--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to dictate to others always has a…" description: "\"“Trying to dictate to others always has a shelf life.”\" — Steven Redhead" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg" --- # Trying to dictate to others always has a shelf life. ![“Trying to dictate to others always has a shelf life.” quote by Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg) > ““Trying to dictate to others always has a shelf life.”” [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imposing control on others is temporary; it loses relevance over time. **In simple terms:** Controlling others only works briefly. Key Takeaway Avoid trying to dominate others. Themes power dynamics leadership autonomy Mood cautious analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - management - relationships - politics Key Concepts control impermanence authority Questions to Reflect On - When have you seen control fail? - What alternative to dictating can you use? A Different Perspective Authority can be resisted, making control futile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate/) [Dictate Shelf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate-shelf-4159321/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Shelf life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelf-life/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Dictate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-dictate-4159320/) ## Related quotes > [“Everything in life has a limited shelf-life, basically an expiry date.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/everything-in-life-has-a-limited-shelf-life-basically-an-expiry-date/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Avoid letting circumstances control your decisions and dictate your actions, thereby controlling your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/avoid-letting-circumstances-control-your-decisions-and-dictate-your/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Every relationship comes with a shelf life; that duration could be a minute or even a lifetime. 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It's had a very long shelf life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/local-hero-was-probably-the-most-enjoyable-job-i-ve-ever-done-then-or/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [Good music shouldn't have a shelf life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/good-music-shouldn-t-have-a-shelf-life/) [Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/) > [As with many pop acts, your shelf life isn't that great, we peaked with our first album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-donnelly/as-with-many-pop-acts-your-shelf-life-isn-t-that-great-we-peaked-with/) [Declan Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-donnelly/) > [ ... everyone has come to understand that unconditional love is a reality, but with as shelf life of about eight to ten seconds. \[p. 110\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/everyone-has-come-to-understand-that-unconditional-love-is-a-reality/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [The medium's gaze is brief, intense, and promiscuous. The shelf life of the moral causes it makes its own is brutally short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-medium-s-gaze-is-brief-intense-and-promiscuous-the-shelf-life-of/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [I'm kind of a firm believer that songs can have a shelf life with an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-kennedy/i-m-kind-of-a-firm-believer-that-songs-can-have-a-shelf-life-with-an/) [Myles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-kennedy/) ## More by Steven Redhead > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“The best way to achieve a wonderful life is to have wonderful desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-best-way-to-achieve-a-wonderful-life-is-to-have-wonderful-desires/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“The waste of any resource is unnecessary and deplorable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-waste-of-any-resource-is-unnecessary-and-deplorable/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“There are potential opportunities for everyone to expand consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/there-are-potential-opportunities-for-everyone-to-expand-consciousness/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Life has the meaning we give it, no more, no less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-has-the-meaning-we-give-it-no-more-no-less/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Our destiny becomes the accumulation of the choices that we make; the choices of which paths we took in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/our-destiny-becomes-the-accumulation-of-the-choices-that-we-make-the/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“If you surrender your free will, then someone is bound to take the reins and lead you to a place that is not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/if-you-surrender-your-free-will-then-someone-is-bound-to-take-the/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Without a clear end goal any outcome will suffice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/without-a-clear-end-goal-any-outcome-will-suffice/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Aim to live the life that gives you the most of what you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/aim-to-live-the-life-that-gives-you-the-most-of-what-you-want/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Realise that there is no necessity to always be serious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/realise-that-there-is-no-necessity-to-always-be-serious/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Continuously rambling thoughts disrupt the potential for positive thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/continuously-rambling-thoughts-disrupt-the-potential-for-positive/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Always be in a position to manage your destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/always-be-in-a-position-to-manage-your-destiny/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“There are those who bring chaos and upheaval wherever they go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/there-are-those-who-bring-chaos-and-upheaval-wherever-they-go/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) [Explore all 482 Steven Redhead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) ## More Dictate quotes > [I'm obsessed with being able to dictate energy in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bazzi/i-m-obsessed-with-being-able-to-dictate-energy-in-a-room/) [Bazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bazzi/) > [I am not invested with dictatorial powers. If I were, I should be quite ready to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-not-invested-with-dictatorial-powers-if-i-were-i-should-be-quite/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Federalism doesn't empower D.C. to dictate to the states or the local level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/federalism-doesn-t-empower-d-c-to-dictate-to-the-states-or-the-local/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Songs are like anything else - they dictate to you which ones go together and which ones don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/songs-are-like-anything-else-they-dictate-to-you-which-ones-go/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [It's kind of true that they just start making the same movie over and over again. It's also true that the times dictate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jane/it-s-kind-of-true-that-they-just-start-making-the-same-movie-over-and/) [Thomas Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jane/) > [What if I couldn't handle people's opinions of me? I know that shouldn't dictate a person's degree of peace or happiness in life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/what-if-i-couldn-t-handle-people-s-opinions-of-me-i-know-that-shouldn/) [Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/) > [Illiterates have to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/illiterates-have-to-dictate/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [As a major contemporary composer, Madonna should not let the eye dictate to the ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-major-contemporary-composer-madonna-should-not-let-the-eye/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [“Your Purpose Should Dictate How You Spend Your Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-johnson-padgitt/your-purpose-should-dictate-how-you-spend-your-time/) [Brenda Johnson Padgitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-johnson-padgitt/) > [Collaborate, don't dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/collaborate-don-t-dictate/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [I dictate the pace of my fights and no one else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rockhold/i-dictate-the-pace-of-my-fights-and-no-one-else/) [Luke Rockhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rockhold/) > [“I don’t want what I’m afraid of to dictate every move I make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/i-don-t-want-what-i-m-afraid-of-to-dictate-every-move-i-make/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [You can get much easier shots just by staying patient and getting to what you want, not letting the defense dictate what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaren-jackson-jr/you-can-get-much-easier-shots-just-by-staying-patient-and-getting-to/) [Jaren Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaren-jackson-jr/) > [We're all very sensitive that Jim has the shortest history with the band. He wants to be somewhat of a free agent. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-re-all-very-sensitive-that-jim-has-the-shortest-history-with-the/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) [Browse all 160 Dictate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Trying to dictate to others always has a shelf life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Redhead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a-shelf-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dictate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a-shelf-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/steven-redhead-550_dictate_trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a_2095165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trying to dictate to others always has a shelf life.” — Steven Redhead", "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": "Steven Redhead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Trying to dictate to others always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a-shelf-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/trying-to-dictate-to-others-always-has-a-shelf-life/#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 } } ] } ```