--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most self-destructive thought that…" description: "\"The most self-destructive thought that any person can have is thinking that he or she is not in total control of his or her life. That’s when, ‘Why me?..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/roger-dawson-41919_destructive_the-most-self-destructive-thought-that-a_3231451.png" --- # The most self-destructive thought that any person can have… ![“The most self-destructive thought that any person can have is thinking that he or she is not in total control of his or her life. That’s when, ‘Why me?’ becomes a theme song.” quote by Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/roger-dawson-41919_destructive_the-most-self-destructive-thought-that-a_3231451.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/roger-dawson-41919_destructive_the-most-self-destructive-thought-that-a_3231451.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/roger-dawson-41919_destructive_the-most-self-destructive-thought-that-a_3231451.png) > “The most self-destructive thought that any person can have is thinking that he or she is not in total control of his or her life. That’s when, ‘Why me?’ becomes a theme song.” [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking you lack control triggers self‑destructive thoughts, leading to a victim mindset. **In simple terms:** Feeling powerless fuels harmful thinking. Key Takeaway Regain agency over your life. Themes control mindset self‑destruction agency Mood analytical motivational Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - career setbacks - relationship issues - health challenges - financial stress Key Concepts cognitive psychology self‑help Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate between controllable and uncontrollable aspects? - What steps restore a sense of agency? A Different Perspective Complete control is unrealistic; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-destructive/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“A destructive thought process exists within all of us, and we are plagued to varying degrees by an internal dialogue that is harmful, restrictive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-firestone/a-destructive-thought-process-exists-within-all-of-us-and-we-are/) [Lisa Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-firestone/) > [Vigilantly guard your mind against erroneous and destructive thought as you would guard your house against burglars and assassins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/vigilantly-guard-your-mind-against-erroneous-and-destructive-thought/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [The subconscious mind makes no distinction between constructive and destructive thought impulses. It works with the material we feed it, through our thought impulses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-subconscious-mind-makes-no-distinction-between-constructive-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The idea is to identify a destructive thought pattern, then simply label it and watch it and let it pass by whenever it appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-idea-is-to-identify-a-destructive-thought-pattern-then-simply/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“The Disaster of Negative Thinking. The subconscious mind makes no distinction between constructive and destructive thought impulses. It works with the material we feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-disaster-of-negative-thinking-the-subconscious-mind-makes-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [ It wasn't that expectations changed. But \[teens\] went from general expectations of success to having no idea of the right thing to do. In… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-medved/it-wasn-t-that-expectations-changed-but-teens-went-from-general/) [Michael Medved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-medved/) > [ Digital \[photography\] has sped up the process to a point that it's a bit self-destructive. It is like driving by a new neighborhood without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-kuhn/digital-photography-has-sped-up-the-process-to-a-point-that-it-s-a/) [Mona Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-kuhn/) > [We've all got out self-destructive bad habits, the trick is to find four or five you personally like the best and just do those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee-roth/we-ve-all-got-out-self-destructive-bad-habits-the-trick-is-to-find/) [David Lee Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee-roth/) > [Forgiveness feels most dramatic when some ancient pattern of self-punishment collapses in a torrent of tears. But it is just as effective when practiced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-patrick-miller/forgiveness-feels-most-dramatic-when-some-ancient-pattern-of-self/) [D. Patrick Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-patrick-miller/) > [The Bhagavad Gita is not as nice a book as some Americans think…Throughout the Mahabharata ... Krishna goads human beings into all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-doniger/the-bhagavad-gita-is-not-as-nice-a-book-as-some-americans-think/) [Wendy Doniger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-doniger/) > [God desires to change us from the inside out. Renewing our minds, starving our self-destructive tendencies, and teaching us to form new habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/god-desires-to-change-us-from-the-inside-out-renewing-our-minds/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [One thing I'm recognizing more and more in myself - and looking to change - is going down more of a self-destructive path when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-blackburn/one-thing-i-m-recognizing-more-and-more-in-myself-and-looking-to/) [Tyler Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-blackburn/) > [The protection of evil must be the most self-destructive job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-protection-of-evil-must-be-the-most-self-destructive-job/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Roger Dawson > [Within each of us is a hidden store of determination. Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/within-each-of-us-is-a-hidden-store-of-determination-determination-to/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [Charisma is the intangible that makes people want to follow you, to be around you, to be influenced by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/charisma-is-the-intangible-that-makes-people-want-to-follow-you-to-be/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [It's not how long life is but the quality of our life that is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/it-s-not-how-long-life-is-but-the-quality-of-our-life-that-is/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you'll meet that day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/treat-everyone-you-meet-as-though-they-are-the-most-important-person/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [Jim Rohn has been my favorite speaker for many years. He has changed my life for the better and can change yours too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/jim-rohn-has-been-my-favorite-speaker-for-many-years-he-has-changed/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [Within each of us is a hidden store of energy. Energy we can release to compete in the marathon of life. Within each of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/within-each-of-us-is-a-hidden-store-of-energy-energy-we-can-release/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [“Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you'll meet today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/treat-everyone-you-meet-as-though-they-are-the-most-important-person-2/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [Our world exists onlythrough our perception of it. Change our perception of our world and we change the world -- for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/our-world-exists-onlythrough-our-perception-of-it-change-our/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) > [Within each of us is a hidden store of energy. Energy we can release to compete in the marathon of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-dawson/within-each-of-us-is-a-hidden-store-of-energy-energy-we-can-release-2/) [Roger Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) [Explore all 10 Roger Dawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-dawson/) ## More Destructive quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > ['The Hunger Games' takes place in Panem, a country which is part of America. It's post-apocalyptic. There's been a global war. The Panem country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-hemsworth/the-hunger-games-takes-place-in-panem-a-country-which-is-part-of/) [Liam Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-hemsworth/) > [People project a grey energy that is very destructive to weaken you, to drain you - just as the snake uses position to capture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-project-a-grey-energy-that-is-very-destructive-to-weaken-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Slander does to a soul what cancer does to a cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/slander-does-to-a-soul-what-cancer-does-to-a-cell/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Information from destructive activities going back a hundred years right up until today is being incorporated into the system. And as that happens the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/information-from-destructive-activities-going-back-a-hundred-years/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [One of the most destructive mistakes we Christians make is to prioritize shared beliefs over shared relationship, which is deeply ironic considering we worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/one-of-the-most-destructive-mistakes-we-christians-make-is-to/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [I think that, honestly, people's censorship issues are personal but I disagree with most of those personal choices that I see others make. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-think-that-honestly-people-s-censorship-issues-are-personal-but-i/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [Liberalism's fatal flaw,... is that it has no permanent norms, only a succession of enthusiasms espoused by minor prophets. Each of these seems like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/liberalism-s-fatal-flaw-is-that-it-has-no-permanent-norms-only-a/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [A label is a soul-tattoo that is ingrained deep in our hearts, so much so that it determines how we see ourselves, And how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derwin-l-gray/a-label-is-a-soul-tattoo-that-is-ingrained-deep-in-our-hearts-so-much/) [Derwin L. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derwin-l-gray/) > [Downsizing itself is an inevitable part of any creatively destructive economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/downsizing-itself-is-an-inevitable-part-of-any-creatively-destructive/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [I still have highs and lows, just like any other person. What's missing is the lack of control over the super highs, which became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-duke/i-still-have-highs-and-lows-just-like-any-other-person-what-s-missing/) [Patty Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-duke/) > [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) Browse all 1,057 Destructive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most self-destructive thought that any person can have is thinking that he or she is not in total control of his or her life. 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