--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I open my eyes and for the first time…" description: "\"“I open my eyes and for the first time stare openly at my own reflection. My heart rate picks up as I do, like I am breaking the rules and will be scol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/veronica-roth-66_breaking-the-rules_i-open-my-eyes-and-for-the-first-time-st_2447708.png" --- # I open my eyes and for the first time stare openly at my… ![“I open my eyes and for the first time stare openly at my own reflection. My heart rate picks up as I do, like I am breaking the rules and will be scolded for it. It will be difficult to break the habits of thinking Abnegation instilled in me, like tugging a single thread from a complex work of…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/veronica-roth-66_breaking-the-rules_i-open-my-eyes-and-for-the-first-time-st_2447708.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/veronica-roth-66_breaking-the-rules_i-open-my-eyes-and-for-the-first-time-st_2447708.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/veronica-roth-66_breaking-the-rules_i-open-my-eyes-and-for-the-first-time-st_2447708.png) > ““I open my eyes and for the first time stare openly at my own reflection. My heart rate picks up as I do, like I am breaking the rules and will be scolded for it. It will be difficult to break the habits of thinking Abnegation instilled in me, like tugging a single thread from a complex work of embroidery. But I will find new habits, new thoughts, new rules. I will become something else. …Looking at myself now isn’t like seeing myself for the first time; it’s like seeing someone else for the first time. Beatrice was a girl I saw in stolen moments at the mirror, who kept quiet at the dinner table. This is someone whose eyes claim mine and don’t release me; this is Tris.”” [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 a new self, breaking past conditioning to form fresh habits and identity. **In simple terms:** She discovers a new self beyond old rules. Key Takeaway Embrace change to redefine yourself. Themes self‑discovery transformation identity habit formation Mood introspective empowering Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career change - therapy - creative projects - relationship shifts Key Concepts psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What old habits hold you back? - How can you nurture new self‑belief? A Different Perspective Change can be painful and destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaking the rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-the-rules/) [Dinner table](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-table/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Heart rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-rate/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Moments Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments-mirror-542643/) [Open eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-eyes/) [Openly Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openly-reflection-542641/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Reflection Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection-heart-542642/) [Self-Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness-2/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I just like a great song. I just wanted to be this true reflection of what is in my heart and it ended up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rocket-summer/i-just-like-a-great-song-i-just-wanted-to-be-this-true-reflection-of/) [The Rocket Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-rocket-summer/) > [Beauty is the Reflection of one's heart. Peace and serenity only surrounds oneself when honesty and integrity over flows from the soul. Purity can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-stone/beauty-is-the-reflection-of-one-s-heart-peace-and-serenity-only/) [Diana Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-stone/) > [Heart is equal to a Mirror, mirror shows reflection, & Heart shows Affections. both have one equal quality can't be reform if broken!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika/heart-is-equal-to-a-mirror-mirror-shows-reflection-heart-shows/) [Nkemjika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika/) > [My image is the the reflection of my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sikhwetha-maanda/my-image-is-the-the-reflection-of-my-heart/) [Sikhwetha Maanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sikhwetha-maanda/) > [Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/adornment-is-never-anything-except-a-reflection-of-the-heart/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [Conflict tip: What comes out of someone else's mouth is a reflection of their heart ... not yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/conflict-tip-what-comes-out-of-someone-else-s-mouth-is-a-reflection/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [Be careful - the darkness you see in another's heart might just be a reflection of that which is in your own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-the-darkness-you-see-in-another-s-heart-might-just-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont take mirrors seriously. Our true reflection is in the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-take-mirrors-seriously-our-true-reflection-is-in-the-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They say when you look into a man's eyes you look into his soul but if his soul shows no reflection then where is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-when-you-look-into-a-man-s-eyes-you-look-into-his-soul-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At home I used to spend calm, pleasant nights with my family. My mother knit scarves for the neighborhood kids. My father helped Caleb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/at-home-i-used-to-spend-calm-pleasant-nights-with-my-family-my-mother/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I have never been carried around by a large boy, or laughed until my stomach hurt at the dinner table, or listened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-never-been-carried-around-by-a-large-boy-or-laughed-until-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In effect we are, bending and breaking the rules of the language. And if someone were to ask why we do it, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/in-effect-we-are-bending-and-breaking-the-rules-of-the-language-and/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [Creativity comes by breaking the rules, by saying that you're in love with the anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/creativity-comes-by-breaking-the-rules-by-saying-that-you-re-in-love/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [I want to remind people of a different kind of glamour, a different look, and breaking the rules of fashion. I wanna break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-want-to-remind-people-of-a-different-kind-of-glamour-a-different/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) ## 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 Breaking the rules quotes > [I want to remind people of a different kind of glamour, a different look, and breaking the rules of fashion. I wanna break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-want-to-remind-people-of-a-different-kind-of-glamour-a-different/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [Creativity comes by breaking the rules, by saying that you're in love with the anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/creativity-comes-by-breaking-the-rules-by-saying-that-you-re-in-love/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [In effect we are, bending and breaking the rules of the language. And if someone were to ask why we do it, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/in-effect-we-are-bending-and-breaking-the-rules-of-the-language-and/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The gospel addresses our greatest need and brings change and transformation to every area of life. Let’s look at just a few of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-gospel-addresses-our-greatest-need-and-brings-change-and/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Sometimes breaking the rules is extending the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sometimes-breaking-the-rules-is-extending-the-rules/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“I sometimes felt guilty about betraying Dumbledore’s trust, of course he had admitted me to Hogwarts when no other Headmaster would have done so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-sometimes-felt-guilty-about-betraying-dumbledore-s-trust-of-course/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“I had artistic classical training, and when you learn the classics for so many years, you might gain audacity, power and confidence to subvert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-roque/i-had-artistic-classical-training-and-when-you-learn-the-classics-for/) [Nuno Roque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-roque/) > [“Life is a game with breaking the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/life-is-a-game-with-breaking-the-rules/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“I remember the thing that caused the trauma, but I don't hold on to the trauma. I never let the memory of something painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-remember-the-thing-that-caused-the-trauma-but-i-don-t-hold-on-to/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [“Three Things to Remember As long as you’re dancing, you can break the rules. Sometimes breaking the rules is just extending the rules. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/three-things-to-remember-as-long-as-you-re-dancing-you-can-break-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“So, how did everything work out in the end? How did your parents deal with the subterfugery?” He looks behind us cautiously as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-rae/so-how-did-everything-work-out-in-the-end-how-did-your-parents-deal/) [Kristin Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-rae/) > [“This is no longer restlessness--it's recklessness. At first we're walking hand in hand. Then we're running hand in hand. That giddy rush of keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/this-is-no-longer-restlessness-it-s-recklessness-at-first-we-re/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/because-sin-is-not-just-breaking-the-rules-it-is-putting-yourself-in/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Man breaking the rules of the world like it just a mere mudwall..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yonem-elo/man-breaking-the-rules-of-the-world-like-it-just-a-mere-mudwall/) [Yonem Elo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yonem-elo/) [Browse all 88 Breaking the rules quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-the-rules/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I open my eyes and for the first time stare openly at my own reflection. 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