---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to keep her in line somehow or…"
description: "\"“I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's the boss of everything.”\" — Michael Thomas Ford"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg"
---

#  I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's…

![“I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's the boss of everything.” quote by Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg)

> ““I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's the boss of everything.””

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

## About This Quote

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

He jokes about keeping a character in check to prevent them from becoming overly dominant, reflecting on control in storytelling.

**In simple terms:** Control characters to avoid dominance.

Key Takeaway

Maintain balanced character dynamics.

Themes

writing character control humor balance

Mood

playful analytical

Type

creative instructional

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- screenplay
- role‑play

Key Concepts

narrative authority authorial voice

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance character agency?
- What signs show a character is too dominant?

A Different Perspective

Over‑control can stifle creativity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/)

## Related quotes

> [“If you give a writer a line, they'll take a paragraph…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-mckenna-link/if-you-give-a-writer-a-line-they-ll-take-a-paragraph/)

Suzanne McKenna Link

> [If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldnt have a job if he was any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varsha-sharma/if-you-think-your-boss-is-stupid-remember-you-wouldnt-have-a-job-if/)

[Varsha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varsha-sharma/)

> [If you think your boss is stupid. Remember You would not get the job. If he was smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab/if-you-think-your-boss-is-stupid-remember-you-would-not-get-the-job/)

AB

> [Some people think Boss's Day is a just a way to try to get in good with the boss. I promise I would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-think-boss-s-day-is-a-just-a-way-to-try-to-get-in-good/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You think your a boss? bitch look at me and see a real boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-garcia/you-think-your-a-boss-bitch-look-at-me-and-see-a-real-boss/)

Isabel Garcia

> [When I think about what sort of person I would most like to have on a retainer, I think it would be a boss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/when-i-think-about-what-sort-of-person-i-would-most-like-to-have-on-a/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn't have a job if he was any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-think-your-boss-is-stupid-remember-you-wouldn-t-have-a-job-if/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Bosses are the ones calling the shots, as they should in any organization. And if you think you're above your boss, that's not reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/bosses-are-the-ones-calling-the-shots-as-they-should-in-any/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [If only we know, boss, what the stones and rain and flowers say. Maybe they call-call us-and we don't hear them. When will people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/if-only-we-know-boss-what-the-stones-and-rain-and-flowers-say-maybe/)

[Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/)

> [If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them to work harder, it backfires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating-them-to-get-them-to-work/)

[John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/)

> [Your parents ask you to follow the standard path: School, job, security. Is this really the best way? I don't think so - be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/your-parents-ask-you-to-follow-the-standard-path-school-job-security/)

[Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/)

> [I don't know what other people think about me being the boss, but I really like a collaborative work environment, and I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/i-don-t-know-what-other-people-think-about-me-being-the-boss-but-i/)

[Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/)

> [“I like to think of myself as a coworker with lots of experience rather than a boss,” Franklin said. I like to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-veselka/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-a-coworker-with-lots-of-experience/)

[Vanessa Veselka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-veselka/)

> [I'll be like Scarlett O'Hara-I'll think about it tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ll-be-like-scarlett-o-hara-i-ll-think-about-it-tomorrow/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [I won't think of it now. I can't stand it now. I'll think of it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/i-won-t-think-of-it-now-i-can-t-stand-it-now-i-ll-think-of-it-later/)

[Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/)

## More by Michael Thomas Ford

> [“Sometimes seeing the changes in one another had the opposite effect and actually comforted them. Seeing that they weren’t alone in growing older, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/sometimes-seeing-the-changes-in-one-another-had-the-opposite-effect/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“When I was a kid, I used to watch that show, sitting on the couch in my pajamas and wishing more than anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-watch-that-show-sitting-on-the-couch-in-my/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [It's a really crappy feeling to realize that your entire outook on your life can be controlled by some little pill that looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/it-s-a-really-crappy-feeling-to-realize-that-your-entire-outook-on/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [I knew people were talking, but I wasn't listening. I wasn't interested in anything anyone had to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-knew-people-were-talking-but-i-wasn-t-listening-i-wasn-t-interested/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [Let me tell something, seeing your name and psychiatric ward on the same piece of paper isn't the best way to start your day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/let-me-tell-something-seeing-your-name-and-psychiatric-ward-on-the/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [Personally, I think they killed the bear because they were afraid of it. That s what people do, kill the things they re afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/personally-i-think-they-killed-the-bear-because-they-were-afraid-of/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“you either are or aren't”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/you-either-are-or-aren-t/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“There’s not much point to being alive if you don’t do what you can to make life better for someone else, is there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/there-s-not-much-point-to-being-alive-if-you-don-t-do-what-you-can-to/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“I love that word. Gaydar. So clever.” “I’m afraid mine is broken,” Burke said. “It never occurred to me that you were gay.” “It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-love-that-word-gaydar-so-clever-i-m-afraid-mine-is-broken-burke/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“Just because your life isn't as awful as someone else's, that doesn't mean it doesn't suck. You can't compare how you feel to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/just-because-your-life-isn-t-as-awful-as-someone-else-s-that-doesn-t/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“Nobody talks around here," she said. "We all pretend to, but we never really do." She pointed to the television. "We're like the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/nobody-talks-around-here-she-said-we-all-pretend-to-but-we-never/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“Anyone can be crazy,” she answered. “That’s usually just because there’s something screwed up in your wiring, you know? But suicide is a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/anyone-can-be-crazy-she-answered-that-s-usually-just-because-there-s/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [When people hurt us, the best thing to do isn’t to ask why they did it but to remind ourselves that it wasn’t our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/when-people-hurt-us-the-best-thing-to-do-isn-t-to-ask-why-they-did-it/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“He said that I have to remember that even though I've changed a lot in here, I'm going back to a world that hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/he-said-that-i-have-to-remember-that-even-though-i-ve-changed-a-lot/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [“If I were a girl, I’d be sucking every cock I could get my mouth on,” Will said. “Fuck, I’d take on the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/if-i-were-a-girl-i-d-be-sucking-every-cock-i-could-get-my-mouth-on/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

[Explore all 83 Michael Thomas Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

## More Boss quotes

> [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/)

[Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/)

> [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/)

Stephen Henning

> [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/)

[Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/)

> [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/)

[George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/)

> [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/)

[Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/)

> [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/)

Roberto Aguire

> [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/)

[Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/)

> [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/)

[Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/)

> [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/)

[Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/)

> [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/)

[Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/)

> [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

[Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's the boss of everything.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Thomas Ford"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-she-ll-think-she-s-the-boss-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Boss"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-she-ll-think-she-s-the-boss-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/michael-thomas-ford-7867_boss_i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-sh_2807730.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's the boss of everything.” — Michael Thomas Ford",
                "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": "Michael Thomas Ford",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I have to keep her in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-she-ll-think-she-s-the-boss-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-she-ll-think-she-s-the-boss-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
