---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you take control over those things you…"
description: "\"If you take control over those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.\" — Judy Sheindlin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png"
---

#  If you take control over those things you can, you are…

![“If you take control over those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.” quote by Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png)

> “If you take control over those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.”

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

## About This Quote

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

Control over controllable factors enhances flexibility when unforeseen events arise.

**In simple terms:** Control what you can to adapt.

Key Takeaway

Plan ahead, stay adaptable.

Themes

control negotiation uncertainty

Mood

pragmatic motivational

Type

strategic inspirational

When to use this quote

- project management
- crisis response
- personal budgeting

Key Concepts

risk management strategic planning

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you control today?
- How do you respond when plans fail?

A Different Perspective

Control cannot eliminate surprise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/)

## Related quotes

> [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/)

> [I kind of had this moment of, 'I don't want to have to negotiate how much skin I'm going to show for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/i-kind-of-had-this-moment-of-i-don-t-want-to-have-to-negotiate-how/)

[Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/)

> [You have to be able to negotiate our trade deals. You have to be able to negotiate, that's right, with Japan, with Saudi Arabia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-have-to-be-able-to-negotiate-our-trade-deals-you-have-to-be-able/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I only want to control the things that prevent me from doing my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/i-only-want-to-control-the-things-that-prevent-me-from-doing-my-job/)

[Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/)

> [I have to do my job and control the things I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/i-have-to-do-my-job-and-control-the-things-i-can/)

[Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/)

> [“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/some-things-are-in-our-control-and-others-not-things-in-our-control/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [I can control most things, but I don't seem to be able to control death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-davis/i-can-control-most-things-but-i-don-t-seem-to-be-able-to-control-death/)

[Al Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-davis/)

> [Being on stage is the best part of my career. I just say whatever comes into my head. It's the only time I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/being-on-stage-is-the-best-part-of-my-career-i-just-say-whatever/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [It is not possible to control all external events; But, if I simply control my mind what need is there to control other things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/it-is-not-possible-to-control-all-external-events-but-if-i-simply/)

[Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/)

> [“The more we try to control the things outside of us the more we lose control of our mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-white/the-more-we-try-to-control-the-things-outside-of-us-the-more-we-lose/)

Jennifer White

> [I always liked the idea that you can put something in you onto a canvas or a piece of paper and have it exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-always-liked-the-idea-that-you-can-put-something-in-you-onto-a/)

[El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/)

> [I prefer playing in the studio because you have much more control over things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schenker/i-prefer-playing-in-the-studio-because-you-have-much-more-control/)

[Michael Schenker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schenker/)

> [“Even though you can't control the things that happen to you, you can control your perspective and your actions. There's never a moment you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-la-cruz/even-though-you-can-t-control-the-things-that-happen-to-you-you-can/)

[Melissa de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-la-cruz/)

> [“Wisdom, someone said, is about knowing the difference between the things you can control and the things you can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/wisdom-someone-said-is-about-knowing-the-difference-between-the/)

[Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/)

> [It's hard to control the things that are going to inspire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/it-s-hard-to-control-the-things-that-are-going-to-inspire-you/)

[Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/)

## More by Judy Sheindlin

> [They will find somebody younger, somebody funnier, somebody more engaged. As long as the court genre is viable, people are going to be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/they-will-find-somebody-younger-somebody-funnier-somebody-more/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I knew that if I worked hard, I could have both - I could have a family, because that was important to me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-knew-that-if-i-worked-hard-i-could-have-both-i-could-have-a-family/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [Unless you believe in reincarnation, this is your one shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/unless-you-believe-in-reincarnation-this-is-your-one-shot/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [Remember, a Trojan is more than a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/remember-a-trojan-is-more-than-a-horse/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [You lock your windows before you leave. You put on an alarm if you live in the country because you know that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/you-lock-your-windows-before-you-leave-you-put-on-an-alarm-if-you/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [If you commit a crime, you maybe have to be haunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/if-you-commit-a-crime-you-maybe-have-to-be-haunted/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [My viewers are smart. They know I have a contract with a TV show and that I make a lot of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/my-viewers-are-smart-they-know-i-have-a-contract-with-a-tv-show-and/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I was a sitting judge in Manhattan. I was a supervising judge in Manhattan, and they said to me, 'Did you ever think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-was-a-sitting-judge-in-manhattan-i-was-a-supervising-judge-in/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I'm realistic. I'm not becoming Farrah Fawcett here. If you stay beyond your welcome, it's for ego or money or because you can't exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-m-realistic-i-m-not-becoming-farrah-fawcett-here-if-you-stay-beyond/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [Since I'm the judge, it's a very stupid thing to irritate me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/since-i-m-the-judge-it-s-a-very-stupid-thing-to-irritate-me/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I'm not a good interviewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-m-not-a-good-interviewer/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I don't mind getting my hands dirty, and I don't mind getting to the truth of a situation and saying, 'You're right, you're wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-don-t-mind-getting-my-hands-dirty-and-i-don-t-mind-getting-to-the/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [Uh' is not an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/uh-is-not-an-answer/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I knew where people were sleeping in the hallways, you know, instead of doing their job. I knew what systems weren't working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-knew-where-people-were-sleeping-in-the-hallways-you-know-instead-of/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I only do one thing at a time; otherwise, I get confused and then I can't trick you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-only-do-one-thing-at-a-time-otherwise-i-get-confused-and-then-i-can/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

[Explore all 112 Judy Sheindlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

Browse all 17,085 Better quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you take control over those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Judy Sheindlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/if-you-take-control-over-those-things-you-can-you-are-better-able-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/if-you-take-control-over-those-things-you-can-you-are-better-able-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/judy-sheindlin-4359_better_if-you-take-control-over-those-things-yo_2521211.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you take control over those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.” — Judy Sheindlin",
                "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": "Judy Sheindlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you take control over those...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/if-you-take-control-over-those-things-you-can-you-are-better-able-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/if-you-take-control-over-those-things-you-can-you-are-better-able-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
