--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My instinct is to be very controlling." description: "\"My instinct is to be very controlling.\" — Gary Kemp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png" --- # My instinct is to be very controlling. ![“My instinct is to be very controlling.” quote by Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png) > “My instinct is to be very controlling.” [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A strong urge to control can dominate behavior, often limiting flexibility. **In simple terms:** Controlling instinct can be restrictive. Key Takeaway Practice letting go of excessive control. Themes control self‑awareness flexibility Mood self‑reflective cautious Type advisory psychological When to use this quote - leadership - teamwork - creative processes Key Concepts behavioral psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When does control become harmful? - How can you balance control with freedom? A Different Perspective May cause anxiety or resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controlling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlling/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instinct Controlling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct-controlling-4478859/) ## Related quotes > [I think sometimes my controlling instincts came out of a fear of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-think-sometimes-my-controlling-instincts-came-out-of-a-fear-of/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [My father was actually controlling and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/my-father-was-actually-controlling-and-abusive/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [I try and not be the controlling woman I can probably be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/i-try-and-not-be-the-controlling-woman-i-can-probably-be/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [“It comforts us to think that we have control when we don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-comforts-us-to-think-that-we-have-control-when-we-don-t/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“I am not a thing to be controlled by you,' Nesta said icily. Everything in her life, from the moment she was born, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-am-not-a-thing-to-be-controlled-by-you-nesta-said-icily-everything/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Shift your focus from controlling others to creating your own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/shift-your-focus-from-controlling-others-to-creating-your-own/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [When a person feels powerless in regard to controlling his life, he can defend against the discomfort of such an experience by asserting control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-nicholas-groth/when-a-person-feels-powerless-in-regard-to-controlling-his-life-he/) [A. Nicholas Groth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-nicholas-groth/) > [I do have a temper, but am good at controlling it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-do-have-a-temper-but-am-good-at-controlling-it/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [It only lasted 4months but those months were intense, we were amazing 2 begin with, then we were in deep & nearer the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-shipman/it-only-lasted-4months-but-those-months-were-intense-we-were-amazing/) [Samantha Shipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-shipman/) > [Because I was a shy and awkward child, I used humour to deflect attention. It was a controlling mechanism. Because I could use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/because-i-was-a-shy-and-awkward-child-i-used-humour-to-deflect/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [There's so many things you can't account for that can happen during each race. I just focus on controlling what I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-elliott/there-s-so-many-things-you-can-t-account-for-that-can-happen-during/) [Chase Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-elliott/) > [We're failing when it comes to controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-failing-when-it-comes-to-controlling-spending/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [“I hope I can never trust my wife. If I trust her it means I know her. If I know her it means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/i-hope-i-can-never-trust-my-wife-if-i-trust-her-it-means-i-know-her/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [When you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of the child, you have solved the entire problem of its education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-you-have-solved-the-problem-of-controlling-the-attention-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) ## More by Gary Kemp > [Pop music should be about young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/pop-music-should-be-about-young-people/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Road cycling, especially up mountains. It's the heady mixture of endorphins and aesthetics that I love. My wife does it too, and being with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/road-cycling-especially-up-mountains-it-s-the-heady-mixture-of/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [It's always an honour doing anything for your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/it-s-always-an-honour-doing-anything-for-your-country/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [My brother Martin is two years younger than me. There has never been any competition between us - clearly he was the good-looking one;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-brother-martin-is-two-years-younger-than-me-there-has-never-been/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [We were on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, which was hardly rock 'n' roll, but it pleased me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-were-on-the-cover-of-women-s-wear-daily-which-was-hardly-rock-n/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Why do I find it hard to write the next line?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/why-do-i-find-it-hard-to-write-the-next-line/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I think my younger self would be more amazed to know I was doing an interview for 'The Spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-think-my-younger-self-would-be-more-amazed-to-know-i-was-doing-an/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [The thought of going on tour with people like Toyah Wilcox is just appalling. I'm certainly not tempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/the-thought-of-going-on-tour-with-people-like-toyah-wilcox-is-just/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I've been through Hell with some of the members of my old band, and Hell is highly stressful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-ve-been-through-hell-with-some-of-the-members-of-my-old-band-and/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I've always thought that actors wanted to be pop musicians and pop musicians wanted to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-ve-always-thought-that-actors-wanted-to-be-pop-musicians-and-pop/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I certainly wasn't a fan of Thatcher's politics. People liked to label us as children of Thatcher. What nonsense. The real children of Thatcher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-certainly-wasn-t-a-fan-of-thatcher-s-politics-people-liked-to-label/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [My life is routine-obsessed. I'm OCD, and if I'm not at home, I always get up early and exercise. I don't crash and burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-life-is-routine-obsessed-i-m-ocd-and-if-i-m-not-at-home-i-always/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Love is family, support, priority, and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/love-is-family-support-priority-and-understanding/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I love my children unconditionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-love-my-children-unconditionally/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) [Explore all 41 Gary Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) ## More Controlling quotes > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [When you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of the child, you have solved the entire problem of its education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-you-have-solved-the-problem-of-controlling-the-attention-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“I hope I can never trust my wife. If I trust her it means I know her. If I know her it means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/i-hope-i-can-never-trust-my-wife-if-i-trust-her-it-means-i-know-her/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [We're failing when it comes to controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-failing-when-it-comes-to-controlling-spending/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [There's so many things you can't account for that can happen during each race. I just focus on controlling what I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-elliott/there-s-so-many-things-you-can-t-account-for-that-can-happen-during/) [Chase Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-elliott/) > [Because I was a shy and awkward child, I used humour to deflect attention. It was a controlling mechanism. Because I could use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/because-i-was-a-shy-and-awkward-child-i-used-humour-to-deflect/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [It only lasted 4months but those months were intense, we were amazing 2 begin with, then we were in deep & nearer the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-shipman/it-only-lasted-4months-but-those-months-were-intense-we-were-amazing/) [Samantha Shipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-shipman/) > [I do have a temper, but am good at controlling it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-do-have-a-temper-but-am-good-at-controlling-it/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [When a person feels powerless in regard to controlling his life, he can defend against the discomfort of such an experience by asserting control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-nicholas-groth/when-a-person-feels-powerless-in-regard-to-controlling-his-life-he/) [A. Nicholas Groth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-nicholas-groth/) > [Shift your focus from controlling others to creating your own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/shift-your-focus-from-controlling-others-to-creating-your-own/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [“I am not a thing to be controlled by you,' Nesta said icily. Everything in her life, from the moment she was born, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-am-not-a-thing-to-be-controlled-by-you-nesta-said-icily-everything/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“It comforts us to think that we have control when we don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-comforts-us-to-think-that-we-have-control-when-we-don-t/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I try and not be the controlling woman I can probably be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/i-try-and-not-be-the-controlling-woman-i-can-probably-be/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [My father was actually controlling and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/my-father-was-actually-controlling-and-abusive/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [Look at what happened in the 1990s: when they balanced the federal budget, it was through growth in the economy and controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/look-at-what-happened-in-the-1990s-when-they-balanced-the-federal/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) [Browse all 401 Controlling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My instinct is to be very controlling.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Kemp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controlling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/gary-kemp-15911_controlling_my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling-21_2144340.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My instinct is to be very controlling.” — Gary Kemp", "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": "Gary Kemp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My instinct is to be very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-instinct-is-to-be-very-controlling/#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 } } ] } ```