--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then you must no longer think cruel…" description: "\"“Then you must no longer think cruel thought. Cruel thoughts lead to cruel words, and hurt you as much as they hurt their target.”\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/veronica-roth-66_think-cruel_then-you-must-no-longer-think-cruel-thou_518919.png" --- # Then you must no longer think cruel thought. Cruel… ![“Then you must no longer think cruel thought. Cruel thoughts lead to cruel words, and hurt you as much as they hurt their target.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/veronica-roth-66_think-cruel_then-you-must-no-longer-think-cruel-thou_518919.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/veronica-roth-66_think-cruel_then-you-must-no-longer-think-cruel-thou_518919.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/veronica-roth-66_think-cruel_then-you-must-no-longer-think-cruel-thou_518919.png) > ““Then you must no longer think cruel thought. Cruel thoughts lead to cruel words, and hurt you as much as they hurt their target.”” [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. Cruel thoughts produce harmful words and self‑pain, so one must replace them with kindness. **In simple terms:** Bad thoughts cause harm to self and others. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassionate thinking. Themes self‑control empathy mindfulness Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - mental health - stress management Key Concepts psychology ethics cognitive behavior Questions to Reflect On - What thought can you replace with kindness? - How does self‑compassion affect your actions? A Different Perspective Changing thoughts is hard when negative patterns are ingrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Oh, the hard, cruel thoughts which men have toward one another when they are angry! They kill and slay a thousand times over. 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When will people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-rosenberg/i-remember-looking-at-the-fear-in-her-eyes-how-could-someone-be-so/) Zoe Rosenberg > [It is a cruel thought, that, when we feel ourselves standing on the firmest ground in every respect, the cursed arts of our secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-cruel-thought-that-when-we-feel-ourselves-standing-on-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I was often forced to whip him, which some men do not mind doing and which in fact some enjoy doing, but which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-was-often-forced-to-whip-him-which-some-men-do-not-mind-doing-and/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [Words can hurt us far more than sticks and stones. Bruises heal. 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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 Think Cruel quotes > [I think, if you were being cruel to animals, then the thought of eating them would be horrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hurley/i-think-if-you-were-being-cruel-to-animals-then-the-thought-of-eating/) [Elizabeth Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hurley/) > [Everyone is afraid of you and when folk are afraid of a person it usually means the person is cruel in some way, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/everyone-is-afraid-of-you-and-when-folk-are-afraid-of-a-person-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I believe in tough love but I don't think I can ever be cruel to another artist. There are definitely better ways to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-believe-in-tough-love-but-i-don-t-think-i-can-ever-be-cruel-to/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [“Now listen...You are young and you don't know many things, but do remember this: you are alone in this earth. Alone. You must act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/now-listen-you-are-young-and-you-don-t-know-many-things-but-do/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“But what do you think, my lady?' 'I think that she must be cruel if she wants to be loved,' Gertrude explained. ' For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-klein/but-what-do-you-think-my-lady-i-think-that-she-must-be-cruel-if-she/) [Lisa Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-klein/) > [It's very easy to look at the world and think this is all so cruel and so mean. It's important to not become bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/it-s-very-easy-to-look-at-the-world-and-think-this-is-all-so-cruel/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [Before The World Was Made If I make the lashes dark and the eyes more bright and the lips more scarlet, or ask if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-the-world-was-made-if-i-make-the-lashes-dark-and-the-eyes-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think anything's cruel - if you're so sensitive these days that you see cruelty everywhere, unfortunately every time a comedian comes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/i-don-t-think-anything-s-cruel-if-you-re-so-sensitive-these-days-that/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [“Someone walking past might think that he was being cruel, making fun of his young son. They would be missing the mark. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ferraiolo/someone-walking-past-might-think-that-he-was-being-cruel-making-fun/) Jack Ferraiolo > [I'll do humor about myself, I'll poke fun and everything, but that's me and I can do it to me. I think it's cruel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-burke/i-ll-do-humor-about-myself-i-ll-poke-fun-and-everything-but-that-s-me/) [Delta Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-burke/) > [Why does everyone think that I am a cruel and insensitive man? I mean, come on, I have kids... on my desk in little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/why-does-everyone-think-that-i-am-a-cruel-and-insensitive-man-i-mean/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [No, I only think you cruel, as I said the other day. 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What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/some-think-that-it-is-cruel-or-brutal-to-remove-the-bottom-10-percent/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) Browse all 17 Think Cruel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Then you must no longer think cruel thought. 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