--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn't consider myself a control…" description: "\"“I wouldn't consider myself a control freak, but I've had my moments. I've seen trouble coming and fought, fumed, and frazzled myself trying to control..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/dave-samples-105030_attitude_i-wouldn-t-consider-myself-a-control-fre_2026073.jpg" --- # I wouldn't consider myself a control freak, but I've had… ![“I wouldn't consider myself a control freak, but I've had my moments. I've seen trouble coming and fought, fumed, and frazzled myself trying to control circumstances and situations. One of the most impossible things to control is something walking around on two legs called a human being. I've…” quote by Dave Samples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/dave-samples-105030_attitude_i-wouldn-t-consider-myself-a-control-fre_2026073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/dave-samples-105030_attitude_i-wouldn-t-consider-myself-a-control-fre_2026073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/dave-samples-105030_attitude_i-wouldn-t-consider-myself-a-control-fre_2026073.jpg) > ““I wouldn't consider myself a control freak, but I've had my moments. I've seen trouble coming and fought, fumed, and frazzled myself trying to control circumstances and situations. One of the most impossible things to control is something walking around on two legs called a human being. I've manipulated and thrown temper tantrums trying to get another person to behave the way that seemed best to me. After all, doesn't someone need to control the bad behaviors of others? But after fifty-one years of life on this planet, including thirty years of marriage, I've concluded that the only thing I can control is my attitude. Everything else is fantasy. I've tried to control my kids. I've tried to control my churches. I've tried to control my dog, Gavin. I've even tried to control Tina (not a good idea). A sure sign of when I'm trying to control things, people, or circumstances is that I get frustrated, develop a bad attitude, and usually end up angry.”” Dave Samples ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to control others leads to frustration; the only reliable control is over one's own attitude. **In simple terms:** Control yourself, not others. Key Takeaway Focus on attitude, accept others' autonomy. Themes control attitude relationships frustration Mood reflective practical Type attitude:1 attitude quotes:0 bad attitude:1 bad behavior:0 control:1 control freak:0 control issues:0 controlling:0 power:0 relationship quotes:0 relationships:0 thirty years:0 time:0 walking around:0 years of marriage:0 control attitude:0 control things:0 control bad:0 trying control:0 When to use this quote - marriage - parenting - spirituality Key Concepts personal growth psychology Questions to Reflect On - What can you change about your response? - How does letting go affect relationships? A Different Perspective Accepting limits can reduce anger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitude quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-quotes/) [Bad attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-attitude/) [Bad behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-behavior/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-freak/) [Control issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-issues/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Relationship quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-quotes/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Years of marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-of-marriage/) ## Related quotes > [“Trying to control everything that happens to you is unavailing to life's vulnerability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ojingiri-hannah/trying-to-control-everything-that-happens-to-you-is-unavailing-to/) [Ojingiri Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ojingiri-hannah/) > [“Stop trying to control the uncontrollable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/stop-trying-to-control-the-uncontrollable/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [The things you don't have control over, you don't worry about. I have control over my attitude, my perception, how I do things, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-sherman/the-things-you-don-t-have-control-over-you-don-t-worry-about-i-have/) Mike Sherman > [We cannot choose how many years we will live, but we can choose how much life those years will have. We cannot control the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/we-cannot-choose-how-many-years-we-will-live-but-we-can-choose-how/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/you-need-to-learn-how-to-select-your-thoughts-just-the-same-way-you/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Superstitions are man's way of trying to control things he has no control over...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/superstitions-are-man-s-way-of-trying-to-control-things-he-has-no/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [“I believe in not trying to control things that are out of my control or none of my business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobe-hanson/i-believe-in-not-trying-to-control-things-that-are-out-of-my-control/) [Tobe Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobe-hanson/) > [“Groceries, you need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select what clothes you're gonna wear every day. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/groceries-you-need-to-learn-how-to-select-your-thoughts-just-the-same/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“You cannot control bad things that happen to you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-crane/you-cannot-control-bad-things-that-happen-to-you/) [Robert J. Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-crane/) > [When you're moaning, all you are doing is focusing on things that were not in your control, at least you are not exploring whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-duke/when-you-re-moaning-all-you-are-doing-is-focusing-on-things-that-were/) [Annie Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-duke/) > [I've learned that you simply can't control those bad vibes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-ve-learned-that-you-simply-can-t-control-those-bad-vibes/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [“You cannot control bad things that happen to you any more than you can control the weather. It’s less about the things that happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-crane/you-cannot-control-bad-things-that-happen-to-you-any-more-than-you/) [Robert J. Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-crane/) > [“This is the thing about life I've never really understood until now: we try so hard to control it, but bad things happen anyway.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-nelson/this-is-the-thing-about-life-i-ve-never-really-understood-until-now/) [R.A. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-nelson/) > [Get out of control, but appear under control. It?s not bad to alarm other people, though ? it?s good for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/get-out-of-control-but-appear-under-control-it-s-not-bad-to-alarm/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [People who tell you that control is bad are trying to tell you that automobile accidents and industrial accidents are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/people-who-tell-you-that-control-is-bad-are-trying-to-tell-you-that/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) ## More by Dave Samples > [“Here is what I know to be true: messed up men will often panic and try to control the chaos. Waiting is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-samples/here-is-what-i-know-to-be-true-messed-up-men-will-often-panic-and-try/) Dave Samples Explore all 2 Dave Samples quotes ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I wouldn't consider myself a control freak, but I've had my moments. I've seen trouble coming and fought, fumed, and frazzled myself trying to control circumstances and situations. 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