands, sliding his fingertips down my neck, fitting his fingers to the slight curve of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-touches-my-face-covering-my-cheeks-with-his-hands-sliding-his/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Four sits down on the edge of the carousel, leaning against a plastic horse's foot. His eyes lift to the sky, where there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/four-sits-down-on-the-edge-of-the-carousel-leaning-against-a-plastic/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Do you know him well?" I ask.I am too curious; I always have been. "Everyone knows Four," she says. "We were initiates together.I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/do-you-know-him-well-i-ask-i-am-too-curious-i-always-have-been/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Tell me what to say. What can I say to make you want me the way I want you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/tell-me-what-to-say-what-can-i-say-to-make-you-want-me-the-way-i-want/) [veronica rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [“You make me want to do things I’ve never done before. Never wanted to do before,’ she whispered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-mackenzie/you-make-me-want-to-do-things-i-ve-never-done-before-never-wanted-to/) [C.C. MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-mackenzie/) > [Aw man, I spend it pretty much as fast as I make it. If I want something, I don't wait around and plan or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/aw-man-i-spend-it-pretty-much-as-fast-as-i-make-it-if-i-want/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [Don't try to be like the others, try to make others want to be like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-try-to-be-like-the-others-try-to-make-others-want-to-be-like-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Seize the day, take hold of it, and make it whatever you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/seize-the-day-take-hold-of-it-and-make-it-whatever-you-want/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [Sometimes you meet a really nice guy, but no matter how you try, you can’t seem to make yourself want him. But that’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/sometimes-you-meet-a-really-nice-guy-but-no-matter-how-you-try-you/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I can’t think. I can’t work or sleep. My body aches for you. I can make you want me again. Let me try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-can-t-think-i-can-t-work-or-sleep-my-body-aches-for-you-i-can-make/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) ## 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 Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this.\" He pulls me against him and runs his hand over my hair, tucking it behind my ear. His fingers trail down my neck and over my shoulder, and he says, \"But you will do it. It doesn't matter if you believe you can or not. You will, because that's who you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want-to-survive-this-he-pulls-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want-to-survive-this-he-pulls-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/veronica-roth-66_behinds_i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want_1655127.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this.\" He pulls me against him and runs his hand over my…” — 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": "I can't force you. I can't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want-to-survive-this-he-pulls-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-can-t-force-you-i-can-t-make-you-want-to-survive-this-he-pulls-me/#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 } } ] } ```