--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything I do through my art is a way…" description: "\"Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on top of what's happened to me in the past, because now I'm in control and I can't be hurt by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg" --- # Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on… ![“Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on top of what's happened to me in the past, because now I'm in control and I can't be hurt by it again.” quote by Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg) > “Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on top of what's happened to me in the past, because now I'm in control and I can't be hurt by it again.” [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist uses creative expression to reclaim control over past trauma, turning pain into empowerment and preventing future hurt. **In simple terms:** Art can heal past wounds. Key Takeaway Channel trauma into creative control. Themes healing control artistry Mood empowering reflective Type therapeutic inspirational When to use this quote - music - visual art - writing Key Concepts psychology creative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How does creating art change your relationship with trauma? - What boundaries protect you while processing pain? A Different Perspective Creative work may reopen old wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In the second half of life, people have less power to infatuate you. But they also have much less power to control you or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-the-second-half-of-life-people-have-less-power-to-infatuate-you/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The past can affect your life,but the past can't control your life,unless you let it-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-can-affect-your-life-but-the-past-can-t-control-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/those-who-control-the-present-control-the-past-and-those-who-control/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“No one can make you dwell on the past. Control your thoughts and actions! Make your own decisions! Just because someone keeps bringing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-word-hollis/no-one-can-make-you-dwell-on-the-past-control-your-thoughts-and/) [Michelle Word Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-word-hollis/) > [We know the past but cannot control it. We control the future but cannot know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-shannon/we-know-the-past-but-cannot-control-it-we-control-the-future-but/) [Claude Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-shannon/) > [“You cannot control the past but you have control over the life you build going forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-d-butler/you-cannot-control-the-past-but-you-have-control-over-the-life-you/) Nancy D. Butler > [“You may not have been in control of your past, but you are in control of your future. And it’s time to move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-savelle/you-may-not-have-been-in-control-of-your-past-but-you-are-in-control/) [Jerry Savelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-savelle/) > [I learned that what happened to me did not have to define who I was. My past could not control my future unless I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-learned-that-what-happened-to-me-did-not-have-to-define-who-i-was/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“You can’t change the past, and you can’t control the future, but you can sure as hell contribute to the quality of your today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/you-can-t-change-the-past-and-you-can-t-control-the-future-but-you/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [You can't change what was written for you years before you were born. You can't change the past or control the future. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-change-what-was-written-for-you-years-before-you-were-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As far as you are concerned the present is your point of action, focus and power, and from that point of volition you form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/as-far-as-you-are-concerned-the-present-is-your-point-of-action-focus/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [“I cannot control the past but I can control the present through forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-cannot-control-the-past-but-i-can-control-the-present-through/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [The most common misconception people have had in the past is about my own control and calculation of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/the-most-common-misconception-people-have-had-in-the-past-is-about-my/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [Those who would repeat the past must control the teaching of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/those-who-would-repeat-the-past-must-control-the-teaching-of-history/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Our past can control today and tomorrow only to the degree we allow it. The past should not be a place where we dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-augustine/our-past-can-control-today-and-tomorrow-only-to-the-degree-we-allow/) [Sue Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-augustine/) ## More by Ethel Cain > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [There's this weird misconstrued notion that everybody in this industry is rich. A lot of people in the industry are mad exploited. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/there-s-this-weird-misconstrued-notion-that-everybody-in-this/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was very homeschooled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-very-homeschooled/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Being transgender is easily the most boring and human aspect about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/being-transgender-is-easily-the-most-boring-and-human-aspect-about-me/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was always singing as a kid. I was really annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-always-singing-as-a-kid-i-was-really-annoying/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I did not get out, and all I had to do was tell myself stories and get invested, and I've never gone out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-did-not-get-out-and-all-i-had-to-do-was-tell-myself-stories-and-get/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Ethel Cain lived and died loving and praying to be loved back. The entire 'Preacher's' trilogy is centred around love. Love lost, love gained,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/ethel-cain-lived-and-died-loving-and-praying-to-be-loved-back-the/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I work very slow. That's how I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-work-very-slow-that-s-how-i-like-it/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Yes, fries always more fries but specifically I would say, curly fries curly from Arby's. They are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/yes-fries-always-more-fries-but-specifically-i-would-say-curly-fries/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I have to work myself up to even go to concerts at small venues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-have-to-work-myself-up-to-even-go-to-concerts-at-small-venues/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I did not have a lot of friends growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-did-not-have-a-lot-of-friends-growing-up/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [To me, the Ethel Cain story is a horror story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/to-me-the-ethel-cain-story-is-a-horror-story/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [If 'Preacher's Daughter' was my learning experience of what not to do with trauma and healing, 'Willoughby Tucker' has been my experience of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/if-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-learning-experience-of-what-not-to-do/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was extremely into the escapism of fantasy, so series like 'Redwall' and 'Eragon' were my bread and butter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-extremely-into-the-escapism-of-fantasy-so-series-like-redwall/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Explore all 101 Ethel Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on top of what's happened to me in the past, because now I'm in control and I can't be hurt by it again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethel Cain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way-to-get-my-thumb-on-top-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way-to-get-my-thumb-on-top-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/ethel-cain-5354_art_everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way_448680.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on top of what's happened to me in the past, because…” — Ethel Cain", "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": "Ethel Cain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everything I do through my art...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way-to-get-my-thumb-on-top-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/everything-i-do-through-my-art-is-a-way-to-get-my-thumb-on-top-of/#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 } } ] } ```