--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wise choices can put us in control of…" description: "\"Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we might otherwise be tempted to compromise our principles. We cannot control all that happens t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/l-lionel-kendrick-13484_cannot_wise-choices-can-put-us-in-control-of-si_1522466.png" --- # Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we… ![“Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we might otherwise be tempted to compromise our principles. We cannot control all that happens to us; however, we can choose to be in control of our responses.” quote by L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/l-lionel-kendrick-13484_cannot_wise-choices-can-put-us-in-control-of-si_1522466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/l-lionel-kendrick-13484_cannot_wise-choices-can-put-us-in-control-of-si_1522466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/l-lionel-kendrick-13484_cannot_wise-choices-can-put-us-in-control-of-si_1522466.png) > “Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we might otherwise be tempted to compromise our principles. We cannot control all that happens to us; however, we can choose to be in control of our responses.” [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals can maintain agency by deliberately shaping responses rather than reacting to external pressures. **In simple terms:** Control comes from choosing responses. Key Takeaway Choose how you respond. Themes self‑mastery integrity decision‑making Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal ethics - leadership - stress management Key Concepts agency principles self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which responses to control? - What principles guide your choices? A Different Perspective Responses may be limited by circumstances beyond one's influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-control-1253108/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-control-516900/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-situations-1183668/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [However](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/however/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Otherwise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otherwise/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Responses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responses/) [Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situations/) [Tempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempted/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [We cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/we-cannot/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-choices/) ## Related quotes > [“You must choose to control anger through a decision.  For if you lose control to anger—then the anger will surely control you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-c-gonzalez/you-must-choose-to-control-anger-through-a-decision-for-if-you-lose/) [D.C. Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-c-gonzalez/) > [“We have within us the power to choose how we respond to a hurtful situation. We cannot control the actions of others, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-c-taylor/we-have-within-us-the-power-to-choose-how-we-respond-to-a-hurtful/) [Cameron C. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-c-taylor/) > [I say we put a choice card in every veteran's hands to say, 'You choose.' You control your health care. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jolly/i-say-we-put-a-choice-card-in-every-veteran-s-hands-to-say-you-choose/) [David Jolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jolly/) > [We cannot choose how many years we will live, but we can choose how much life those years will have. We cannot control the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/we-cannot-choose-how-many-years-we-will-live-but-we-can-choose-how/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I really believe the only thing you can control in those situations is what you do as a player but also how you interact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-griese/i-really-believe-the-only-thing-you-can-control-in-those-situations/) [Brian Griese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-griese/) > [Raymond Floyd. The man knows how to control situations. He was experienced. He didn't let me get overly excited; he kept me in check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payne-stewart/raymond-floyd-the-man-knows-how-to-control-situations-he-was/) [Payne Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payne-stewart/) > [We have no control over the situations of life and we can't even run from them, the best we can do is to acknowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/we-have-no-control-over-the-situations-of-life-and-we-can-t-even-run/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [“I like to control the situations I put myself in. I don’t bend or kneel for others. I find it much more satisfying when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/i-like-to-control-the-situations-i-put-myself-in-i-don-t-bend-or/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [people who try to control situations all the time are afraid that if they don't, nothing will work out the way they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/people-who-try-to-control-situations-all-the-time-are-afraid-that-if/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I think I tried to control situations within my first marriage and I wasn't the easiest person to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-think-i-tried-to-control-situations-within-my-first-marriage-and-i/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [“In life, you have two choices: Do you control your life… or not? Are you the driver or the passenger? Do you make stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-young/in-life-you-have-two-choices-do-you-control-your-life-or-not-are-you/) [Justin Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-young/) > [“Some choices are better than others and we, as mortal humans, cannot be expected to always choose the best ones. What we can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/some-choices-are-better-than-others-and-we-as-mortal-humans-cannot-be/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [What leads us astray is confusing more choices with more control. Because it is not clear that the more choices you have the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/what-leads-us-astray-is-confusing-more-choices-with-more-control/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [You can control your choices but you can't control the outcome of those choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-can-control-your-choices-but-you-can-t-control-the-outcome-of/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [God takes control of our situations, takes care of our worries, displaces our fears for joy, loves us in our best and our worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/god-takes-control-of-our-situations-takes-care-of-our-worries/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by L. Lionel Kendrick > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [The temple is a place of worship. Reverence is a supernal form of worship. It is the form of worship found in the celestial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/the-temple-is-a-place-of-worship-reverence-is-a-supernal-form-of/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond. Many struggles come as problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/we-cannot-always-control-everything-that-happens-to-us-in-this-life/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Integrity is the core of our character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/integrity-is-the-core-of-our-character/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/we-cannot-always-control-everything-that-happens-to-us-in-this-life-2/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [To be reverent is not just to be quiet. It involves an awareness of what is taking place. It involves a divine desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/to-be-reverent-is-not-just-to-be-quiet-it-involves-an-awareness-of/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [The Spirit of the Holy Ghost is the teacher in the temple. He teaches principles of eternal significance. It is during these instructions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/the-spirit-of-the-holy-ghost-is-the-teacher-in-the-temple-he-teaches/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [“The Savior knows all things past, present, and future. Jacob taught, ‘For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/the-savior-knows-all-things-past-present-and-future-jacob-taught-for/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/the-lord-gives-us-a-spirit-of-hope-and-a-feeling-of-comfort-and/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Some struggles involve making decisions, while others are a results of the decisions we have made. Some of our struggles results from choices others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/some-struggles-involve-making-decisions-while-others-are-a-results-of/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Scriptures reveal the divine desires of the Lord in our behalf. Each of us should have a burning desire to search the scriptures diligently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/scriptures-reveal-the-divine-desires-of-the-lord-in-our-behalf-each/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Receiving personal revelation is not a passive process. As we seek such revelations, we must prepare for these sacred experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/receiving-personal-revelation-is-not-a-passive-process-as-we-seek/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [To gain strength in our struggles, we must have a positive perspective of the principles in the plan of salvation. We must realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/to-gain-strength-in-our-struggles-we-must-have-a-positive-perspective/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Struggles are a part of the sacred sanctification process. There are no soft or slothful ways to become sanctified to the point that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/struggles-are-a-part-of-the-sacred-sanctification-process-there-are/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Christlike communications will help us to develop righteous relationships and ultimately to return to our heavenly home safely. May we treasure the divine gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/christlike-communications-will-help-us-to-develop-righteous/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) [Explore all 50 L. Lionel Kendrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) ## More Cannot quotes > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [The book is not simply the object that one holds in one's hands, and it cannot remain within the little parallelpiped that contains it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/the-book-is-not-simply-the-object-that-one-holds-in-one-s-hands-and/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [Visaaranai' reflects a stark reality from which you cannot shut yourself out: that is its success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/visaaranai-reflects-a-stark-reality-from-which-you-cannot-shut/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) > [When you put more than a million kids in school, you take a plane today and go to Haiti, you cannot see the results.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martelly/when-you-put-more-than-a-million-kids-in-school-you-take-a-plane/) [Michel Martelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martelly/) > [We cannot stop anyone from criticising us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/we-cannot-stop-anyone-from-criticising-us/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Once you publish a book, it is out of your control. You cannot dictate how people read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-you-publish-a-book-it-is-out-of-your-control-you-cannot-dictate/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The Brazilians are amazing in their nature. You cannot describe it; you must feel that warmth when you're around them to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrikh-mkhitaryan/the-brazilians-are-amazing-in-their-nature-you-cannot-describe-it-you/) [Henrikh Mkhitaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrikh-mkhitaryan/) > [The two things you cannot do effectively on stage are pray and copulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-two-things-you-cannot-do-effectively-on-stage-are-pray-and/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Liberty does not exist where rights are on one side and power on the other. To be liberty, rights must be armed with vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/liberty-does-not-exist-where-rights-are-on-one-side-and-power-on-the/) [Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/) > [The reason I fight is to provide for my family, and I cannot risk having that taken away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/the-reason-i-fight-is-to-provide-for-my-family-and-i-cannot-risk/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [We cannot have players who don't give their soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/we-cannot-have-players-who-don-t-give-their-soul/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [I cannot do confrontation. You know that fight or flight thing? I'm flight. I just don't want the argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-saunders/i-cannot-do-confrontation-you-know-that-fight-or-flight-thing-i-m/) [Jennifer Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-saunders/) > [Rahul Gandhi cannot be a prime minister because he is a citizen of Britain, and his Indian citizenship will be cancelled; he won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/rahul-gandhi-cannot-be-a-prime-minister-because-he-is-a-citizen-of/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) [Browse all 2,691 Cannot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we might otherwise be tempted to compromise our principles. We cannot control all that happens to us; however, we can choose to be in control of our responses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "L. 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