---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sure, shit happens we can’t control, but…"
description: "\"“Sure, shit happens we can’t control, but that’s exactly what it is: shit you can’t control. You can’t control what it is, or sometimes what it does to..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/bobby-adair-3804_control_sure-shit-happens-we-can-t-control-but-t_116640.jpg"
---

#  Sure, shit happens we can’t control, but that’s exactly…

![“Sure, shit happens we can’t control, but that’s exactly what it is: shit you can’t control. You can’t control what it is, or sometimes what it does to you. But like I’ve told you before, you can control how you feel about it, how you deal with it.” quote by Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/bobby-adair-3804_control_sure-shit-happens-we-can-t-control-but-t_116640.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/bobby-adair-3804_control_sure-shit-happens-we-can-t-control-but-t_116640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/bobby-adair-3804_control_sure-shit-happens-we-can-t-control-but-t_116640.jpg)

> ““Sure, shit happens we can’t control, but that’s exactly what it is: shit you can’t control. You can’t control what it is, or sometimes what it does to you. But like I’ve told you before, you can control how you feel about it, how you deal with it.””

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Uncontrollable events are inevitable, but individuals retain agency over their emotional response and coping strategies, emphasizing personal resilience.

**In simple terms:** You can't control events, only your reaction.

Key Takeaway

Emotional control empowers coping.

Themes

resilience control emotion mindset

Mood

calm empowering

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- grief after loss
- job layoff
- unexpected illness

Key Concepts

cognitive appraisal psychological flexibility

Practical Applications

- practice mindfulness to reframe reactions

Questions to Reflect On

- What practices help shift perspective during crises?
- Can changing feelings alter outcomes?

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## Related quotes

> [I've told you this once before, can't control me. If you try to take me down you're gonna break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godsmack/i-ve-told-you-this-once-before-can-t-control-me-if-you-try-to-take-me/)

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> [Assholes were created to keep shit under control during times of intense pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-ruben-guerrero/assholes-were-created-to-keep-shit-under-control-during-times-of/)

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> [It is reassuring to know that I can control how I feel and what I do on any given day. The eay I choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-lunden/it-is-reassuring-to-know-that-i-can-control-how-i-feel-and-what-i-do/)

[Joan Lunden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-lunden/)

> [Being attached to someone is crap, it basically means they can practically control how you feel and the mood you're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-attached-to-someone-is-crap-it-basically-means-they-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You can’t control how people will perceive you or how they think about you . . . but you can certainly control how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-steele/you-can-t-control-how-people-will-perceive-you-or-how-they-think/)

[Dawn Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-steele/)

> [For sure, Roland Garros I always feel like I have more control, and I feel like Philippe Chatrier is kind of my place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iga-swiatek/for-sure-roland-garros-i-always-feel-like-i-have-more-control-and-i/)

[Iga Swiatek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iga-swiatek/)

> [I suddenly got used to that feeling of being in control, which I never, ever feel when I'm not onstage - a feeling that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seinabo-sey/i-suddenly-got-used-to-that-feeling-of-being-in-control-which-i-never/)

[Seinabo Sey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seinabo-sey/)

> [What leads us astray is confusing more choices with more control. Because it is not clear that the more choices you have the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/what-leads-us-astray-is-confusing-more-choices-with-more-control/)

[Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/)

> [You can't control how you feel but you can control how you respond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/you-can-t-control-how-you-feel-but-you-can-control-how-you-respond/)

[Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/)

> [I can't always control my body the way I want to, and I can't control when I feel good or when I don't. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-can-t-always-control-my-body-the-way-i-want-to-and-i-can-t-control/)

[Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/)

> [You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-control-what-happens-to-you-in-life-but-you-can-always/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People, as critical as it looks, we're OK. We are in control, whether we feel it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-richie/people-as-critical-as-it-looks-we-re-ok-we-are-in-control-whether-we/)

[Lionel Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-richie/)

> [A big lesson that I'm always having to be reminded of is, you can't control how you feel, but you can control how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xosha-roquemore/a-big-lesson-that-i-m-always-having-to-be-reminded-of-is-you-can-t/)

[Xosha Roquemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xosha-roquemore/)

> [“I've always said never let anyone tell you who you are. What I think I mean is never let anyone control how you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-diggs/i-ve-always-said-never-let-anyone-tell-you-who-you-are-what-i-think-i/)

[Karla Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-diggs/)

> [We can't let anyone else control how we feel or think. We are all unique individuals with heart &amp; potential. Don't let them steal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-t-let-anyone-else-control-how-we-feel-or-think-we-are-all/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Bobby Adair

> [“Murphy was right. Other people’s fears would haunt us forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/murphy-was-right-other-people-s-fears-would-haunt-us-forever/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“The upper middle-class cracker neighborhood ignored me, focused instead on its own pockets of human chaos. Four”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/the-upper-middle-class-cracker-neighborhood-ignored-me-focused/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“Once people get beliefs into their heads, it’s fucking hard to change their minds, no matter how many facts come knocking on the door.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/once-people-get-beliefs-into-their-heads-it-s-fucking-hard-to-change/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“The shop was a monument to uninhibited human depravity, the kind that scars souls with permanent shadows. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/the-shop-was-a-monument-to-uninhibited-human-depravity-the-kind-that/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“made his words something of a Rorschach test, and I might be reading too many of my own emotions into it. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/made-his-words-something-of-a-rorschach-test-and-i-might-be-reading/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“I went into the living room and looked down at my mother’s torn body and shook my head. It was surreal. I guess some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/i-went-into-the-living-room-and-looked-down-at-my-mother-s-torn-body/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“But for the absence of Satan, the world looked like Hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/but-for-the-absence-of-satan-the-world-looked-like-hell/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“I’m your nightmare.” I loved that thought. It tantalized me with its power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/i-m-your-nightmare-i-loved-that-thought-it-tantalized-me-with-its/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“gazed blankly at nothing in particular. I knew that look. They were the Russells of the group.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/gazed-blankly-at-nothing-in-particular-i-knew-that-look-they-were-the/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“The Rural People of East Texas Club.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/the-rural-people-of-east-texas-club/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“instead of just surviving, we can choose to thrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/instead-of-just-surviving-we-can-choose-to-thrive/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“In soothing tones I added, “Sometimes I notice little details. Besides,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/in-soothing-tones-i-added-sometimes-i-notice-little-details-besides/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“I needed to stop letting my thoughts wander off on their own. They needed adult supervision, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/i-needed-to-stop-letting-my-thoughts-wander-off-on-their-own-they/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“we’re different. You can think all of the ‘We Are The World’ thoughts you want, but we aren’t part of that club anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/we-re-different-you-can-think-all-of-the-we-are-the-world-thoughts/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

> [“I’m a pragmatic fucker when I start to get my head cleared out, even while the shit is flying. Whatever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/i-m-a-pragmatic-fucker-when-i-start-to-get-my-head-cleared-out-even/)

[Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

[Explore all 121 Bobby Adair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/)

## 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/)

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[Thomas Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/)

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> [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/)

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