---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't start fights, but sometimes I…"
description: "\"I don't start fights, but sometimes I don't walk away from them. It hasn't happened in a long time, but it's happened, and I regret those times. I shou..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/jim-brown-2991_control_i-don-t-start-fights-but-sometimes-i-don_509888.png"
---

#  I don't start fights, but sometimes I don't walk away from…

![“I don't start fights, but sometimes I don't walk away from them. It hasn't happened in a long time, but it's happened, and I regret those times. I should have been more in control of myself, stronger, more adult.” quote by Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/jim-brown-2991_control_i-don-t-start-fights-but-sometimes-i-don_509888.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/jim-brown-2991_control_i-don-t-start-fights-but-sometimes-i-don_509888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/jim-brown-2991_control_i-don-t-start-fights-but-sometimes-i-don_509888.png)

> “I don't start fights, but sometimes I don't walk away from them. It hasn't happened in a long time, but it's happened, and I regret those times. I should have been more in control of myself, stronger, more adult.”

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

## About This Quote

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

He acknowledges occasional loss of self‑control in conflicts, regretting the lack of maturity and strength.

**In simple terms:** He sometimes reacts poorly in fights.

Key Takeaway

Practice self‑discipline.

Themes

conflict self‑control regret

Mood

reflective regretful

Type

personal emotional

When to use this quote

- workplace disagreements
- personal relationships
- stressful situations

Key Concepts

emotional regulation personal growth masculinity

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your reactions?
- How can you strengthen emotional resilience?

A Different Perspective

Self‑control is hard to maintain under pressure.

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[Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“Don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. —2 Timothy 2:23 (NLT)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/don-t-get-involved-in-foolish-ignorant-arguments-that-only-start/)

Guideposts

> [I had to fight those type of fights which were high risk, low reward and at the start, I never could get the fights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-crawford/i-had-to-fight-those-type-of-fights-which-were-high-risk-low-reward/)

[Terence Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-crawford/)

> [The defense policy of the United States is based on a simple premise: The United States does not start fights. We will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-defense-policy-of-the-united-states-is-based-on-a-simple-premise/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [I don't regret the past, I just regret the times I've wasted with the wrong people at the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-regret-the-past-i-just-regret-the-times-i-ve-wasted-with-the-2/)

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

> [“Sometimes you do things you regret, but there's nothing you can do about them. Times change. Doors close behind you. You move on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/sometimes-you-do-things-you-regret-but-there-s-nothing-you-can-do/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [I regret those times when I've chosen the dark side. I've wasted enough time not being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-regret-those-times-when-i-ve-chosen-the-dark-side-i-ve-wasted/)

[Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/)

> [I don't regret the past, I just regret the times i've wasted with the wrong people and the wrong things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-regret-the-past-i-just-regret-the-times-i-ve-wasted-with-the/)

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

> [Regret the times you've said 'i love you' without knowing what REALY loving someone is like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/regret-the-times-you-ve-said-i-love-you-without-knowing-what-realy/)

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

> [Never regret the times that you failed instead learn from it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-regret-the-times-that-you-failed-instead-learn-from-it/)

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

> [“Yesterday, when we were packing, Julius asked me, "If you could rub Tulip out of your past life, would you do it?" And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fine/yesterday-when-we-were-packing-julius-asked-me-if-you-could-rub-tulip/)

[Anne Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fine/)

> [Yes,I hurt people. But I also hurt myself more. Every word I say.I regret,Everything. But other times I'm like F\*\*k it! Lets go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/yes-i-hurt-people-but-i-also-hurt-myself-more-every-word-i-say-i/)

[Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## More by Jim Brown

> [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white, my high school superintendent, my high school coach and a -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-my/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [Capitalistic society teaches kids to be No. 1, but true self-esteem doesn't come from money. It doesn't come from winning the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/capitalistic-society-teaches-kids-to-be-no-1-but-true-self-esteem/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white. I'm not a person that really deals in color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-i-m/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [Nobody I ever broke bread with - and I see players all the time - talked about using their head running the football. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/nobody-i-ever-broke-bread-with-and-i-see-players-all-the-time-talked/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [In a perfect world, I don't think any man should slap anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/in-a-perfect-world-i-don-t-think-any-man-should-slap-anyone/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [The three greatest people in my life were white, OK. My high school coach, my high school superintendent and my mentor in Manhasset, Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-were-white-ok-my-high-school/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [Success is not only for the elite. Success is there for those who want it, plan for it, and take action to achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/success-is-not-only-for-the-elite-success-is-there-for-those-who-want/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [You have to put money in its proper perspective. The way it is positioned in the culture is like it is the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/you-have-to-put-money-in-its-proper-perspective-the-way-it-is/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [People think that coaches are always right, but it's difficult to teach a runner how to run, because every runner is different. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/people-think-that-coaches-are-always-right-but-it-s-difficult-to/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [We have to go back to the memories of 9-11. If that memory doesn't do anything to you as an American, then you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/we-have-to-go-back-to-the-memories-of-9-11-if-that-memory-doesn-t-do/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [The so-called incorrigibles were not the way people said they were. I found a lot of character in some of these people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-so-called-incorrigibles-were-not-the-way-people-said-they-were-i/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [I never had a father, really. My great-grandmother raised me. But I was in this country where I got help from people that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/i-never-had-a-father-really-my-great-grandmother-raised-me-but-i-was/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [One of the most fantastic experiences I ever had was as a decathlete. I finished fifth in the nation my senior year of high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/one-of-the-most-fantastic-experiences-i-ever-had-was-as-a-decathlete/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [When you think of the sacrifices our firefighters make, think about the service of soldiers in foreign lands and listen to their lives, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/when-you-think-of-the-sacrifices-our-firefighters-make-think-about/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [Young black men in this country have to understand that they have a responsibility. They cannot be the enemy in their own neighborhoods and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/young-black-men-in-this-country-have-to-understand-that-they-have-a/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

[Explore all 143 Jim Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

## 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/)

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[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/)

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[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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