--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The steps were crowded with bodies then…" description: "\"“The steps were crowded with bodies then. Now they are clean and cool, like nothing ever happened here.”\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/veronica-roth-66_allegiant_the-steps-were-crowded-with-bodies-then_2857478.png" --- # The steps were crowded with bodies then. Now they are… ![“The steps were crowded with bodies then. Now they are clean and cool, like nothing ever happened here.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/veronica-roth-66_allegiant_the-steps-were-crowded-with-bodies-then_2857478.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/veronica-roth-66_allegiant_the-steps-were-crowded-with-bodies-then_2857478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/veronica-roth-66_allegiant_the-steps-were-crowded-with-bodies-then_2857478.png) > ““The steps were crowded with bodies then. Now they are clean and cool, like nothing ever happened here.”” [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. After chaos, the place is now clean and calm, as if nothing happened. **In simple terms:** Calm follows chaos. Key Takeaway Recognize that peace can return after turmoil. Themes recovery tranquility aftermath Mood hopeful reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - post‑disaster recovery - personal trauma - urban renewal Key Concepts impermanence healing process Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice hidden damage? - What restores true calm? A Different Perspective Underlying scars may remain unseen. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiant/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Divergent series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divergent-series/) [Divergent-3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divergent-3/) [Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tris/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [“How many different kinds of ruin do you have to see, before you resign yourself to calling it all 'ruin'?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-many-different-kinds-of-ruin-do-you-have-to-see-before-you-resign/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I laugh, and it’s laughter, not light, that casts out the darkness building within me, that reminds me I am still alive, even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-laugh-and-it-s-laughter-not-light-that-casts-out-the-darkness-3/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I feel uneasy. It's not often that you encounter the real person behind a good-natured mask, the darkest parts of someone. It's not comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-feel-uneasy-it-s-not-often-that-you-encounter-the-real-person/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“If someone offers you an opportunity to get closer to your enemy, you always take it. I know that without having learned it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/if-someone-offers-you-an-opportunity-to-get-closer-to-your-enemy-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“It happened. It was awful. You aren't perfect. That's all there is. Don't confuse your grief with guilt." We stay in the silence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-happened-it-was-awful-you-aren-t-perfect-that-s-all-there-is-don-t-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“. . . in the distance I hear a train rushing over the rails, but we are moving away from this place and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-the-distance-i-hear-a-train-rushing-over-the-rails-but-we-are/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight for a few seconds. His breaths tickle my ear, and I close my eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-wraps-his-arms-around-me-and-holds-me-tight-for-a-few-seconds-his/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I wonder if that fear still creeps up on her now though she worked so hard to face it—I wonder if fears ever really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-wonder-if-that-fear-still-creeps-up-on-her-now-though-she-worked-so/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“It’s getting more difficult to be wise,” he says, laughing into my ear. I smile at him. “I think that’s how it’s supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-s-getting-more-difficult-to-be-wise-he-says-laughing-into-my-ear-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Let water wash our bodies clean, and love wash our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/let-water-wash-our-bodies-clean-and-love-wash-our-souls/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) > [“We move closer together like sections of a tightened shoelace”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-move-closer-together-like-sections-of-a-tightened-shoelace/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Am I done yet?' I say, and I'm not sure if I actually say it or if I just think it and she hears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-i-done-yet-i-say-and-i-m-not-sure-if-i-actually-say-it-or-if-i/) [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/) > [“I just wanted to thank you," he says, his voice low. "A group of scientists told you that my genes were damaged, that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-just-wanted-to-thank-you-he-says-his-voice-low-a-group-of/) [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 Allegiant quotes > [“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/) > [“I just wanted to thank you," he says, his voice low. "A group of scientists told you that my genes were damaged, that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-just-wanted-to-thank-you-he-says-his-voice-low-a-group-of/) [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/) > [“Am I done yet?' I say, and I'm not sure if I actually say it or if I just think it and she hears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-i-done-yet-i-say-and-i-m-not-sure-if-i-actually-say-it-or-if-i/) [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/) > [“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 find my anger ebbing away, and I'm lost in muffled grief again, this time not just for Tris, but for Uriah, whose smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-find-my-anger-ebbing-away-and-i-m-lost-in-muffled-grief-again-this/) [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/) > [“I wonder if that fear still creeps up on her now though she worked so hard to face it—I wonder if fears ever really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-wonder-if-that-fear-still-creeps-up-on-her-now-though-she-worked-so/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/one-thing-i-know-for-helping-me-forget-how-awful-the-world-is-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I prefer to look at it another way-which is that if they are persistent enough, even tiny drops of water, over time, can change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-prefer-to-look-at-it-another-way-which-is-that-if-they-are/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight for a few seconds. His breaths tickle my ear, and I close my eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-wraps-his-arms-around-me-and-holds-me-tight-for-a-few-seconds-his/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“A husband should not discipline his wife, Johanna says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/a-husband-should-not-discipline-his-wife-johanna-says/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Can I be forgiven for all I've done to get here? I don't know. I don't know. please. -Tris, Divergent Can I be forgiven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/can-i-be-forgiven-for-all-i-ve-done-to-get-here-i-don-t-know-i-don-t/) [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/) [Browse all 43 Allegiant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The steps were crowded with bodies then. 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