--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we've had to do is learn to control…" description: "\"What we've had to do is learn to control success, put it in perspective, and not lose the essence of what we're doing - the music.\" — Janis Joplin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg" --- # What we've had to do is learn to control success, put it… ![“What we've had to do is learn to control success, put it in perspective, and not lose the essence of what we're doing - the music.” quote by Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg) > “What we've had to do is learn to control success, put it in perspective, and not lose the essence of what we're doing - the music.” [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing ambition with artistic integrity prevents losing core purpose. **In simple terms:** Stay true to your art while managing success. Key Takeaway Keep perspective, protect creative essence. Themes art success integrity Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - music career - entrepreneurship - personal branding Key Concepts creative control self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain authenticity amid fame? - What habits preserve your core values? A Different Perspective Success can dilute focus if not guarded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-success-2345368/) [Doing Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-music/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learn Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-control-521113/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-perspective-2941704/) ## Related quotes > [“Success could mean different things to different people because success is perspective-based. Some people associate success with likes and followers on social media. They,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/success-could-mean-different-things-to-different-people-because/) [Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/) > [Success isn't winning every time. A lot of different factors go into every race, and you can't control all of them. Success means doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mullins/success-isn-t-winning-every-time-a-lot-of-different-factors-go-into/) [Aimee Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mullins/) > [You can't control the success or failure of a thing you work on. You can only control the thing you work on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/you-can-t-control-the-success-or-failure-of-a-thing-you-work-on-you/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [Control success before it controls you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yoakam/control-success-before-it-controls-you/) [Dwight Yoakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yoakam/) > [Nothing is more diminishing than trying to control success or hold on to things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/nothing-is-more-diminishing-than-trying-to-control-success-or-hold-on/) [Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/) > [Learn to Control your emotions or they will control you,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-martinez/learn-to-control-your-emotions-or-they-will-control-you/) [Edgar Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-martinez/) > [When you are a leader you learn to control your emotions, you learn to keep them in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-jayalalithaa/when-you-are-a-leader-you-learn-to-control-your-emotions-you-learn-to/) [J. Jayalalithaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-jayalalithaa/) > [I would just like to learn to control my limbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-riley/i-would-just-like-to-learn-to-control-my-limbs/) [Rachel Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-riley/) > [The mind is such a powerful thing, and when you learn how to control that it really turns a lot of things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-marchand/the-mind-is-such-a-powerful-thing-and-when-you-learn-how-to-control/) [Brad Marchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-marchand/) > [“anger, in and of itself, is a good thing, within reason, but it will be your greatest enemy if you don't learn to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vali/anger-in-and-of-itself-is-a-good-thing-within-reason-but-it-will-be/) [Ali Vali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vali/) > [“Unless you learn to control your thoughts, you will never be able to control your actions; and if you can’t control your actions, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohdi-sanders/unless-you-learn-to-control-your-thoughts-you-will-never-be-able-to/) [Bohdi Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohdi-sanders/) > [“You must learn that nobody can control everything in the flow of life,” said Dart. “Control is something we all strive for—but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-grace-martin/you-must-learn-that-nobody-can-control-everything-in-the-flow-of-life/) [A. Grace Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-grace-martin/) > [.. the whole idea is that if you turn your amp up to 10, you should still be able to play at a whisper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bloomfield/the-whole-idea-is-that-if-you-turn-your-amp-up-to-10-you-should-still/) [Mike Bloomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bloomfield/) > [Life is like a ride but you need to learn how to control it so you don't make big mistakes in your life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-ride-but-you-need-to-learn-how-to-control-it-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you have a temper, now is the time to learn to control it. The more you do so while you are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/if-you-have-a-temper-now-is-the-time-to-learn-to-control-it-the-more/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## More by Janis Joplin > [Guess what, I might be the first hippie pinup girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/guess-what-i-might-be-the-first-hippie-pinup-girl/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/gimme-a-pigfoot-and-a-bottle-of-beer/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [All my life I just wanted to be a beatnik. Meet all the heavies, get stoned, get laid, have a good time. That's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/all-my-life-i-just-wanted-to-be-a-beatnik-meet-all-the-heavies-get/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/on-stage-i-make-love-to-twenty-five-thousand-people-and-then-i-go/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [I'm a victim of my own insides. There was a time when I wanted to know everything. It used to make me very unhappy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/i-m-a-victim-of-my-own-insides-there-was-a-time-when-i-wanted-to-know/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [“Tomorrow never happens. It’s all the same fucking day, man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/tomorrow-never-happens-it-s-all-the-same-fucking-day-man/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [All of a sudden, someone threw me in front of this rock and roll band. And I decided then and there that was it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/all-of-a-sudden-someone-threw-me-in-front-of-this-rock-and-roll-band/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [You are what you settle for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/you-are-what-you-settle-for/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [If you've got a today, don't wear it tomorrow. Tomorrow never happens. It's all the same day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/if-you-ve-got-a-today-don-t-wear-it-tomorrow-tomorrow-never-happens/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [This whole thing that's happened to me, you see, this whole success thing..it hasn't yet really compromised the position that I took a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/this-whole-thing-that-s-happened-to-me-you-see-this-whole-success/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [Like most girls I'm always really self-conscious about do I look fat, if my legs are short, if I'm weird shaped, but when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/like-most-girls-i-m-always-really-self-conscious-about-do-i-look-fat/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [You are what you settle for. You are only as much as you settle for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/you-are-what-you-settle-for-you-are-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [It's not what isn't, it's what you wish was that makes unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/it-s-not-what-isn-t-it-s-what-you-wish-was-that-makes-unhappiness/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [I'm tired of all these hippie jack-offs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/i-m-tired-of-all-these-hippie-jack-offs/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [At my concerts most of the chicks are looking for liberation, they think I'm gonna show 'em how to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/at-my-concerts-most-of-the-chicks-are-looking-for-liberation-they/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) [Explore all 98 Janis Joplin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we've had to do is learn to control success, put it in perspective, and not lose the essence of what we're doing - the music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janis Joplin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control-success-put-it-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Essence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control-success-put-it-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/janis-joplin-6558_essence_what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control_2866199.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we've had to do is learn to control success, put it in perspective, and not lose the essence of what…” — Janis Joplin", "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": "Janis Joplin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we've had to do is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control-success-put-it-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/what-we-ve-had-to-do-is-learn-to-control-success-put-it-in/#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 } } ] } ```