--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have failed. You can't control me!\" I…" description: "\"“You have failed. You can't control me!\" I scream,so loud it hurts my throat. I stop struggling and sag against Peter's chest. \"You will never be able ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/veronica-roth-66_failure_you-have-failed-you-can-t-control-me-i-s_3050254.jpg" --- # You have failed. You can't control me!" I scream,so loud… ![“You have failed. You can't control me!" I scream,so loud it hurts my throat. I stop struggling and sag against Peter's chest. "You will never be able to control me." I laugh, mirthless, a mad laugh. I savor the scowl on her face, the hate in her eyes. She was like a machine; she was cold and…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/veronica-roth-66_failure_you-have-failed-you-can-t-control-me-i-s_3050254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/veronica-roth-66_failure_you-have-failed-you-can-t-control-me-i-s_3050254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/veronica-roth-66_failure_you-have-failed-you-can-t-control-me-i-s_3050254.jpg) > ““You have failed. You can't control me!" I scream,so loud it hurts my throat. I stop struggling and sag against Peter's chest. "You will never be able to control me." I laugh, mirthless, a mad laugh. I savor the scowl on her face, the hate in her eyes. She was like a machine; she was cold and emotionless, bound by logic alone. And I broke her. I broke her.”” [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. Shows a struggle for autonomy against oppressive control, ending in triumph over a cold, logical adversary. **In simple terms:** Resist control, claim freedom. Key Takeaway Assert personal agency. Themes freedom rebellion identity power dynamics Mood defiant intense Type literary dramatic When to use this quote - personal relationships - activism - self‑defense Key Concepts autonomy psychology conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What does true freedom feel like? - How do you confront logical oppression? A Different Perspective Control can be subtle and internal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ## Related quotes > [“You have failed. You can’t control me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-have-failed-you-can-t-control-me/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [When things run out of control it is because we failed to control how reality plays out. How you manage and control your reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-things-run-out-of-control-it-is-because-we-failed-to-control-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Got something to prove?” asks Eric, with his trademark smirk. “Or are you just picking the weak ones so that if you lose, you’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/got-something-to-prove-asks-eric-with-his-trademark-smirk-or-are-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I laugh, mirthless, a mad laugh. I savor the scowl on her face, the hate in her eyes. She was like a machine; she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-laugh-mirthless-a-mad-laugh-i-savor-the-scowl-on-her-face-the-hate/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I love Tris the Divergent, who makes decisions apart from faction loyalty, who isn’t some faction archetype. But the Tris who’s trying as hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-love-tris-the-divergent-who-makes-decisions-apart-from-faction-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I love Tris the Divergent, who makes decisions apart from faction loyalty, who isn’t some faction archetype. But the Tris who’s trying as hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-love-tris-the-divergent-who-makes-decisions-apart-from-faction/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“No. Billy.” I gave my older brother a severe scowl. “This is my refrigerator. I need to do it. You can’t be doing everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/no-billy-i-gave-my-older-brother-a-severe-scowl-this-is-my/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Some people are like gravity; they draw you into a room with a hop in your step and a smile on your face. Others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/some-people-are-like-gravity-they-draw-you-into-a-room-with-a-hop-in/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I've just got a really bad smile. I go for the scowl instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/i-ve-just-got-a-really-bad-smile-i-go-for-the-scowl-instead/) [Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/) > [“to make you mad.” “Of course you didn’t,” he said with a scowl. “All you meant to do was descend into my girlfriend’s body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-g-buehrlen/to-make-you-mad-of-course-you-didn-t-he-said-with-a-scowl-all-you/) M.G. Buehrlen > [“Would you like to talk about this in your room?” she asked innocently. His brows came down to scowl at her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/would-you-like-to-talk-about-this-in-your-room-she-asked-innocently/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [“He glared down at her. “Yes. But you must not cry. I won’t get you any dresses if you cry.” “I don’t normally cry.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/he-glared-down-at-her-yes-but-you-must-not-cry-i-won-t-get-you-any/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“I peel hiss tense fingers on his right hand away from the steering wheel, one two three four five. With each finger, the scowl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-schroeder/i-peel-hiss-tense-fingers-on-his-right-hand-away-from-the-steering/) [Lisa Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-schroeder/) > [Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. What do we live for if not to make the world less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/wear-a-smile-and-have-friends-wear-a-scowl-and-have-wrinkles-what-do/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## 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 Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You have failed. 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