--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't make good decisions that are…" description: "\"You can't make good decisions that are going to be meaningful, productive, when you lose control, and you have to maintain mental control, emotional co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png" --- # You can't make good decisions that are going to be… ![“You can't make good decisions that are going to be meaningful, productive, when you lose control, and you have to maintain mental control, emotional control and to be able to perform physically up to your own particular level of competency; you have to keep your emotions under control.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png) > “You can't make good decisions that are going to be meaningful, productive, when you lose control, and you have to maintain mental control, emotional control and to be able to perform physically up to your own particular level of competency; you have to keep your emotions under control.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective decision‑making requires mental and emotional discipline, plus physical readiness at one's competence level. **In simple terms:** Control mind and body for good decisions. Key Takeaway Maintain discipline in mind, emotions, and body. Themes discipline decision‑making self‑control Mood focused determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - sports coaching - leadership training - high‑pressure work - personal development Key Concepts psychology performance competence Questions to Reflect On - How do you train emotional resilience? - What routines keep you physically ready? A Different Perspective Emotions can still overwhelm despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Competencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competencies/) [Control Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-emotional-630296/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-control/) [Emotions Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-control-630298/) [Good decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-decision/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Lose Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-control/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Mental Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-control-630297/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) ## Related quotes > [Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgment and common sense are essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/practice-self-discipline-and-keep-emotions-under-control-good/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [No one is an overachiever. How can you rise above your level of competency? Everyone is an underachiever to different degrees. The harder you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/no-one-is-an-overachiever-how-can-you-rise-above-your-level-of/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Happiness and health must be earned by absolute control of the emotional nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/happiness-and-health-must-be-earned-by-absolute-control-of-the/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [Trying to control the emotional self willfully by manipulative attempts is like trying to choose a number on a thrown die or to push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoma-morita/trying-to-control-the-emotional-self-willfully-by-manipulative/) [Shoma Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoma-morita/) > [Any pleasure gained by means other than mental control weakens the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/any-pleasure-gained-by-means-other-than-mental-control-weakens-the/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [When someone has an emotional breakout. I always want to say what does crying and fit throwing help you change the situation or mke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigz/when-someone-has-an-emotional-breakout-i-always-want-to-say-what-does/) [Sigz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigz/) > [“Emotional content without self control burns the soul. Self control without emotional content is yet untested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/emotional-content-without-self-control-burns-the-soul-self-control/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I'm not crazy about being out of control, and I get emotional when things are unclean. When things are out of order. When things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-m-not-crazy-about-being-out-of-control-and-i-get-emotional-when/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [Overloading attention shrinks mental control. Life immersed in digital distractions creates a near constant cognitive overload. And that overload wears out self-control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/overloading-attention-shrinks-mental-control-life-immersed-in-digital/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Imagination tends to be truly useful if accompanied by the power of mental control - if the worlds in one's head can be purposefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/imagination-tends-to-be-truly-useful-if-accompanied-by-the-power-of/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [If you're trying to convey a crucial emotional truth, you have to be in total control of the emotional pacing of the story, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keck/if-you-re-trying-to-convey-a-crucial-emotional-truth-you-have-to-be/) [Kevin Keck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keck/) > [“Only one who has practiced intensively in preparation for the transition that occurs at death and gained sufficient mental control is capable of exerting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karma-lekshe-tsomo/only-one-who-has-practiced-intensively-in-preparation-for-the/) [Karma Lekshe Tsomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karma-lekshe-tsomo/) > [It may be true of all relationships, not only between fathers and sons, but between men and women. Nothing seems fixed. Everything is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/it-may-be-true-of-all-relationships-not-only-between-fathers-and-sons/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [Once you believe you are strong emotionally, you will unconsciously act stronger than before and begin to take control over your emotional whims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/once-you-believe-you-are-strong-emotionally-you-will-unconsciously/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [Managing life from our mental control towers, we have separated ourselves from our bodies and hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/managing-life-from-our-mental-control-towers-we-have-separated/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't make good decisions that are going to be meaningful, productive, when you lose control, and you have to maintain mental control, emotional control and to be able to perform physically up to your own particular level of competency; you have to keep your emotions under control.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Wooden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-going-to-be-meaningful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-going-to-be-meaningful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/john-wooden-420_able_you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-g_1648522.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't make good decisions that are going to be meaningful, productive, when you lose control, and you…” — John Wooden", "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": "John Wooden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't make good decisions that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-going-to-be-meaningful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/you-can-t-make-good-decisions-that-are-going-to-be-meaningful/#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 } } ] } ```