--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to control oneself, if one…" description: "\"It is better to control oneself, if one can, and not hit back. But on certain occasions, it is imperative to defend oneself. I don't think it's fair to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/maya-angelou-104_asks_it-is-better-to-control-oneself-if-one-c_1716334.png" --- # It is better to control oneself, if one can, and not hit… ![“It is better to control oneself, if one can, and not hit back. But on certain occasions, it is imperative to defend oneself. I don't think it's fair to ask anybody not to defend herself or himself.” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/maya-angelou-104_asks_it-is-better-to-control-oneself-if-one-c_1716334.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/maya-angelou-104_asks_it-is-better-to-control-oneself-if-one-c_1716334.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/maya-angelou-104_asks_it-is-better-to-control-oneself-if-one-c_1716334.png) > “It is better to control oneself, if one can, and not hit back. But on certain occasions, it is imperative to defend oneself. I don't think it's fair to ask anybody not to defend herself or himself.” [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑control is ideal, but when threatened, protecting oneself becomes necessary and justifiable. **In simple terms:** Control is best, but self‑defense is sometimes required. Key Takeaway Balance restraint with rightful self‑defense. Themes self‑control justice personal safety Mood determined reflective Type ethical practical When to use this quote - personal conflict - physical assault - harassment - legal self‑defense scenarios Key Concepts ethics self‑preservation rights Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to defend yourself? - How can you ensure restraint before reacting? A Different Perspective Self‑defense can be misused to justify aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anybody Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anybody-defend-1294556/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Control Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-oneself-408294/) [Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend/) [Defend Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-oneself-344895/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Imperative Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperative-defend-1294555/) [Imperatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperatives/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The right to defend oneself is something that should never require us to be on a list, it should never require us to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/the-right-to-defend-oneself-is-something-that-should-never-require-us/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [To be forced to defend oneself is an inherently undesirable position to be in. The focus shifts from ideas to the person conveying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/to-be-forced-to-defend-oneself-is-an-inherently-undesirable-position/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Serious rational criticism is so rare that it should be encouraged. Being too ready to defend oneself is more dangerous than being too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/serious-rational-criticism-is-so-rare-that-it-should-be-encouraged/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [... self-control is not control by oneself through one's own willpower but rather control of oneself through the power of the Holy Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/self-control-is-not-control-by-oneself-through-one-s-own-willpower/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Teach the heart not to give way to proud emotions and arrogant thinking; bring the mind to heart-soothing solutions that make it possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/teach-the-heart-not-to-give-way-to-proud-emotions-and-arrogant/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Power consists not in being able to strike another, but in being able to control oneself when anger arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prophet-muhammad/power-consists-not-in-being-able-to-strike-another-but-in-being-able/) [Prophet Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prophet-muhammad/) > [To defend oneself against a fear is simply to insure that one will, one day, be conquered by it; fears must be faced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/to-defend-oneself-against-a-fear-is-simply-to-insure-that-one-will/) [James A. 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