200+ Quotes & Sayings By Suzanne Collins

Peeta, how come I never know when you're having a nightmare?” I say.“ I don't know. I don't think I cry out or thrash around or anything. I just come to, paralyzed with terror, ” he says.“ You should wake me, ” I say, thinking about how I can interrupt his sleep two or three times on a bad night. About how long it can take to calm me down.“ It's not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you, ” he says. “I'm okay once I realize you're here. Suzanne Collins

Sometimes when I'm alone, I take the pearl from where it lives in my pocket and try to remember the boy with the bread, the strong arms that warded off nightmares on the train, the kisses in the arena. Suzanne Collins

But I have to confess, I'm glad you two had at least a few months of happiness together." I'm not glad, " says Peeta. "I wish we had waited until the whole thing was done officially." This takes even Caesar aback. "Surely even a brief time is better than no time?" Maybe I'd think that, too, Caesar, " says Peeta bitterly, "If it weren't for the baby. Suzanne Collins

He’s dozed off again, but I kiss him awake, which seems to startle him. Then he smiles as if he’d be happy to lie there gazing at me forever. Suzanne Collins

You'll never be able to let him go. You'll always feel wrong about being with me. Suzanne Collins

Katniss: I’m coming back into focus when Caesar asks him if he has a girlfriend back home. Peeta: (Gives an unconvincing shake of head.) Caesar: Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what’s her name? Peeta: Well, there is this one girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I’m pretty sure she didn’t know I was alive until the reaping. Caesar: She have another fellow? Peeta: I don’t know, but a lot of boys like her. Caesar: So, here’s what you do. You win, you go home. She can’t turn you down, eh? Peeta: I don’t think it’s going to work out. Winning… won’t help in my case. Caesar: Why ever not? Peeta: Because… because… she came here with me. Caesar: Oh, that is a piece of bad luck. Peeta: It’s not good. Caesar: Well, I don’t think any of us can blame you. It’d be hard not to fall for that young lady. She didn’t know? Peeta: Not until now. Suzanne Collins

That what I need to survive is not Gale's fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that. Suzanne Collins

I'm going to wake Peeta, " I say." No, wait, " says Finnick. "Let's do it together. Put our faces right in front of his." Well, there's so little opportunity for fun left in my life, I agree. We position ourselves on either side of Peeta, lean over until our faces are inches frim his nose, and give him a shake. "Peeta. Peeta, wake up, " I say in a soft, singsong voice. His eyelids flutter open and then he jumps like we've stabbed him. "Aa! "Finnick and I fall back in the sand, laughing our heads off. Every time we try to stop, we look at Peeta's attempt to maintain a disdainful expression and it sets us off again. Suzanne Collins

The idea of being strong for someone else having never entered their heads, I find myself in the position of having to console them. Since I'm the person going in to be slaughtered, this is somewhat annoying. Suzanne Collins

Katniss: 'What about you? Ive seen you in the market. You can lift hundred pound bags of flour'. I snap at him Tell him that. Thats not nothing. Peeta: Yes and Im sure the arena will be full of bags of flour for me to chuck at people. Suzanne Collins

Finnik?” I say. “Maybe some pants?”
 He looks down at his legs as if noticing them for the first time. Then he whips of his hospital gown, leaving him in just is underwear. “Why? Do you find this”-he strikes a ridiculously proactive pose-“distracting?”
 I can’t help laughing because it’s funny, and it’s extra funny because Boggs looks so uncomfortable, and I’m happy because Finnik actually sounds like the guy I met at the Quarter Quell.
“I’m only human, Odair.” I get in before the elevator doors close. “Sorry, ” I say to Boggs.
“Don’t be. I thought you… handled that well, ” He says. “Better than my having to arrest him, anyway.”

 Fulvia Cardew hustles over an makes a sound of frustration when she sees my clean face. “All that hard work, down the drain. I’m not blaming you, Katniss. It’s just that very few people are born with camera-ready faces. Like him.” She snags Gale, who’s in a conversation with Plutarch, and spins him towards us. “Isn’t he handsome?”
 Gale does look stricking in the uniform, I guess. But the question just embarrasses us both Given our history. I’m trying to think of a witty comeback when Boggs says brusquely, “Well don’t expect us to be too impressed. We just saw Finnick Odair in his underwear. Suzanne Collins

There's a meeting in Command. Disregard your current schedule, ' he says. 'Done, ' I say.' Did you follow it at all today?' he asks in exasperation.' Who knows? I'm mentally disoriented.' I hold up my wrist to show my medical bracelet and realize it's gone. 'See? I can't even remember they took my bracelet.' (Katniss and Boggs) Suzanne Collins

I no longer feel allegiance to these monsters called human beings, despise being one myself. I think that Peeta was onto something about us destroying one another and letting some decent species take over. Because something is significantly wrong with a creature that sacrifices its children’s lives to settle its differences. You can spin it any way you like. Snow thought the Hunger Games were an efficient means of control. Coin thought the parachutes would expedite the war. But in the end, who does it benefit? No one. The truth is, it benefits no one to live in a world where these things happen. Suzanne Collins

All around the dining hall, you can feel the rejuvenating effect that a good meal can bring on. The way it can make people kinder, funnier, more optimistic, and remind them it's not a mistake to go on living. It's better than any medicine. Suzanne Collins

Are you afraid now?" said Gregor."At times, " she admitted. "But it is no worse than if I were in Regalia. You see, I was tired of constant fear, so I made a decision. Everyday when I wake I tell myself it will be my last. If you are not trying to hold on to time, you are not so afraid of losing it." Gregor thought this was the single saddest thing anyone had ever said to him. He couldn't answer." And then, if you make it to bedtime, you feel the joy of cheating death out of one more day, " she said. "Do you see?. Suzanne Collins

No problem, " Gale replies. "I wake up ten times a night anyway."" To make sure Katniss is still here?" asks Peeta."Something like that, ".." That was funny, what Tigris said. About no one knowing what to do with her."" Well, WE never have, ".." She loves you, you know, " says Peeta. "She as good as told me after they whipped you."" Don't believe it, " Gale answers. "The way she kissed you in the Quarter Quell..well she never kissed me like that."" It was just part of the show, " Peeta tells him, although there's an edge of doubt in his voice." No, you won her over. Gave up everything for her. Maybe that's the only way to convince her you love her." There's a long pause. "I should have volunteered to take your place in the first Games. Protected her then."" You couldn't, " says Peeta. "She'd never have forgiven you. You had to take care of her family. They matter more to her than her life.".." I wonder how she'll make up her mind."" Oh, that I do know." I can just catch Gale's last words through the layer of fur. "Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can't survive without. Suzanne Collins

Peeta, ” I say lightly. “You said at the interview you’d had a crush on me forever. When did forever start?”“ Oh, let’s see. I guess the first day of school. We were five. You had on a red plaid dress and your hair.. it was in two braids instead of one. My father pointed you out when we were waiting to line up, ” Peeta says.“ Your father? Why?” I ask.“ He said, ‘See that little girl? I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner, ’” Peeta says.“ What? You’re making that up! ” I exclaim.“ No, true story, ” Peeta says. “And I said, ‘A coal miner? Why did she want a coal miner if she could’ve had you?’ And he said, ‘Because when he sings.. even the birds stop to listen.’”“ That’s true. They do. I mean, they did, ” I say. I’m stunned and surprisingly moved, thinking of the baker telling this to Peeta. It strikes me that my own reluctance to sing, my own dismissal of music might not really be that I think it’s a waste of time. It might be because it reminds me too much of my father.“ So that day, in music assembly, the teacher asked who knew the valley song. Your hand shot right up in the air. She stood you up on a stool and had you sing it for us. And I swear, every bird outside the windows fell silent, ” Peeta says.“ Oh, please, ” I say, laughing.“ No, it happened. And right when your song ended, I knew–just like your mother– I was a goner, ” Peeta says. “Then for the next eleven years, I tried to work up the nerve to talk to you.”“ Without success, ” I add.“ Without success. So, in a way, my name being drawn in the reaping was a real piece of luck, ” says Peeta. For a moment, I’m almost foolishly happy and then confusion sweeps over me. Because we’re supposed to be making up this stuff, playing at being in love not actually being in love. But Peeta’s story has a ring of truth to it. That part about my father and the birds. And I did sing the first day of school, although I don’t remember the song. And that red plaid dress.. there was one, a hand-me-down to Prim that got washed to rags after my father’s death. It would explain another thing, too. Why Peeta took a beating to give me the bread on that awful hollow day. So, if those details are true.. could it all be true?“ You have a.. remarkable memory, ” I say haltingly. “I remember everything about you, ” says Peeta, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re the one who wasn’t paying attention.”“ I am now, ” I say.“ Well, I don’t have much competition here, ” he says. I want to draw away, to close those shutters again, but I know I can’t. It’s as if I can hear Haymitch whispering in my ear, “Say it! Say it! ” I swallow hard and get the words out. “You don’t have much competition anywhere.” And this time, it’s me who leans in. Suzanne Collins

Agreed, " I say. "It's going to be a long hour."" Maybe not that long, " says Peeta." what was that you were saying just before the food arrived? Something about me. . no competition. . best thing that ever happened to you. . "" I don't remember that last part, " I say, hoping it's too dim in here for the cameras to pick up my blush." Oh, that's right. That's what I was thinking, " he says " Scoot over, I'm freezing. Suzanne Collins

And here, finally here in this place, in these circumstances, I will really have to kill him. And Snow will win. Hot, bitter hatred courses through me. Snow has won too much already today. It's a long shot, it's suicide maybe, but I do the only thing I can think of. I lean in and kiss Peeta full on the mouth. His whole body starts shuddering, but I keep my lips pressed to his until I have to come up for air. My hands slide up his wrists to clasp his. "Don't let him take you from me." Peeta's panting hard as he fights the nightmares raging in his head. "No. I don't want to.." I clench his hands to the point of pain. "Stay with me." His pupils contract to pinpoints, dilate again rapidly, and then return to something resembling normalcy. "Always, " he murmurs. . Suzanne Collins

If you had hope, maybe you could find a way to make things change, . Because if you thought about it, there were so many reasons to try. Suzanne Collins

It's old, very old I think. Made up long ago in our hills. What my music teacher calls a mountain air. But the words are easy and soothing, promising tomorrow will be more hopeful than this awful piece of time we call today. Suzanne Collins

Maybe it was impossible. But maybe it wasn't. Like Vikus said, nothing would happen unless you hoped it could. If you had hope, maybe you could find the way to make things change. Because if you thought about it, there were so many reasons to try. Suzanne Collins

She's not here, " I tell him. Buttercup hisses again. "She's not here. You can hiss all you like. You won't find Prim." At her name, he perks up. Raises his flattened ears. Begins to meow hopefully. "Get out! " He dodges the pillow I throw at him. "Go away! There's nothing left for you here! " I start to shake, furious with him. "She's not coming back! She's never ever coming back here again! " I grab another pillow and get to my feet to improve my aim. Out of nowhere, the tears begin to pour down my cheeks. "She's dead, you stupid cat. She's dead. . Suzanne Collins

People of Panem, we fight, we dare, we end our hunger for justice! ” There‘s dead silence on the set. It goes on. And on. Finally, the intercom crackles and Haymitch‘s acerbic laugh fills the studio. He contains himself just long enough to say, “And that, my friends, is how a revolution dies. Suzanne Collins

Finnick and I sit for a long time in silence, watching the knots bloom and vanish, before I can ask, 'How do you bear it?' Finnick looks at me in disbelief. 'I don't, Katniss! Obviously, I don't. I drag myself out of nightmares each morning and find there's no relief in waking.' Something in my expression stops him.' Better not give in to it. It takes ten times as long to put yourself together as it does to fall apart.' Well, he must know. I take a deep breath, forcing myself back into one piece. Suzanne Collins

If Under fell, if Over leaped, If death was life and Death life reaped, Something rises from the gloom, To make the Underland a tomb Hear it scratching down below, Rat of long forgotten snow, Evil cloaked in coat of White, Will the Warrior drain your light? What could turn the Warrior week? What do burning Gnawers seek? Just a barely speaking pup That holds the Land of Under up Die the baby, die his heart Die his most essential part Die the peace that rules the hour, Gnawers have their key to power . Suzanne Collins

She needs to wake up, " said Boots. "Hazard is crying. When does she wake up?" Gregor could not find it within him to give his standard reply. To pretend that in a short time Thalia would be back with them, laughing and happy. And somehow it seemed wrong to try. Boots was getting older. Very soon, she would begin to realize the truth on her own, anyway. "She's not going wake up, " he told her. "She's dead."" She doesn't wake up?" said Boots."No, not this time, " said Gregor. "This time, she had to go away." Boots looked around at all their faces, at Hazard crying. "Where did she go?" No one had an answer. "Where is Thalia when she doesn't wake up?" The question hung in the air for an eternity. Finally, it was Howard who spoke up. "Why, she's in your heart, Boots.""My heart?" said Boots, putting both hands on her chest." Yes. That's where she lives now, " said Howard."She can fly away?" asked Boots, pressing her palms tightly against her heart as if to keep Thalia from escaping." Oh, no, she will stay there forever, " said Howard. Suzanne Collins

I want to tell the rebels that I am alive. That I'm right here in District Eight, where the Capitol has just bombed a hospital full of unarmed men, women and children. There will be no survivors." The shock I've been feeling begins to give way to fury. "I want to tell people that if you think for one second the Capitol will treat us fairly if there's a cease-fire, you're deluding yourself. Because you know who they are and what they do." My hands go out automatically, as if to indicate the whole horror around me. "This is what they do and we must fight back! "" President Snow says he's sending a message. Well I have one for him. You can torture us and bomb and burn our districts to the ground, but do you see that?" One of the cameras follows where I point to the planes burning on the roof of a warehouse across from us. "Fire is catching! " I am shouting now, determined he will not miss a word of it, "And if we burn, you burn with us! . Suzanne Collins

Para que haya traición debe haber primero confianza. Suzanne Collins

How do you bear it?" Finnick looks at me in disbelief. "I don't, Katniss! Obviously, I don't. I drag myself out of nightmares each morning and find there's no relief in waking up." Something in my expression stops him. "Better not give in to it. It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart. Suzanne Collins

That what?" "That I knew i misjudged you. That you love him. I'm not saying In what way. Maybe you don't know yourself. But anyone paying attention could see how much you care about him, " he says gently. Suzanne Collins

Are you preparing for another war, Plutarch?" I ask." Oh, not now. Now we're in a sweet period where everyone agrees that our recent horrors should never be repeated, " he says. "But collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction. Although who knows? Maybe this will be it, Katniss. Suzanne Collins

The War Has Been Declared.Your Ally Been Ensnared.It Is Now Or It Is Never.Break The Code Or Die Forever.Time Is Running OutRunning OutRunning OutTo the Warrior Give My BladeBy His Hand Your Fate Is MadeBut Do Not Forget the TickingOr the Clicking, Clicking, ClickingWhile a Rat's Tongue May Be FlickingWith Its Feet It Does the TrickingFor the Paw and Not the Jaw Makes the Code of ClawTime Is Standing StillStanding StillStanding StillSince the Princess Is the KeyTo Unlock the TreacheryShe Cannot Avoid the Matching or the Scratching, Scratching, ScratchingWhen a Secret Plot is HatchingIn the Naming Is the CatchingWhat She Saw, It Is the FlawOf the Code of ClawTime is Turning BackTurning BackTurning BackWhen the Monster's Blood Is SpilledWhen the Warrior Has Been KilledYou Must Not Ingore the RappingOr the Tapping, Tapping, TappingIf the Gnawers Find you NappingYou Will Rot While They Are MappingOut the Law of Those Who GnawIn the Code of Claw . Suzanne Collins

Frankly, our ancestors don't seem much to brag about. I mean, look at the state they left us in, with the wars, the broken planet. Clearly, they didn't care about what would happen to the people who came after them. Suzanne Collins

In theory, sure, Gregor could still go home. Pack up his three-year-old sister, Boots, get his mom out of the hospital, where she was recovering from the plague, and have his bat, Ares, fly them back up to the laudry room of their appartment building in New York City. Ares, his bond, who saved his life numerous times and who had had nothing but suffering since he had met Gregor. He tried to imagine the parting. "Well, Ares, it's been great. I'm heading home now. I know by leaving I'm completely dooming to annihilation everbody who's helped me down here, but I'm really not up for this whole war thing anymore. So, fly you high, you know?" Like that would ever happen. Suzanne Collins

He was safe for the moment, here in the playground, but people all over the world were suffering, starving, fleeing, killing one another as they waged their wars. How much energy they put into harming one another. How little into saving. Would it ever change? What would it take to make it change? He thought of Luxa's hand pressed into Ripred's paw. That's what it would take. People rejecting war. Not one or two, but all of them. Saying it was an unacceptable way to solve their differences. By the look of things, the human race had a lot of evolving to do before that happened. Maybe it was impossible. But maybe it wasn't. Like Vikus said, nothing would happen unless you hoped it could. If you had hope, maybe you could find the way to make things change. Because if you thought about it, there were so many reasons to try. Suzanne Collins

They can fatten me up. They can give me a full body polish, dress me up, and make me beautiful again. They can design dream weapons that come to life in my hands, but they will never again brainwash me into the necessity of using them. I no longer feel allegiance to these monsters called human beings, despite being one myself. Suzanne Collins

You're really going to do it, aren't you? You're really going to go back to war?" Gregor said. He could feel something boiling up inside of him. "So, we'll just forget about what happened. The jungle, the Firelands, the Bane." His voice was rising and he could feel the rager side of him taking over. "Forget about everybody who's dead! Tick and Twitchtip and Hamnet and Thalia and Ares! And your parents, Luxa! And your pups, Ripred! Let's just forget about everybody who gave their lives so that you could have this moment where you could – could make things right again! So you could stop the killing! We were fighting for the same thing, remember? You two owe each other your lives! You owe me your lives! And now you stand there and ask me to choose between you? To help you kill each other?" Gregor yanked Sandwich's sword from his belt and swung it so violently that even Luxa and Ripred stepped back. "Well, guess what? The warrior's not fighting for either of you! . Suzanne Collins