--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a theory that selflessness and…" description: "\"I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png" --- # I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all… ![“I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png) > “I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.” [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. Selflessness and bravery share a common core of putting others before oneself, often requiring personal risk. **In simple terms:** Both involve self‑sacrifice and courage. Key Takeaway Recognize the overlap to act more boldly. Themes courage selflessness identity risk altruism Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - leadership - team projects - conflict resolution Key Concepts Ethics psychology heroism Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑care with helping others? - When does bravery become reckless? A Different Perspective Selflessness can be misused to avoid personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Bravery Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery-aren-1007594/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Selflessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selflessness/) [Selflessness Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selflessness-bravery-4206625/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Selflessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-selflessness-4206626/) ## Related quotes > [I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different. All your life you've been training to forget yourself, so when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-bravery-aren-t-all-that/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I have this theory that selflessness and bravery really aren't all that different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-this-theory-that-selflessness-and-bravery-really-aren-t-all/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [When you've married someone who's been at war, there is nothing you can do that compares to that level of selflessness and bravery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/when-you-ve-married-someone-who-s-been-at-war-there-is-nothing-you/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [“Selfless and bravery aren't that different”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/selfless-and-bravery-aren-t-that-different/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“It took a strength of character far greater than the norm to stand up to the status quo. To insist you be given the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-hayes/it-took-a-strength-of-character-far-greater-than-the-norm-to-stand-up/) [Lane Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-hayes/) > [What irritates me most about him is his natural goodness, his inborn selflessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-irritates-me-most-about-him-is-his-natural-goodness-his-inborn/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Maybe there is some Abnegation in everyone, even if they don't know it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/maybe-there-is-some-abnegation-in-everyone-even-if-they-don-t-know-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I realize that the decision might be simple. It will require a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation, or a great act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-realize-that-the-decision-might-be-simple-it-will-require-a-great/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I will be my undoing If I become my obsession. I will forget the ones I love If I do not serve them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-will-be-my-undoing-if-i-become-my-obsession-i-will-forget-the-ones-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [...there is power in self-sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/there-is-power-in-self-sacrifice/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [ “\[Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner belonged to\] that small army of brave people who made it their duty, without thought of themselves or hope or expectation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chapman-cohen/hypatia-bradlaugh-bonner-belonged-to-that-small-army-of-brave-people/) [Chapman Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chapman-cohen/) > [I knew by the way he looked at her that he held her in a higher regard than he held even himself. No selfishness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-knew-by-the-way-he-looked-at-her-that-he-held-her-in-a-higher/) [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## 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. 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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 Bravery quotes > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“How could we explain that standing on a stage and speaking someone else's words as if they are your own is less an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-rio/how-could-we-explain-that-standing-on-a-stage-and-speaking-someone/) [M.L. 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Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer-2/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/every-person-has-the-power-to-change-their-fate-if-they-are-brave/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [“We were taught to be good, and we were taught to be careful. 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Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich, as their country is impoverished; they rejoice, when obstinacy or ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/these-are-the-men-who-without-virtue-labour-or-hazard-are-growing/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Now I have the bravery to do fine things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-sabatini/now-i-have-the-bravery-to-do-fine-things/) [Gabriela Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-sabatini/) [Browse all 1,663 Bravery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-bravery-aren-t-all-that-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bravery" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-bravery-aren-t-all-that-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/veronica-roth-66_bravery_i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-br_1386154.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.” — 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 have a theory that selflessness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-bravery-aren-t-all-that-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-a-theory-that-selflessness-and-bravery-aren-t-all-that-2/#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 } } ] } ```