“I protect Prim in every way I can, but I'm powerless against the reaping.”

“ll I can think about, every day, every waking minute since they drew Prim's name at the reaping, is how afraid I am.”

“I'm powerless against a bad boy and his hot kisses.”

“...Let me say that I do think decency and civilization would insist that the writer take sides with the powerless. Clearly, there's no moral obligation to write in any particular way. But there is a moral obligation, I think, not to ally oneself with power against the powerless. I think an artist, in my definition of that word, would not be someone who takes sides with the emperor against his powerless subjects.”

“Prim, let go," I say harshly, because this is upsetting me and I don't want to cry. When they televise the replay of the reapings tonight, everyone will make note of my tears, and I'll be marked as an easy target. A weakling. I will give no one that satisfaction.”

“I'm whining. It's unattractive, but I find I'm powerless to stop”