---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a control freak."
description: "\"I'm not a control freak.\" — Fiona Apple"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/fiona-apple-1912_control_i-m-not-a-control-freak-1335388_1335388.png"
---

#  I'm not a control freak.

![“I'm not a control freak.” quote by Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/fiona-apple-1912_control_i-m-not-a-control-freak-1335388_1335388.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/fiona-apple-1912_control_i-m-not-a-control-freak-1335388_1335388.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/fiona-apple-1912_control_i-m-not-a-control-freak-1335388_1335388.png)

> “I'm not a control freak.”

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

## About This Quote

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

Claiming not to be controlling masks a desire for autonomy and self‑management.

**In simple terms:** Denial of control.

Key Takeaway

Recognize your own agency.

Themes

self‑awareness autonomy psychology

Mood

introspective defensive

Type

psychological personal

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- workplace leadership
- creative projects

Key Concepts

control dynamics self‑perception defensiveness

Questions to Reflect On

- When do you truly seek control?
- How does this affect your interactions?

A Different Perspective

Denial can hinder personal growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-freak/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/)

## Related quotes

> [I am a control freak back seat driver; a map reading co-pilot who directs every turn of the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/i-am-a-control-freak-back-seat-driver-a-map-reading-co-pilot-who/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [I do know I'm a control freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/i-do-know-i-m-a-control-freak/)

[Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/)

> [I'm obsessive, I'm a control freak, I get snappy with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-m-obsessive-i-m-a-control-freak-i-get-snappy-with-people/)

[Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/)

> [I'm not a control freak - I'm a control enthusiast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-m-not-a-control-freak-i-m-a-control-enthusiast/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [I think I'm too much of a control freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-ireland/i-think-i-m-too-much-of-a-control-freak/)

[Kathy Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-ireland/)

> [I'm a control freak. If you're going to slap my name on something, I would like to control it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-a-control-freak-if-you-re-going-to-slap-my-name-on-something-i/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [You're supposed to be a control freak when you're an artist. That's the whole point of having a vision: Why have one if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/you-re-supposed-to-be-a-control-freak-when-you-re-an-artist-that-s/)

[Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/)

> [King George III may have been a greedy ‘control freak,’ but at least he was a Christian. The United States is being run by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-klayman/king-george-iii-may-have-been-a-greedy-control-freak-but-at-least-he/)

Larry Klayman

> [The dilemma for a control freak is that (s)he can never be rubbed the right way and will often rub others the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dilemma-for-a-control-freak-is-that-s-he-can-never-be-rubbed-the/)

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

> [Artists are not helper monkeys; they’re not in it to visualize 'your' story, because it stopped being 'your' story the moment you engaged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/artists-are-not-helper-monkeys-they-re-not-in-it-to-visualize-your/)

[Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/)

> [When you say 'control freak' and 'OCD' and 'organized,' that suggests someone who's cold in nature, and I'm just not. Like, I'm really open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/when-you-say-control-freak-and-ocd-and-organized-that-suggests/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

> [When it's time to make music, that's about getting lost for me. To be a control freak is not half as good as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/when-it-s-time-to-make-music-that-s-about-getting-lost-for-me-to-be-a/)

[Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/)

> [To my credit, I think I'm a gentle control freak. Maybe even a little manipulative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-biegel/to-my-credit-i-think-i-m-a-gentle-control-freak-maybe-even-a-little/)

[Kevin Biegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-biegel/)

> [I just like the idea of pills. I like to collect them but not actually take them. When I fell off my horse, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-just-like-the-idea-of-pills-i-like-to-collect-them-but-not-actually/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [I am such a bossy producer and such a control freak that there's a part of me that really longs to be bossed around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-am-such-a-bossy-producer-and-such-a-control-freak-that-there-s-a/)

[Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/)

## More by Fiona Apple

> [Everybody acts like I'm nuts. I'm not nuts I just want to feel it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/everybody-acts-like-i-m-nuts-i-m-not-nuts-i-just-want-to-feel-it-all/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [“Go with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/go-with-yourself/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [Nothing that you do will ever feel good if you let people convince you that you have no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/nothing-that-you-do-will-ever-feel-good-if-you-let-people-convince/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [I got a lot of problems, but I'm really good at intuiting what I need to do to be happy with whatever I create.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-got-a-lot-of-problems-but-i-m-really-good-at-intuiting-what-i-need/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [I got into therapy in the fifth grade because I said in a sarcastic way that I was going to kill myself, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-got-into-therapy-in-the-fifth-grade-because-i-said-in-a-sarcastic/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [I didn't want to be precious about things. Of course, the idea is to make great music, but if you have great musicians up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-didn-t-want-to-be-precious-about-things-of-course-the-idea-is-to/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [Through the media, we've establishes this standard of what every human being should look up to: somebody who always looks right; who always has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/through-the-media-we-ve-establishes-this-standard-of-what-every-human/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [My derring-do allows me to dance the rigadoon around you but by the time I'm close to you I lose my desideratum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/my-derring-do-allows-me-to-dance-the-rigadoon-around-you-but-by-the/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [Home is where my habits have a habitat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/home-is-where-my-habits-have-a-habitat/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [If I have one success in my relationship history, it's with the people who listen to my music. I think that they'll be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/if-i-have-one-success-in-my-relationship-history-it-s-with-the-people/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [I wasn't very ambitious as a child. I'm still not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-wasn-t-very-ambitious-as-a-child-i-m-still-not/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [The worst pain in the world is shame. I spend a lot of time trying to not do anything bad to anyone, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/the-worst-pain-in-the-world-is-shame-i-spend-a-lot-of-time-trying-to/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [Hunger hurts, but starving works, when it costs too much to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/hunger-hurts-but-starving-works-when-it-costs-too-much-to-love/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [He goes along just as a water lily Gentle on the surface of his thoughts his body floats Unweighed down by passion or intensity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/he-goes-along-just-as-a-water-lily-gentle-on-the-surface-of-his/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [Let me know the way, before there's hell to pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/let-me-know-the-way-before-there-s-hell-to-pay/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

[Explore all 199 Fiona Apple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

## 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/)

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