--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We fail to see that we can control our…" description: "\"We fail to see that we can control our destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be.\" — Orison Swett M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png" --- # We fail to see that we can control our destiny; make… ![“We fail to see that we can control our destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be.” quote by Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png) > “We fail to see that we can control our destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be.” [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We can shape our future by choosing actions and becoming the people we aspire to be. **In simple terms:** We control destiny by acting and becoming who we want. Key Takeaway Take deliberate actions toward your desired self. Themes self‑determination growth agency Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal goals - self‑improvement Key Concepts personal development choice identity Questions to Reflect On - What choices can you make today to shape your future? - How do you define the person you want to become? A Different Perspective Limited by external constraints and internal doubts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) ## Related quotes > [You have to control your own destiny and make your own choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/you-have-to-control-your-own-destiny-and-make-your-own-choices/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DREAM EXCEPT YOU. YOU?RE IN CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY - BE THE BEST YOU…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/always-know-that-there-is-nothing-between-you-and-your-dream-except/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [It's a given that if you start your own business, you're going to be (1) in control of your destiny, and (2) real busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-mosbacher/it-s-a-given-that-if-you-start-your-own-business-you-re-going-to-be-1/) [Georgette Mosbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-mosbacher/) > [Once you realize there is a Higher Power, you know you're not alone, that you have a purpose on the planet. You control your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/once-you-realize-there-is-a-higher-power-you-know-you-re-not-alone/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I'm still auditioning and doing other movie parts, but I really like the developing and the writing. You have more control over your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/i-m-still-auditioning-and-doing-other-movie-parts-but-i-really-like/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [It's time to stop letting your history control your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/it-s-time-to-stop-letting-your-history-control-your-destiny/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [You have absolute control over just one thing, your thoughts. This divine gift is the sole means by which you may control your destiny.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-have-absolute-control-over-just-one-thing-your-thoughts-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [That's the reason you want to become a star as an actor, to be able to have more control of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/that-s-the-reason-you-want-to-become-a-star-as-an-actor-to-be-able-to/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [I think I've gone through my life with the understanding that you've got to let go and you can't think that you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-think-i-ve-gone-through-my-life-with-the-understanding-that-you-ve/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [By learning to control the tenor and flow of your electromagnetic energy, you are learning to take control of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-grabhorn/by-learning-to-control-the-tenor-and-flow-of-your-electromagnetic/) [Lynn Grabhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-grabhorn/) > [We can't control our destiny, but we can control who we become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/we-can-t-control-our-destiny-but-we-can-control-who-we-become/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [All success in life, whether material or spiritual, starts with the thoughts that you put into your mind every second of every minute of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-sharma/all-success-in-life-whether-material-or-spiritual-starts-with-the/) [Rohit Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-sharma/) > [I'm a big believer in being an entrepreneur. It's easy for me to say because I work for myself and I am someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-m-a-big-believer-in-being-an-entrepreneur-it-s-easy-for-me-to-say/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [It's not whether the glass is half empty or half full, it's who is pouring the water. The key in business and success at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/it-s-not-whether-the-glass-is-half-empty-or-half-full-it-s-who-is/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Control your destiny or somebody will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/control-your-destiny-or-somebody-will/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## More by Orison Swett Marden > [“We can so educate the will power that it will focus the thoughts upon the bright side of things, and upon objects which elevate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-can-so-educate-the-will-power-that-it-will-focus-the-thoughts-upon/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“Gulliver was a giant whom the dwarfs captured while he was napping by binding him with tiny threads. Each thread was a trifle which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/gulliver-was-a-giant-whom-the-dwarfs-captured-while-he-was-napping-by/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“The hatred thought cannot live an instant in the presence of the love thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-hatred-thought-cannot-live-an-instant-in-the-presence-of-the-love/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“About as poor business as one can engage in is that of going through life with one's eyes so fixed upon what others have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/about-as-poor-business-as-one-can-engage-in-is-that-of-going-through/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“We tend to get what we expect, and if we expect nothing we get nothing. The stream cannot rise higher than its fountainhead;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect-and-if-we-expect-nothing-we-get-nothing/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [There never will be a trust in excellence or a combination in superiority. As long as you can do a thing a little better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/there-never-will-be-a-trust-in-excellence-or-a-combination-in/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/there-are-powers-inside-of-you-which-if-you-could-discover-and-use/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Most men fail, not through lack of education or agreeable personal qualities, but from lack of dogged determination, from lack of dauntless will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/most-men-fail-not-through-lack-of-education-or-agreeable-personal/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Something greater than wealth, grander even than fame — that manhood, character, stand for success, and that nothing else really does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/something-greater-than-wealth-grander-even-than-fame-that-manhood/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“The universe is one great kindergarten. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson. The mountain teaches stability and grandeur; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-universe-is-one-great-kindergarten-everything-that-exists-has/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/if-you-want-to-enlarge-your-life-you-must-first-enlarge-your-thought/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [The moment man cuts himself off from living connection with the human race and its needs, he begins to die from poor circulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-moment-man-cuts-himself-off-from-living-connection-with-the-human/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“There is something inside of a man which protests against doing that which tends to injure another, that which does not square with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/there-is-something-inside-of-a-man-which-protests-against-doing-that/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [A good system shortens the road to the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/a-good-system-shortens-the-road-to-the-goal/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Keep fear out of your child's mind, as you would keep poison out of his body; for fear is the deadliest of mental poisons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/keep-fear-out-of-your-child-s-mind-as-you-would-keep-poison-out-of/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) [Explore all 396 Orison Swett Marden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) ## 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": "We fail to see that we can control our destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Orison Swett Marden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-destiny-make-ourselves-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-destiny-make-ourselves-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/orison-swett-marden-711_control_we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-d_2026926.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We fail to see that we can control our destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves…” — Orison Swett Marden", "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": "Orison Swett Marden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We fail to see that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-destiny-make-ourselves-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-fail-to-see-that-we-can-control-our-destiny-make-ourselves-do/#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 } } ] } ```