--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a control freak. I'm defensive. And…" description: "\"I'm a control freak. I'm defensive. And I'm an egomaniac. That's true about me.\" — George Saunders" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/george-saunders-317_control-freak_i-m-a-control-freak-i-m-defensive-and-i_1801175.jpg" --- # I'm a control freak. I'm defensive. And I'm an egomaniac… ![“I'm a control freak. I'm defensive. And I'm an egomaniac. That's true about me.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/george-saunders-317_control-freak_i-m-a-control-freak-i-m-defensive-and-i_1801175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/george-saunders-317_control-freak_i-m-a-control-freak-i-m-defensive-and-i_1801175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/george-saunders-317_control-freak_i-m-a-control-freak-i-m-defensive-and-i_1801175.jpg) > “I'm a control freak. I'm defensive. And I'm an egomaniac. That's true about me.” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑labeling as a control‑freak, defensive, egomaniac reveals honest self‑awareness and humor. **In simple terms:** He openly admits his controlling and egotistical traits. Key Takeaway Recognize and own your flaws with humor. Themes self‑awareness humor ego Mood introspective light‑hearted Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative writing - leadership feedback - personal journaling Key Concepts psychology personal growth self‑critique Questions to Reflect On - What benefits come from candid self‑assessment? - How can humor aid personal development? A Different Perspective Self‑identification may limit openness to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-freak/) [Egomaniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egomaniac/) [Egomaniacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egomaniacs/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Steve Jobs had his critics. Some saw him as an egomaniac, and others, as a control freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/steve-jobs-had-his-critics-some-saw-him-as-an-egomaniac-and-others-as/) [Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/) > [It's much better when I go out with my mates and we stop talking about me like I'm some sort of egomaniac. It's great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dido-armstrong/it-s-much-better-when-i-go-out-with-my-mates-and-we-stop-talking/) [Dido Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dido-armstrong/) > [I made as many mistakes as anybody else. I sound as if I'm an egomaniac, and I suppose in some ways I'm filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-made-as-many-mistakes-as-anybody-else-i-sound-as-if-i-m-an/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [ I'm a complete egomaniac. It makes me feel terrible to say \[being interviewed\] is hard. It's taxing in a way. Just 'cause it's a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/i-m-a-complete-egomaniac-it-makes-me-feel-terrible-to-say-being/) [Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/) > [A fair share of anything is starvation diet to an egomaniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/a-fair-share-of-anything-is-starvation-diet-to-an-egomaniac/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [I was wrong, however, to suppose that Sellers thought the world revolved around him. He thought the cosmos did too, and history, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/i-was-wrong-however-to-suppose-that-sellers-thought-the-world/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [I was concerned about doing the right thing when I was a kid. I suppose as a child, youre a massive egomaniac, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-graves/i-was-concerned-about-doing-the-right-thing-when-i-was-a-kid-i/) [Rupert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-graves/) > [Like most authors, I'm a raging egomaniac. I know that about myself. And I know that, if I had internet access, I would waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bentley-little/like-most-authors-i-m-a-raging-egomaniac-i-know-that-about-myself-and/) [Bentley Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bentley-little/) > [Face it, you have to be sort of an egomaniac to write something down and think that anyone is going to want to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-von-ziegesar/face-it-you-have-to-be-sort-of-an-egomaniac-to-write-something-down/) [Cecily von Ziegesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-von-ziegesar/) > [You cannot be an egomaniac on the horse. If you lose your temper and start beating him, either you will destroy him, or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/you-cannot-be-an-egomaniac-on-the-horse-if-you-lose-your-temper-and/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [I'm an egomaniac with an inferiority complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-m-an-egomaniac-with-an-inferiority-complex/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [If I talk about what I'm good at, I seem like I'm a conceited egomaniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/if-i-talk-about-what-i-m-good-at-i-seem-like-i-m-a-conceited-egomaniac/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Esther Rantzen, like me, is an egomaniac of the highest order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-street-porter/esther-rantzen-like-me-is-an-egomaniac-of-the-highest-order/) [Janet Street-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-street-porter/) > [I think each human being wants to make their mark on the world in whatever way they can, and maybe everyone has a slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-think-each-human-being-wants-to-make-their-mark-on-the-world-in/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [Performing doesn't turn me on. It's an egomaniac business, filled with prima donnas - including this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/performing-doesn-t-turn-me-on-it-s-an-egomaniac-business-filled-with/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) ## More by George Saunders > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Wow wow wow is all I can say! Remember how I always buy lunchtime Scratch-Off ticket? Have I said? Maybe did not say? Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/wow-wow-wow-is-all-i-can-say-remember-how-i-always-buy-lunchtime/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“We must see God not as a Him (some linear rewarding fellow) but an IT, a great beast beyond our understanding, who wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-must-see-god-not-as-a-him-some-linear-rewarding-fellow-but-an-it-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/america-to-me-should-be-shouting-all-the-time-a-bunch-of-shouting/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Whatever your supposed politics are - left, right - if you put it in a human connection, most people will rise to the occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whatever-your-supposed-politics-are-left-right-if-you-put-it-in-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“A Clinton staffer tells me his theory. Think about Frank Sinatra, he says: born to sing. Think about Willie Mays: born to play ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-clinton-staffer-tells-me-his-theory-think-about-frank-sinatra-he/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [What America is, to me, is a guy doesn't want to buy, you let him not buy, you respect his not buying. A guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-america-is-to-me-is-a-guy-doesn-t-want-to-buy-you-let-him-not/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [We're in the transition between birth and death. But the one that people often know about is the transition between the moment of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-re-in-the-transition-between-birth-and-death-but-the-one-that/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [You don't want to be that parent - the one who dresses his kid in a cloth sack when all the other kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-don-t-want-to-be-that-parent-the-one-who-dresses-his-kid-in-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) [Explore all 690 George Saunders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## More Control freak quotes > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [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/) > [It takes a lot to get me mad. I'm a control freak when it comes to my feelings and I refuse to give just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-lot-to-get-me-mad-i-m-a-control-freak-when-it-comes-to-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a lot of similarities between Jonathan Higgins and Juliet Higgins: they're both British, they both come from military backgrounds, and they're both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perdita-weeks/there-are-a-lot-of-similarities-between-jonathan-higgins-and-juliet/) [Perdita Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perdita-weeks/) > [Writing music and lyrics, you tend to become a control freak - sitting alone in your room with a bare light bulb over your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/writing-music-and-lyrics-you-tend-to-become-a-control-freak-sitting/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [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/) > [“Homeowners' Association: the means whereby people who own homes are able to transfer their rights to the neighborhood control freaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-brackin/homeowners-association-the-means-whereby-people-who-own-homes-are/) [Ron Brackin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-brackin/) > [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 could never be a control freak. If Wu-Tang is a dictatorship, how does every Wu-Tang member have their own contract, their own career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-could-never-be-a-control-freak-if-wu-tang-is-a-dictatorship-how/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [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/) > [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/) > [We're all kind of control freaks as athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-casey/we-re-all-kind-of-control-freaks-as-athletes/) [Paul Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-casey/) > [When you say 'control freak' and 'OCD' and 'organized,' that suggests someone who's cold in nature, and I'm just not. 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I’ve known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrie-lynn/i-m-not-that-bad-macy-lifted-her-head-and-searched-candace-s-face-am/) [Cherrie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrie-lynn/) [Browse all 222 Control freak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-freak/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a control freak. I'm defensive. And I'm an egomaniac. 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