Divergent Quotes About Facing Your Fears and Being Different

These Divergent quotes from the novel and the movie about facing your fears and being different make it easy to see why people like the story.

In 2011, my preteen daughter and all her friends were reading this new novel named Divergent by Veronica Roth. They seemed enamored with the book for sure, and a few years later (2014) when the movie came out, my daughter all but demanded I take her to the theater.

Her best friend is my best friend’s daughter, so we decided we would have a mother and daughter day and drive two hours to the big theater in Salt Lake City to see it. I thought we would be in for a boring kid’s story, but boy was I wrong!

This movie and the novel are filled with YA tropes like dystopian realities that flaunt authority, giving people a way to sort themselves (factions), and romance between the strong female heroine and the attractive male lead.

These quotes from Tris and Four will show each of these tropes in full force. Some people ask why is this movie so terrible, and while I disagree, I can see their arguments. Keep reading these Divergent quotes before deciding yourself!

Don’t forget to also check out these unity and diversity quotes to help us stand together.

Divergent book quotes about fear from the novel

1. “Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.” ― Veronica Roth

2. “Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up.” ― Veronica Roth

3. “Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up. I’ve seen it. It’s fascinating.” ― Veronica Roth

4. “Learning how to think in the midst of fear is a lesson that everyone needs to learn.” ― Veronica Roth

5. “Like you don’t want to know what his fears are. He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something.” ― Veronica Roth

6. “We believe in freedom from fear and in acquiring the skills to force the bad out of our world so that the good can prosper and thrive.” ― Veronica Roth

7. “But maybe what I saw as fearless was actually fear under control.” ― Veronica Roth

8. “I ignore my fear. When I make decisions, I pretend it doesn’t exist.” ― Veronica Roth

9. To me there’s a difference between not being afraid and acting in spite of fear, as he does.” ― Veronica Roth

10. “I have to face the fear. I have to take control of the situation and find a way to make it less frightening.” ― Veronica Roth

Divergent quotes about bravery from the novel

11. “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” ― Veronica Roth

12. “I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren’t all that different.” ― Veronica Roth

13. “A brave man acknowledges the strength of others.” ― Veronica Roth

14. “It must require bravery to be honest all the time.” ― Veronica Roth

15. “He told me once to be brave, and though I have stood still while knives spun toward my face and jumped off a roof, I never thought I would need bravery in the small moments of my life. I do.” ― Veronica Roth

16. “A chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy.” ― Veronica Roth

17. “Half of bravery is perspective.” ― Veronica Roth

18. “It’s easy to be brave when they’re not my fears.” ― Veronica Roth

19. “Sometimes it isn’t fighting that’s brave, its facing the death you know is coming.” ― Veronica Roth

20. “And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?” ― Veronica Roth

21. “It isn’t just brave that she died for me; it is brave that she did it without announcing it, without hesitation, and without appearing to consider another option.” ― Veronica Roth

Divergent quotes from Four that make you feel like you’re watching the movie

22. “It’s okay, I already have my spot on the floor.” ― Four

23. “As a Dauntless soldier you have to follow orders you don’t always agree with.” ― Four

24. “I don’t want to be just one thing. I want to be brave, selfless, intelligent, and honest, and kind… Well, I’m still working on kind.” ― Four

25. “You’re supposed to be smart. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have.” ― Four

26. “I know who you are. If you wanna survive, follow me.” ― Four

27. “As Dauntless we fight to protect every life inside the fence without fail. That’s why we train your the way we do, to teach you not to give up, and to find out who has what it takes.” ― Four

28. “Your last feat is your worst fear. It lives in the deepest part of your mind.” ― Four

29. “Everyone’s afraid of something.” ― Four

Divergent quotes from Tris that remind you how awesome the movie is

30. “Today I take the test. I’m scared it’ll tell me I’m not Abnegation, that I have to leave my family. But I’m even more scared that it’ll tell me to stay. For my brother Caleb it’s easy.” ― Tris

31. “Trust the test. The test will tell me who I am, where I belong. Am I smart? Kind? Am I honest? Selfless? Or brave?” ― Tris

32. “I’m the weakest one here.” ― Tris

33. “Everyone knows where they belong. Except for me. My mother says there’s an art to losing yourself, but I haven’t figured it out yet. I’m supposed to never think of myself, to always help others. To never look too long in the mirror.” ― Tris

34. “If you ever come close to me again, I will kill you!” ― Tris

35. “You just stay away from me! You are a coward!” ― Tris

36. “I think you might be overestimating my character!” ― Tris

37. “We have nothing. We have no home, no faction. I don’t even know who I am anymore.” ― Tris

38. “I will not ask you again! Do it! Shut it down!” ― Tris

39. “I’m Divergent.” ― Tris

Inspirational Divergent quotes about the different factions

40. “Our founders built the wall to keep us safe, and they divided us into five groups, factions, to keep the peace.” ― Tris

41. “The smart ones, the ones who value knowledge and logic, are in Erudite. They know everything.” ― Tris

42. “Amity farm the land. They’re all about kindness and harmony, always happy.” ― Tris

43. “Candor value honesty and order. They tell the truth, even when you wish they wouldn’t.” ― Tris

44. “And then there’s Dauntless. They’re our protectors, our soldiers, our police. I always thought they were amazing. Brave, fearless and free. Some people think Dauntless are crazy, when they kind of are.” ― Tris

45. “My faction is Abnegation. The others all call us “stiffs.” We lead a simple life, selfless, dedicated to helping others. We even feed the Factionless, the ones who don’t fit in anywhere. Because we’re public servants, we’re trusted to run the government.” ― Tris

46. “You made a mistake choosing Dauntless. They’ll find out about you.” ― Tori

47. “People have always been so threatened by Divergents. But now Erudite is looking for them everywhere, they’re actively seeking them out.” ― Natalie

48. “Every minute we waste another Abnegation dies, and a Dauntless becomes a murderer.” ― Tris

49. “We’re like the Factionless now. We’ve left everything behind, but we found ourselves and each other. Tomorrow we may have to fight again, but for now we’ll ride the train to the end of the line. And then, we’ll jump.” ― Tris

50. “Maybe there is some Abnegation in everyone, even if they don’t know it.” ― Veronica Roth

What did you learn from these Divergent quotes?

Critics argue that the novel and the movies fall short of mega-hits like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. I mean sure; they were a little lighter on the political aspects and social reform that fed the dystopian nature of The Hunger Games. 

And granted, you don’t see people actively declaring themselves part of a faction the way people pick houses like Hufflepuff. But hey, Divergent, the first film in a series of films grossed $288 million worldwide against its budget of $85 million, which is not too shabby!

Some people also argue that the books should be banned because of their political, sexual, and rebellious nature. Our little group that went to see Divergent in 2014, and has watched every installment since, disagrees! The star-studded cast of Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, and Kate Winslet never disappoint.

What do you think about the book or the movie? Do you have any other favorite Divergent quotes and lines to add? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.