--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intentions are the only thing they care…" description: "\"“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 don't want you to act a ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/veronica-roth-66_be-yourself_intentions-are-the-only-thing-they-care_190725.jpg" --- # Intentions are the only thing they care about. They try to… ![“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 don't want you to act a certain way, they want you to think a certain way. So you're easy to understand. So you wont pose a threat to them.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/veronica-roth-66_be-yourself_intentions-are-the-only-thing-they-care_190725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/veronica-roth-66_be-yourself_intentions-are-the-only-thing-they-care_190725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/veronica-roth-66_be-yourself_intentions-are-the-only-thing-they-care_190725.jpg) > ““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 don't want you to act a certain way, they want you to think a certain way. So you're easy to understand. So you wont pose a threat to them.”” [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. People manipulate others by shaping their thoughts rather than controlling actions, making them seem harmless while influencing behavior. **In simple terms:** Control thoughts, not actions. Key Takeaway Beware of influence that masquerades as concern. Themes manipulation psychology power trust Mood cautious reflective skeptical Type advice warning philosophical When to use this quote - Workplace politics - personal relationships - media consumption - education - marketing Key Concepts Cognitive control social engineering mind games Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when someone is trying to shape your thinking? - What boundaries protect your mental autonomy? A Different Perspective Influence can be subtle and hard to detect, leading to self‑censorship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Tobias eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tobias-eaton/) [Tris prior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tris-prior/) [Veronica-roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veronica-roth/) ## Related quotes > [“You know, the kind of person who gets this tattoo is probably the kind that should keep it very quiet," she says, looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-know-the-kind-of-person-who-gets-this-tattoo-is-probably-the-kind/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [They try to make you think they care about what you do but they don't. They don't want you to act a certain way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/they-try-to-make-you-think-they-care-about-what-you-do-but-they-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Hay tantas maneras de ser valiente en este mundo. A veces la valentía implica dar tu vida por algo más grande que tú, o…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/hay-tantas-maneras-de-ser-valiente-en-este-mundo-a-veces-la-valent-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Maybe you were cut out for Candor, Four, because you're a terrible liar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/maybe-you-were-cut-out-for-candor-four-because-you-re-a-terrible-liar/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I push open the door just as Tobias, who is sitting on the floor with one leg stretched out, hurls a butter knife at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-push-open-the-door-just-as-tobias-who-is-sitting-on-the-floor-with/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Sometimes I just... want to see it again. Want to see you awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/sometimes-i-just-want-to-see-it-again-want-to-see-you-awake/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Me enamoré de él. Pero no solamente estoy con él por defecto, como si no hubiera nadie más disponible para mí. Estoy con él…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/me-enamor-de-l-pero-no-solamente-estoy-con-l-por-defecto-como-si-no/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I regret..." Tobias tilts his head, and sighs. "I regret my choice." "What Choice?" "Dauntless," he says. "I was born Abnegation. I was planning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-regret-tobias-tilts-his-head-and-sighs-i-regret-my-choice-what/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“His gestures, his inflections, his manner, they are hers. They make him into just a whisper of her, and that is not enough of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/his-gestures-his-inflections-his-manner-they-are-hers-they-make-him/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Death could not erase her, she is permanent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/death-could-not-erase-her-she-is-permanent/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“But then he stops at the door frame and says, It's 9:24. Telling me the time is a small act of betrayal-and therefore an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/but-then-he-stops-at-the-door-frame-and-says-it-s-9-24-telling-me-the/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Hey, Peter, I say. Remember what a target is?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/hey-peter-i-say-remember-what-a-target-is/) [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/) > [“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/) > [“They'll care for each other, she says. That's what people do. I smile and close my eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/they-ll-care-for-each-other-she-says-that-s-what-people-do-i-smile/) [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 Be yourself quotes > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I does wat I does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-does-wat-i-does/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Change nothing, just be yourself to experience peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/change-nothing-just-be-yourself-to-experience-peace/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level. It will only excite them more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-badly-people-treat-you-never-drop-down-to-their-level/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Why is it that anyone can pretend to be someone there not and never be someone they are?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akeem/why-is-it-that-anyone-can-pretend-to-be-someone-there-not-and-never/) Akeem > [You can never change the Past, not control the future. But, you can change the mood of the day, by touching someone's Heart with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/you-can-never-change-the-past-not-control-the-future-but-you-can/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Just be you. Do what you love. I've learned that in the end, you can't make everyone happy no matter what you say or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/just-be-you-do-what-you-love-i-ve-learned-that-in-the-end-you-can-t/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Nothing has power over you unless you allow it. No matter what happens, you can choose what and how to think, act, and speak!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-has-power-over-you-unless-you-allow-it-no-matter-what-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm might not be the best , I might not be strongest or the fastest or the smart ,but I'm sure as hades ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/i-m-might-not-be-the-best-i-might-not-be-strongest-or-the-fastest-or/) MrAwesome > [I'm not a person to judge but I really don't care for people that follow I love the ones that want to lead unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-brown/i-m-not-a-person-to-judge-but-i-really-don-t-care-for-people-that/) [Jordan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-brown/) Browse all 2,115 Be yourself quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Intentions are the only thing they care about. 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