--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You think my first instinct is to protect…" description: "\"You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong.\" He leans his face close to mine and wrap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg" --- # You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because… ![“You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong." He leans his face close to mine and wraps his fingers around my chin. His hand smells like metal. When was the last time he held a gun, or a knife? My skin tingles at the point of…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg) > “You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong." He leans his face close to mine and wraps his fingers around my chin. His hand smells like metal. When was the last time he held a gun, or a knife? My skin tingles at the point of contact, like he's transmitting electricity through his skin. "My first instinct is to push you until you break, just to see how hard I have to press." he says, his fingers squeezing at the word break. My body tenses at the edge in his voice, so I am coiled as tight as a spring, and I forget to breathe.” [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. A character uses intimidation and physical pressure to test another’s limits, revealing a twisted desire for control and insight into strength. **In simple terms:** He pushes to see how much you can endure. Key Takeaway Recognize and set boundaries against abusive pressure. Themes control power dynamics psychology violence trust Mood tense dangerous intense Type literary psychological dramatic When to use this quote - abusive relationships - personal growth - conflict resolution - self‑defense training Key Concepts coercion intimidation psychological manipulation boundary testing Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when someone tries to break you? - What limits will you set to protect yourself? A Different Perspective The method can cause lasting trauma and may not reveal true strength. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body Tenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-tenses-6025931/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Chins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chins/) [Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers/) [Fingers Squeezing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers-squeezing-6025932/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instinct Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct-protect-1446944/) [Knives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knives/) [Last time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-time/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metals/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Skin Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-instinct-4475721/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Squeezing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squeezing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [“You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong." He leans his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-re-small-or-3/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You think my first instinct is to protect you because you are small or a girl or a stiff, but you are wrong. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-are-small/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a stiff. But you're wrong. My first instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-re-small-or-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I feel the monster of grief again, writhing in the empty space where my heart and stomach used to be. I gasp, pressing both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-feel-the-monster-of-grief-again-writhing-in-the-empty-space-where/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [He kisses me again, more insistent this time, his hands squeezing my waist. His breaths, his body, my body, we are so close there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-kisses-me-again-more-insistent-this-time-his-hands-squeezing-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“All men are born firstly with the instinct to protect themselves. But few grow to really love themselves, and even fewer learn to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/all-men-are-born-firstly-with-the-instinct-to-protect-themselves-but/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [One of the things that happens when you write characters - and maybe this is my own sentimentality - is that I always find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/one-of-the-things-that-happens-when-you-write-characters-and-maybe/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [...as your father, my instinct is to protect you ... Other people will want to protect you too. But remember that you are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/as-your-father-my-instinct-is-to-protect-you-other-people-will-want/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) > [Mothers instinct...Protect her child at all cost...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mothers-instinct-protect-her-child-at-all-cost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A dragons first instinct is to protect and defend. Its not your fault.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-knoebel/a-dragons-first-instinct-is-to-protect-and-defend-its-not-your-fault/) [Candace Knoebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-knoebel/) > [~My instinct is to protect my children from pain. But adversity is often the thing that gives us character and backbone. It's always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/my-instinct-is-to-protect-my-children-from-pain-but-adversity-is/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I guess everyone has their reasons for keeping people away, an instinct to protect yourself from getting hurt. It's part of human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-guess-everyone-has-their-reasons-for-keeping-people-away-an/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“It’s smart to want to be safe. It’s a natural instinct. If we protect ourselves—our bodies, our minds, our hearts—we can avoid all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roni-loren/it-s-smart-to-want-to-be-safe-it-s-a-natural-instinct-if-we-protect/) [Roni Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roni-loren/) > [“That was my first instinct -- to protect him. It never occurred to me that there was a greater need to protect myself. Innocence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/that-was-my-first-instinct-to-protect-him-it-never-occurred-to-me/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [She tips her chin up and looks at me with that Abnegation stubbornness I know so well. She may have left them, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/she-tips-her-chin-up-and-looks-at-me-with-that-abnegation/) [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 Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong.\" He leans his face close to mine and wraps his fingers around my chin. His hand smells like metal. When was the last time he held a gun, or a knife? My skin tingles at the point of contact, like he's transmitting electricity through his skin. \"My first instinct is to push you until you break, just to see how hard I have to press.\" he says, his fingers squeezing at the word break. My body tenses at the edge in his voice, so I am coiled as tight as a spring, and I forget to breathe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-re-small-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-re-small-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/veronica-roth-66_body_you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protec_2403230.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're…” — Veronica Roth", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Veronica Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You think my first instinct is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-re-small-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-think-my-first-instinct-is-to-protect-you-because-you-re-small-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```