--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't control the world, but when you…" description: "\"You can't control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.\" — Bernie Siegel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg" --- # You can't control the world, but when you control your… ![“You can't control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.” quote by Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg) > “You can't control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.” [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control over thoughts creates internal order even when external circumstances are chaotic. **In simple terms:** Thinking clearly brings personal order. Key Takeaway Focus on your mindset. Themes mindset control order Mood calm reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - stress management - meditation - decision making - leadership Key Concepts psychology self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain mental order during crisis? - What thoughts can you change to improve your life? A Different Perspective External events can still disrupt outcomes despite mental discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“You have little control over the world around you, but full control over the world within you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-have-little-control-over-the-world-around-you-but-full-control/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [We can't control the world, but we can control our reactions to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/we-can-t-control-the-world-but-we-can-control-our-reactions-to-it/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“Please, Damien. You can’t control the world? So what? Control me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenner/please-damien-you-can-t-control-the-world-so-what-control-me/) [J. Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenner/) > [Money control the world, but not me I control that world in money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kidd-fre-h/money-control-the-world-but-not-me-i-control-that-world-in-money/) Kidd Fre$h > [Don't let the world control you let yourself control the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-alexandru-petre/don-t-let-the-world-control-you-let-yourself-control-the-world/) Robert Alexandru Petre > [I love people who try to keep the world in control - because the world is inherently not in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-gasteyer/i-love-people-who-try-to-keep-the-world-in-control-because-the-world/) [Ana Gasteyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-gasteyer/) > [“Consistent happiness is an art - An art that involves taking and maintaining control of which thoughts you give attention to and which thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-moccia/consistent-happiness-is-an-art-an-art-that-involves-taking-and/) Gennaro Moccia > [I can't control the world outside, but I can control the world inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-control-the-world-outside-but-i-can-control-the-world-inside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lao Tsu always points a finger directly to us. He says we must begin with ourselves. It's impossible to bring order into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/lao-tsu-always-points-a-finger-directly-to-us-he-says-we-must-begin/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I will bring order from chaos and light from darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/i-will-bring-order-from-chaos-and-light-from-darkness/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“All effort to bring order into disorder is disorder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/all-effort-to-bring-order-into-disorder-is-disorder/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [Bring me an order of escargots, but hold the slugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/bring-me-an-order-of-escargots-but-hold-the-slugs/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [ “\[denial\] is an attempt to bring order to our lives.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-galli/denial-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-to-our-lives/) [Mark Galli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-galli/) > [Use design as a framework to bring order out of chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/use-design-as-a-framework-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) ## More by Bernie Siegel > [It is astounding how much the immune system is strengthened by reducing daily mental stress levels with either visualization or meditation. The other great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/it-is-astounding-how-much-the-immune-system-is-strengthened-by/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [No matter what the statistics say there is always a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/no-matter-what-the-statistics-say-there-is-always-a-way/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Live by your experience and do not let limited beliefs alter your life experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/live-by-your-experience-and-do-not-let-limited-beliefs-alter-your/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [For me, consciousness is non-local, not limited to the body, and can exist independent of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/for-me-consciousness-is-non-local-not-limited-to-the-body-and-can/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [There is no such thing as an incurable disease, only incurable people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-incurable-disease-only-incurable-people/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [The Secret Language of Your Body truly is the essential guide to restore your body to its healthiest state and assist you to heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/the-secret-language-of-your-body-truly-is-the-essential-guide-to/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I think some people do want to die, and they will get a disease. There are people who know their lives are so troubled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-think-some-people-do-want-to-die-and-they-will-get-a-disease-there/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Feel your feelings. What you bring forth will save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/feel-your-feelings-what-you-bring-forth-will-save-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I know patients who bring a dozen roses to the doctor's office. And, boy, the next visit, nobody forgets that. You come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-know-patients-who-bring-a-dozen-roses-to-the-doctor-s-office-and/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I had patients who didn't die because they had too many pets to try to find homes for. It's why women live longer than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-had-patients-who-didn-t-die-because-they-had-too-many-pets-to-try/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [One of the best ways to change is to act as if you are the person you want to become. When you behave as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/one-of-the-best-ways-to-change-is-to-act-as-if-you-are-the-person-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [You can find examples of how little we value ourselves everywhere you look. The signs on the front of the convenience stores where Stephen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-find-examples-of-how-little-we-value-ourselves-everywhere-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Thoughts are chemical. They can either kill us or cure us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/thoughts-are-chemical-they-can-either-kill-us-or-cure-us/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I believe consciousness is non-local and a big part of what we experience with near death and past lives. It's the consciousness that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-believe-consciousness-is-non-local-and-a-big-part-of-what-we/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [When my body gets to the point where I can no longer function or feel gratitude, then I'll leave it and become grateful again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/when-my-body-gets-to-the-point-where-i-can-no-longer-function-or-feel/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) [Explore all 165 Bernie Siegel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernie Siegel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you-control-your-thoughts-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you-control-your-thoughts-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/bernie-siegel-2465_control_you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you_1583299.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.” — Bernie Siegel", "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": "Bernie Siegel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't control the world, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you-control-your-thoughts-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-t-control-the-world-but-when-you-control-your-thoughts-you/#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 } } ] } ```