--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe…" description: "\"“I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe a guiding principle, Carnegie's A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may ta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png" --- # I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe a guiding… ![“I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe a guiding principle, Carnegie's A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possessionof anything else to which he is justly entitled.' I'm very singular, driven. I like control... of myself and those around me.” quote by E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png) > ““I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe a guiding principle, Carnegie's A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possessionof anything else to which he is justly entitled.' I'm very singular, driven. I like control... of myself and those around me.”” [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker rejects a formal philosophy, instead adopting a principle of self‑mastery and control over oneself and others, believing that mental ownership grants entitlement to all else. **In simple terms:** Self‑control is the key to claiming what you deserve. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental discipline. Themes self‑mastery control entitlement personal power Mood determined assertive Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - goal setting - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology willpower autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal control with respect for others? - When does self‑discipline become domination? A Different Perspective Self‑ownership can clash with others’ autonomy and ethical boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carnegie/) [Carnegie Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carnegie-man-2039499/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-maybe-337027/) [Possession Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession-mind-831706/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Principle Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-carnegie-2039498/) ## Related quotes > [“principle—Carnegie’s: ‘A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/principle-carnegie-s-a-man-who-acquires-the-ability-to-take-full/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [Yeah, but in the end his followers take what they want from his philosophy. Maybe it doesn't matter what's going on in David Icke's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/yeah-but-in-the-end-his-followers-take-what-they-want-from-his/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Sometimes I wonder if he has a philosophy. Maybe even a worldview. I'd like to sit down with him and pick his brain, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/sometimes-i-wonder-if-he-has-a-philosophy-maybe-even-a-worldview-i-d/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [I think that there's room for everyone. I don't think that if one person succeeds then another must fail. That's lunacy. I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/i-think-that-there-s-room-for-everyone-i-don-t-think-that-if-one/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) > [“Everything about him enveloped her, made her crave exactly this. His possession. In her mind something relaxed; the balance shifted. She welcomed every way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cari-silverwood/everything-about-him-enveloped-her-made-her-crave-exactly-this-his/) [Cari Silverwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cari-silverwood/) > [Wonder is that possession of the mind that enchants the emotions while never surrendering reason. It is a grasp on reality that does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/wonder-is-that-possession-of-the-mind-that-enchants-the-emotions/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Slavery is simply a possession of the mind, before the individual submits their spiritual component to the will of another person or deity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/slavery-is-simply-a-possession-of-the-mind-before-the-individual/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [I am no longer cursed by poverty because I took possession of my own mind, and that mind has yielded me every material thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-am-no-longer-cursed-by-poverty-because-i-took-possession-of-my-own/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [“The nature of the mind is to acquire, to absorb, is it not? Or rather the pattern it has created for itself is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-nature-of-the-mind-is-to-acquire-to-absorb-is-it-not-or-rather/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a principle of our nature that feelings once excited turn readily from the object by which they are excited to some other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/it-is-a-principle-of-our-nature-that-feelings-once-excited-turn/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [If one lets fear or hate or anger take possession of the mind, they become self-forged chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/if-one-lets-fear-or-hate-or-anger-take-possession-of-the-mind-they/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [There is a power under your control that is greater than poverty, greater than the lack of education, greater than all your fears and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/there-is-a-power-under-your-control-that-is-greater-than-poverty/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [A genius is simply one who has taken full possession of his own mind and directed it toward objectives of his own choosing, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-genius-is-simply-one-who-has-taken-full-possession-of-his-own-mind/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The great master key to riches is nothing more or less than the self-discipline necessary to help you take full and complete possession of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-great-master-key-to-riches-is-nothing-more-or-less-than-the-self/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/a-man-who-acquires-the-ability-to-take-full-possession-of-his-own/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) ## More by E.L. James > [“Don’t,” he murmurs, then kisses me lightly. “Why don’t you like to be touched?” I whisper, staring up into soft gray eyes. “Because I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/don-t-he-murmurs-then-kisses-me-lightly-why-don-t-you-like-to-be/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Are you crazy?" "Crazy for you," he whispers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/are-you-crazy-crazy-for-you-he-whispers/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“If he touches me, I will succumb. I know the power he wields over me and my traitorous body. I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/if-he-touches-me-i-will-succumb-i-know-the-power-he-wields-over-me/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I’ve been so busy I haven’t managed to contact her since this morning, but she’s been hovering at the edge of my consciousness all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-been-so-busy-i-haven-t-managed-to-contact-her-since-this-morning/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fu\*kery at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/let-me-ask-you-something-first-do-you-want-a-regular-vanilla/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“And the baby?" The words are anguished, breathless. "The baby's fine, Mr. Grey." "Oh, thank God." The words are litany... a prayer, "Oh, thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-the-baby-the-words-are-anguished-breathless-the-baby-s-fine-mr/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Anastasia You Are My More My Love, My Life Christian”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/anastasia-you-are-my-more-my-love-my-life-christian/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“No. No!” he says. “I . . .” He looks wildly around the room. For inspiration? For divine intervention? I don’t know. “You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/no-no-he-says-i-he-looks-wildly-around-the-room-for-inspiration-for/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“‎"His grin widens, and leaning down, he undoes the tie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/his-grin-widens-and-leaning-down-he-undoes-the-tie/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I can't even escape him in my dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-can-t-even-escape-him-in-my-dreams/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Because we're getting to know each other, and you're stubborn and cantankerous and moody and difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/because-we-re-getting-to-know-each-other-and-you-re-stubborn-and/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“«Si no puedes vencerles, únete a ellos».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/si-no-puedes-vencerles-nete-a-ellos/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“His magic is powerful, intoxicating. I'm a butterfly caught in his net, unable and unwilling to escape. I'm his … totally his". (Ana to Christian)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/his-magic-is-powerful-intoxicating-i-m-a-butterfly-caught-in-his-net/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“My world was ordered, calm, and controlled, then you came into my life with your smart mouth, your innocence, your beauty, and your quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-world-was-ordered-calm-and-controlled-then-you-came-into-my-life/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I've been burned already, and yet here I am again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-been-burned-already-and-yet-here-i-am-again/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) [Explore all 503 E.L. James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) ## More Carnegie quotes > [The Carnegie Foundation is well aware of the fact that their reports frequently find their way to dusty archives in academic institutions, but occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-everett-koop/the-carnegie-foundation-is-well-aware-of-the-fact-that-their-reports/) [C. Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/) > [You know the question: 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' Answer: 'Practise?' Well, in my case, I got there by not practising. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/you-know-the-question-how-do-you-get-to-carnegie-hall-answer-practise/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [People believe that companies have always had strategies, dating back at least to likes of Henry Ford or Andrew Carnegie, maybe to the contractors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kiechel/people-believe-that-companies-have-always-had-strategies-dating-back/) [Walter Kiechel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kiechel/) > [I don't have my diploma from the University of Nebraska hanging on my office wall, and I don't have my diploma from Columbia up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-have-my-diploma-from-the-university-of-nebraska-hanging-on-my/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [One main condition of aristocratic life was present in the South and not in the North--personal responsibility to other human beings for education and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/one-main-condition-of-aristocratic-life-was-present-in-the-south-and/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Are your desires purely selfish? Do your tastes run to a grand home, automobiles, fine clothes, an abundance of amusements, and so forth? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/are-your-desires-purely-selfish-do-your-tastes-run-to-a-grand-home/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I always wanted to be an actor, even as a little kid. So I went to drama school in the late '60s at Carnegie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-even-as-a-little-kid-so-i-went-to/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Looking ahead, future generations may learn their social skills from robots in the first place. The cute yellow Keepon robot from Carnegie Mellon University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/looking-ahead-future-generations-may-learn-their-social-skills-from/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“Carnegie’s metamorphosis from farmboy to salesman to public-speaking icon is also the story of the rise of the Extrovert Ideal. Carnegie’s journey reflected a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/carnegie-s-metamorphosis-from-farmboy-to-salesman-to-public-speaking/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [I wanted to be a concert pianist at Carnegie Hall; that is what I wanted to do from really early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-nelson/i-wanted-to-be-a-concert-pianist-at-carnegie-hall-that-is-what-i/) [Kirsten Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-nelson/) > [ I actually met one of my business partners \[Neal Dodson\] at the Governor's School summer program, so we've known each other since we were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-actually-met-one-of-my-business-partners-neal-dodson-at-the/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Not Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Astor together could have raised money enough to buy a quarter share in my little dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-thompson-seton/not-carnegie-vanderbilt-and-astor-together-could-have-raised-money/) [Ernest Thompson Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-thompson-seton/) > [Everywhere in the world, music enhances a hall, with one exception: Carnegie Hall enhances the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/everywhere-in-the-world-music-enhances-a-hall-with-one-exception/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [I have to say that getting to tackle Maria in 'The Sound of Music' at Carnegie Hall was surreal. When I heard my voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-osnes/i-have-to-say-that-getting-to-tackle-maria-in-the-sound-of-music-at/) [Laura Osnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-osnes/) > [I'm going to Iowa for an award. Then I'm appearing at Carnegie Hall, it's sold out. Then I'm sailing to France to be honored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-m-going-to-iowa-for-an-award-then-i-m-appearing-at-carnegie-hall-it/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) [Browse all 123 Carnegie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carnegie/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe a guiding principle, Carnegie's A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possessionof anything else to which he is justly entitled.' I'm very singular, driven. I like control... of myself and those around me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E.L. James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe-a-guiding-principle-carnegie/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Carnegie" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe-a-guiding-principle-carnegie/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/e-l-james-470_carnegie_i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe_193538.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't have a philosophy as such. Maybe a guiding principle, Carnegie's A man who acquires the ability to…” — E.L. James", "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": "E.L. James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I don't have a philosophy as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe-a-guiding-principle-carnegie/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-don-t-have-a-philosophy-as-such-maybe-a-guiding-principle-carnegie/#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 } } ] } ```