--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Facts are only tools to gain control over…" description: "\"Facts are only tools to gain control over yourself and other people.\" — Nikki Giovanni" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png" --- # Facts are only tools to gain control over yourself and… ![“Facts are only tools to gain control over yourself and other people.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png) > “Facts are only tools to gain control over yourself and other people.” [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tools are means to gain self‑control and influence others, not ends in themselves. **In simple terms:** Tools help us manage ourselves and others. Key Takeaway Use tools wisely for empowerment. Themes empowerment control ethics Mood reflective motivational Type ethical pragmatic When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - social influence Key Concepts philosophy psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Are you using tools to dominate or to grow? - How can tools be balanced with personal agency? A Different Perspective Tools can be misused or become crutches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [By releasing control over circumstances, you gain more control over your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maynard/by-releasing-control-over-circumstances-you-gain-more-control-over/) [Kyle Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maynard/) > [As you gain control of the mind, you gain control of life and you gain control of your time. It all works together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-you-gain-control-of-the-mind-you-gain-control-of-life-and-you-gain/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [To gain control over the quality of experience, one needs to learn how to build enjoyment into what happens day in, day out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/to-gain-control-over-the-quality-of-experience-one-needs-to-learn-how/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Gain control of the mind and make it still, initially just during periods of meditation, but then throughout the day and throughout the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/gain-control-of-the-mind-and-make-it-still-initially-just-during/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“You can't gain control of your children by losing control of yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ammon-vanderwood/you-can-t-gain-control-of-your-children-by-losing-control-of-yourself/) Jill Ammon Vanderwood > [“To gain control of the world of space is certainly one of our tasks. The danger begins when in gaining power in the realm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/to-gain-control-of-the-world-of-space-is-certainly-one-of-our-tasks/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“Isn't it sad that we have to gain control of the artificial numbers placed upon us by others to regain some control of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-gregory/isn-t-it-sad-that-we-have-to-gain-control-of-the-artificial-numbers/) Rick Gregory > [In order to be a player on the fast track, you will need to have a plan on how to gain more and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/in-order-to-be-a-player-on-the-fast-track-you-will-need-to-have-a/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The chances of getting Townes to like it were very remote. When I wrote 'Til I Gain Control Again,' Townes Van Zandt sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/the-chances-of-getting-townes-to-like-it-were-very-remote-when-i/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Gain control of your time, and you will gain control of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis-mason/gain-control-of-your-time-and-you-will-gain-control-of-your-life/) [John Landis Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis-mason/) > [“Each time we find ourselves dispersed and find it difficult to gain control of ourselves by different means, the method of watching the breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/each-time-we-find-ourselves-dispersed-and-find-it-difficult-to-gain/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-must-gain-control-over-your-money-or-the-lack-of-it-will-forever/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [By training yourself for doing things you dont wish and keeping your wishes unsatisfied at times, you gain control over yourself, your habits, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/by-training-yourself-for-doing-things-you-dont-wish-and-keeping-your/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [It's much easier to gain control over a mass population when you pit them against each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-garfield/it-s-much-easier-to-gain-control-over-a-mass-population-when-you-pit/) [Andrew Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-garfield/) > [Technology makes it possible for people to gain control over everything, except over technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tudor/technology-makes-it-possible-for-people-to-gain-control-over/) John Tudor ## More by Nikki Giovanni > [ I just think she was a wonderful woman. What I think of when I think of Nina \[Simone\] is someone that I could relate… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/i-just-think-she-was-a-wonderful-woman-what-i-think-of-when-i-think/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [It's really just interesting to ask: why not? And see where that takes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/it-s-really-just-interesting-to-ask-why-not-and-see-where-that-takes/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [I am ever fascinated by the human experience and by, actually, human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/i-am-ever-fascinated-by-the-human-experience-and-by-actually-human/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [You do what you can with what you have. You have to work the edges whatever they are. The main thing is keeping your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/you-do-what-you-can-with-what-you-have-you-have-to-work-the-edges/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/mistakes-are-a-fact-of-life-it-is-the-response-to-the-error-that/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [I’ve not learned the acceptable way of saying you fascinate me...I’ve not even learned how to say I like you without frightening people away-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/i-ve-not-learned-the-acceptable-way-of-saying-you-fascinate-me-i-ve/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [ever been kidnapped by a poet if i were a poet i'd kidnap you put you in my phrases and meter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/ever-been-kidnapped-by-a-poet-if-i-were-a-poet-i-d-kidnap-you-put-you/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [We love because it's the only true adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/we-love-because-it-s-the-only-true-adventure/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Young people coming up who are having difficulty with their so-called celebrity need to get back into their lives. It's your life and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/young-people-coming-up-who-are-having-difficulty-with-their-so-called/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [ \[To become a poet\] The most important thing is to pay attention. The next would probably be to read; it's so important to pay… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/to-become-a-poet-the-most-important-thing-is-to-pay-attention-the/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [daddy says the world is a drum tight and hard and i told him i’m gonna beat out my own rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/daddy-says-the-world-is-a-drum-tight-and-hard-and-i-told-him-i-m/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [We eat up artists like there's going to be a famine at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/we-eat-up-artists-like-there-s-going-to-be-a-famine-at-the-end/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Life is a process where people mix and match, fall apart and come back together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/life-is-a-process-where-people-mix-and-match-fall-apart-and-come-back/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [The trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. I say, the trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/the-trip-to-mars-can-only-be-understood-through-black-americans-i-say/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [War is not a jobs program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/war-is-not-a-jobs-program/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) [Explore all 210 Nikki Giovanni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) ## 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 > [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": "Facts are only tools to gain control over yourself and other people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nikki Giovanni" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-over-yourself-and-other-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-over-yourself-and-other-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15b/nikki-giovanni-1757_control_facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-ove_1424478.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Facts are only tools to gain control over yourself and other people.” — Nikki Giovanni", "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": "Nikki Giovanni", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Facts are only tools to gain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-over-yourself-and-other-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/facts-are-only-tools-to-gain-control-over-yourself-and-other-people/#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 } } ] } ```