--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don’t control the situation, but you…" description: "\"“You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.”\" — Ryan Holiday" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg" --- # You don’t control the situation, but you control what you… ![“You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg) > ““You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot control external events, but we can choose our thoughts and attitudes toward them. **In simple terms:** Control thoughts, not events. Key Takeaway Shift perspective to manage stress. Themes mindset control resilience Mood reflective calming Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stressful workday - personal conflict - health diagnosis - traffic jam Key Concepts cognitive reframing stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What thought patterns limit you? - How can you reframe a current challenge? A Different Perspective Thoughts can be influenced by subconscious biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-situation-403139/) [Control Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-think/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situation Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-control-276852/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [You have more control than you think you have. There should be no doubt where you have the power to change and control the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-more-control-than-you-think-you-have-there-should-be-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/always-have-the-situation-under-control-even-if-losing-never-betray/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Patience is not passive but active phase in which one do everything to keep the situation in control & paves way for solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/patience-is-not-passive-but-active-phase-in-which-one-do-everything/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Don't let situation control you but learn to adapt to them so that you won't be moved.this will lengthen your life span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-joseph/don-t-let-situation-control-you-but-learn-to-adapt-to-them-so-that/) [Jesse Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-joseph/) > [The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don't have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/the-only-thing-you-sometimes-have-control-over-is-perspective-you-don/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I can control myself not to see you, I can control myself not to hear you, but I can't control myself not to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-control-myself-not-to-see-you-i-can-control-myself-not-to-hear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have no control of life. I have to prepare myself for any situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/i-have-no-control-of-life-i-have-to-prepare-myself-for-any-situation/) [Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/) > [It's inevitable that you feel scared when you don't have control of a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo/it-s-inevitable-that-you-feel-scared-when-you-don-t-have-control-of-a/) [Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo/) > [That is always our problem, not how to get control of people, but how all together we can get control of a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/that-is-always-our-problem-not-how-to-get-control-of-people-but-how/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“It was typical of her character that she simply assumed she would, eventually, gain control over the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/it-was-typical-of-her-character-that-she-simply-assumed-she-would/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-not-be-able-to-control-every-situation-and-its-outcome-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an athlete, I feel like I have a little bit of control - or a lot of control - of the situation. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/as-an-athlete-i-feel-like-i-have-a-little-bit-of-control-or-a-lot-of/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [“IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL PEOPLE, THEN CONTROL YOUR REACTION TO THEM. IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL A SITUATION, THEN PREPARE FOR IT.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/if-you-can-t-control-people-then-control-your-reaction-to-them-if-you/) [Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/) > [I call myself taking control of a situation, but sometimes you really have to learn to humble yourself and to submit yourself. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tichina-arnold/i-call-myself-taking-control-of-a-situation-but-sometimes-you-really/) [Tichina Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tichina-arnold/) > [“Baby, this is who I am. I'm hardwired this way. And if I'm trying to take control over the situation, please understand that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/baby-this-is-who-i-am-i-m-hardwired-this-way-and-if-i-m-trying-to/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Holiday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you-control-what-you-think-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you-control-what-you-think-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/ryan-holiday-514_control_you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you_516761.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.” — Ryan Holiday", "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": "Ryan Holiday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You don’t control the situation, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you-control-what-you-think-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you-control-what-you-think-about/#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 } } ] } ```