--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They think that because I'm small, or a…" description: "\"“They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a stiff, I can't possible be cruel. But they're wrong.”\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/veronica-roth-66_cruel_they-think-that-because-i-m-small-or-a-g_958767.png" --- # They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a stiff… ![“They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a stiff, I can't possible be cruel. But they're wrong.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/veronica-roth-66_cruel_they-think-that-because-i-m-small-or-a-g_958767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/veronica-roth-66_cruel_they-think-that-because-i-m-small-or-a-g_958767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/veronica-roth-66_cruel_they-think-that-because-i-m-small-or-a-g_958767.png) > ““They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a stiff, I can't possible be cruel. But they're wrong.”” [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 underestimate those they deem weak, yet cruelty can arise from any source. **In simple terms:** Never judge strength by size. Key Takeaway Beware hidden cruelty. Themes strength prejudice cruelty Mood reflective serious Type social psychological When to use this quote - workplace - school - family interactions Key Concepts social bias power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What biases influence our judgments? - How can we recognize hidden cruelty? A Different Perspective Assumptions can blind us to danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cruel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel/) [Cruel Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel-wrong-1759784/) [Girl Stiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-stiff-1759786/) [Possible Cruel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-cruel-1759785/) [Think Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-small/) ## Related quotes > [“People tend to overestimate my character,” I say quietly. “They think that because I’m small, or a girl, or a Stiff, I can’t possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/people-tend-to-overestimate-my-character-i-say-quietly-they-think-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Persecution is not wrong because it is cruel; but it is cruel because it is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/persecution-is-not-wrong-because-it-is-cruel-but-it-is-cruel-because/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [When we pass by another person without telling them we love them it’s cruel and wrong and we all know this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/when-we-pass-by-another-person-without-telling-them-we-love-them-it-s/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Whatever is a cruel wrong, Whatever is unjust, The honest years that speed along Will trample in the dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/whatever-is-a-cruel-wrong-whatever-is-unjust-the-honest-years-that/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [The more cruel the wrong that men commit against an individual or a people, the deeper their hatred and contempt for their victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-more-cruel-the-wrong-that-men-commit-against-an-individual-or-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“People tend to overestimate my character,' I say quietly, 'They think because I'm small, or a girl, or a Stiff, I can't possibly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/people-tend-to-overestimate-my-character-i-say-quietly-they-think/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/cruelty-does-not-make-a-person-dishonest-the-same-way-bravery-does/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Dauntless, brave but cruel; the Erudite, intelligent but vain; the Amity, peaceful but passive; the Candor, honest but inconsiderate; the Abnegation, selfless but stifling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/dauntless-brave-but-cruel-the-erudite-intelligent-but-vain-the-amity/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You know why you won fights as an initiate?” I say as I get to my feet. “Because you’re cruel. Because you like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-know-why-you-won-fights-as-an-initiate-i-say-as-i-get-to-my-feet/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I wish I could show you the little village where I was born. It's so lovely there...I used to think it too small to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kelly/i-wish-i-could-show-you-the-little-village-where-i-was-born-it-s-so/) [Mary Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kelly/) > [“Most of the time, if you think of the small details, rather than the bigger picture, you’ll avoid adverbs and clichés naturally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-bell/most-of-the-time-if-you-think-of-the-small-details-rather-than-the/) [Jessica Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-bell/) > [And what did I think when I was small and why did I forget? And what else will I forget when I grow older?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-creech/and-what-did-i-think-when-i-was-small-and-why-did-i-forget-and-what/) [Sharon Creech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-creech/) > [Do not think of yourself as a small, compressed, suffering thing. Think of yourself as graceful and expanding, no matter how unlikely it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/do-not-think-of-yourself-as-a-small-compressed-suffering-thing-think/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [It takes the same effort to think small than to think big. But to think big frees you from the insignificant details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-paulo-lemann/it-takes-the-same-effort-to-think-small-than-to-think-big-but-to/) [Jorge Paulo Lemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-paulo-lemann/) > [I have no problem with thinking small. Sometimes you have to think small first in order to think big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahki/i-have-no-problem-with-thinking-small-sometimes-you-have-to-think/) [Rahki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahki/) ## 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 Cruel quotes > [“History has a cruel way of disappointing optimists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thompson/history-has-a-cruel-way-of-disappointing-optimists/) [Keith Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thompson/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“Don't be so cruel to me. Don't promise me anything. I've got everything that i need. I need love in a good way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/don-t-be-so-cruel-to-me-don-t-promise-me-anything-i-ve-got-everything/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [Pity is cruel. Pity destroys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/pity-is-cruel-pity-destroys/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“Even the cruel feel pain. And even the cruel can change. I hope this changes him. He could do so much, if only he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/even-the-cruel-feel-pain-and-even-the-cruel-can-change-i-hope-this/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [You must learn that to endure cruelty is to become cruel yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bleach/you-must-learn-that-to-endure-cruelty-is-to-become-cruel-yourself/) [Bleach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bleach/) > [“my power is as cruel a joke as it can get? That’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-d-anderson/my-power-is-as-cruel-a-joke-as-it-can-get-that-s/) [Katie D. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-d-anderson/) > [I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-must-be-cruel-only-to-be-kind-thus-bad-begins-and-worse-remains/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Huamns, uregulated, are cruel and capricious; violet and selfish; miserable and quarrelsome. It is only after their instincts and basic emotions have been controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/huamns-uregulated-are-cruel-and-capricious-violet-and-selfish/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [how cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/how-cruel-your-veins-are-full-of-ice-water-and-mine-are-boiling/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [There is no kindness more cruel than the kindness which consigns another person to their sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-no-kindness-more-cruel-than-the-kindness-which-consigns/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Vanity can create a very cruel space for you if you don't know how to manage it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/vanity-can-create-a-very-cruel-space-for-you-if-you-don-t-know-how-to/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Life is cruel and we do terrible things to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/life-is-cruel-and-we-do-terrible-things-to-each-other/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-people-loathe-the-most-is-to-be-orphaned-desolate-unworthy-but/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Browse all 1,069 Cruel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a stiff, I can't possible be cruel. 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