--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You either control it... or it controls…" description: "\"You either control it... or it controls you there is nothing to stand on between those two statements.\" — Marv Stark" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg" --- # You either control it... or it controls you there is… ![“You either control it... or it controls you there is nothing to stand on between those two statements.” quote by Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg) > “You either control it... or it controls you there is nothing to stand on between those two statements.” [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control versus surrender determines outcomes; without balance, one becomes a victim of circumstance. **In simple terms:** Control or be; balance needed. Key Takeaway Choose agency over passivity. Themes control agency balance power responsibility Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal relationships - career decisions - financial planning Key Concepts psychology philosophy self‑mastery Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when you’re being controlled? - What steps restore your agency? A Different Perspective Balance requires awareness of external forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control Controls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-controls-5887985/) [Controls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controls/) [Controls Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controls-stand-5887986/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Statements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements/) [Words of wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), which controls the living environment on shuttles and on the International Space Station, doesn't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-george/the-environmental-control-and-life-support-system-eclss-which/) [Rose George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-george/) > [I don't think that anyone should be in control of a relationship. I think that if you have a woman that controls her man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-nique/i-don-t-think-that-anyone-should-be-in-control-of-a-relationship-i/) [Mo'Nique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-nique/) > [Great adversity that's in your face is trying to make Tragedy become your Identity. Trying to make you the child of Tragedy instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/great-adversity-that-s-in-your-face-is-trying-to-make-tragedy-become/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [If only the words were spoken… Then the miracle would have a way, for where there is a WILL there is a WAY… but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/if-only-the-words-were-spoken-then-the-miracle-would-have-a-way-for/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Keep all your valuables together and in a safe place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/keep-all-your-valuables-together-and-in-a-safe-place/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [The future is to heal back to the mind again. Recognizing that the mind is all powerful - it controls every cell to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lipton/the-future-is-to-heal-back-to-the-mind-again-recognizing-that-the/) [Bruce Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lipton/) > [You either control your mind or it controls you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-either-control-your-mind-or-it-controls-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The brain is a complex biological organ possessing immense computational capability: it constructs our sensory experience, regulates our thoughts and emotions, and controls our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/the-brain-is-a-complex-biological-organ-possessing-immense/) [Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/) > [These are the two basic controls at the photographer's command--positi on and timing--all others are extensions, peripheral ones, compared to them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/these-are-the-two-basic-controls-at-the-photographer-s-command-positi/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [I believe God controls the universe. I don't believe biology works in an uncontrolled fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mourdock/i-believe-god-controls-the-universe-i-don-t-believe-biology-works-in/) [Richard Mourdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mourdock/) > [There weren't many weapons in Egypt in the 1990s. Police controls on guns were very strict back then. That is no longer the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-weren-t-many-weapons-in-egypt-in-the-1990s-police-controls-on/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [No one in the modern world controls the wealth or territory that Cleopatra did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/no-one-in-the-modern-world-controls-the-wealth-or-territory-that/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [Nobody controls me but my mama and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/nobody-controls-me-but-my-mama-and-god/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [The one who loves least controls the relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-who-loves-least-controls-the-relationship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A state-based regulatory system is quite burdensome. It allows price controls to create market distortions. It can hinder development of national products and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/a-state-based-regulatory-system-is-quite-burdensome-it-allows-price/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) ## More by Marv Stark > [How you see yourself is IMPORTANT... We would do well to see ourselves as God sees us More than a conqueror !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/how-you-see-yourself-is-important-we-would-do-well-to-see-ourselves/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [The two things that bring the greatest dividend to pass on is Wisdom + Understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/the-two-things-that-bring-the-greatest-dividend-to-pass-on-is-wisdom/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Choose the GOOD WILL that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/choose-the-good-will-that-is-most-useful-and-habit-will-make-it-the/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Keep all your valuables together and in a safe place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/keep-all-your-valuables-together-and-in-a-safe-place/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [If only the words were spoken… Then the miracle would have a way, for where there is a WILL there is a WAY… but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/if-only-the-words-were-spoken-then-the-miracle-would-have-a-way-for/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Just a simple statement of fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/just-a-simple-statement-of-fact/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [In the light of understand you see your Job is easy. Where there is Good thought there is Good Will. Where there is Good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/in-the-light-of-understand-you-see-your-job-is-easy-where-there-is/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Speak... and your Reality unfolds before you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/speak-and-your-reality-unfolds-before-you/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Great adversity that's in your face is trying to make Tragedy become your Identity. Trying to make you the child of Tragedy instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/great-adversity-that-s-in-your-face-is-trying-to-make-tragedy-become/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Your Body is your Tongue's pull toy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/your-body-is-your-tongue-s-pull-toy/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Evil is a spirit and can only be recognized by the will it spawns. Look with your ears !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/evil-is-a-spirit-and-can-only-be-recognized-by-the-will-it-spawns/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Reason is the Mortal's muzzle. If your dreams are beyond your reason. Speak words about those dreams from a spirit not bound by reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/reason-is-the-mortal-s-muzzle-if-your-dreams-are-beyond-your-reason/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [By your Words you are Justified and By your words you are condemned!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/by-your-words-you-are-justified-and-by-your-words-you-are-condemned/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [There is a point when you understand that you body this day follows the words you spoke in your past. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/there-is-a-point-when-you-understand-that-you-body-this-day-follows/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [Necessity is the mother of inventiveness. And you thought you were creative..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/necessity-is-the-mother-of-inventiveness-and-you-thought-you-were/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) [Explore all 45 Marv Stark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [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/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [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/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You either control it... or it controls you there is nothing to stand on between those two statements.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marv Stark" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you-there-is-nothing-to-stand-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you-there-is-nothing-to-stand-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/marv-stark-14856_control_you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you_2379327.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You either control it... or it controls you there is nothing to stand on between those two statements.” — Marv Stark", "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": "Marv Stark", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You either control it... or it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you-there-is-nothing-to-stand-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/you-either-control-it-or-it-controls-you-there-is-nothing-to-stand-on/#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 } } ] } ```