--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: when the time came I would do battle with…" description: "\"when the time came I would do battle with my mother for the right to sit at the center of my own life.\" — Twyla Tharp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png" --- # when the time came I would do battle with my mother for… ![“when the time came I would do battle with my mother for the right to sit at the center of my own life.” quote by Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png) > “when the time came I would do battle with my mother for the right to sit at the center of my own life.” [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She fought for autonomy, asserting control over her own life’s direction. **In simple terms:** Fight for personal autonomy. Key Takeaway Assert control over your own life. Themes self‑determination empowerment family dynamics Mood determined assertive Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - family conflicts - personal boundaries Key Concepts autonomy boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - What does “center of my own life” mean to you? - How can you balance respect for parents with self‑direction? A Different Perspective Family opposition can complicate autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assertiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertiveness/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [My own life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own-life/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“The toys can help in the battle." "Mother Ginger? I doubt it!" "Never underestimate the value of a mother in wartime. She has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/the-toys-can-help-in-the-battle-mother-ginger-i-doubt-it-never/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I had received my first establishment grants in response to applications filed the year before. To the pages of baffling forms I had simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-had-received-my-first-establishment-grants-in-response-to/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't want to be that person who's looking squarely at the shortcomings in the process right where I sit and then choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gillum/i-don-t-want-to-be-that-person-who-s-looking-squarely-at-the/) [Andrew Gillum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gillum/) > [-if you're not going to treat her right! then sit the fuck down and watch someone else do it for you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly/if-you-re-not-going-to-treat-her-right-then-sit-the-fuck-down-and/) [Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly/) > [I like when I ask a person to please have a seat and they point to the only other chair in the room and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-hill/i-like-when-i-ask-a-person-to-please-have-a-seat-and-they-point-to/) [Nicole Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-hill/) > [If your not willing to stand for whats right, then sit down!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-not-willing-to-stand-for-whats-right-then-sit-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Treat your girl right, or sit back and watch someone else do it for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/treat-your-girl-right-or-sit-back-and-watch-someone-else-do-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think if you had to map that out at the beginning and you said, "Right, sit down, this is what you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-think-if-you-had-to-map-that-out-at-the-beginning-and-you-said/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) > [Men who can both be right and sit tight are uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lauriston-livermore/men-who-can-both-be-right-and-sit-tight-are-uncommon/) [Jesse Lauriston Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lauriston-livermore/) > [If I were in politics, I'd make both left and right sit down and make good decisions about national health. It's a huge problem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/if-i-were-in-politics-i-d-make-both-left-and-right-sit-down-and-make/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [Students ask me what is the best advice you could give me? And I say, 'Your mother's right.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/students-ask-me-what-is-the-best-advice-you-could-give-me-and-i-say/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [“As Engels memorably put it: “The overthrow of mother-right was the world historical defeat of the female sex. The man took command in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-engels-memorably-put-it-the-overthrow-of-mother-right-was-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He used to ask his mother, 'When will I find the right woman for me?' and she would answer, Don't worry about finding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-used-to-ask-his-mother-when-will-i-find-the-right-woman-for-me-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen - man is a child of Nature. When he turns against his mother - he's done! He may not find out about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ostenso/listen-man-is-a-child-of-nature-when-he-turns-against-his-mother-he-s/) [Martha Ostenso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ostenso/) > [“she was one cocktail away from proving his mother right”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taintor/she-was-one-cocktail-away-from-proving-his-mother-right/) [Anne Taintor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taintor/) ## More by Twyla Tharp > [“A lot of habitually creative people have preparation rituals linked to the setting in which they choose to start their day. By putting themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/a-lot-of-habitually-creative-people-have-preparation-rituals-linked/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I have learned over the years that you should never save for two meetings what you can accomplish in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-learned-over-the-years-that-you-should-never-save-for-two/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I always find that the best collaborations are when you work with people that know what they're doing, and you leave them alone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-always-find-that-the-best-collaborations-are-when-you-work-with/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't mean this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't really think of pop art and serious art as being that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-don-t-mean-this-but-i-m-going-to-say-it-anyway-i-don-t-really-think/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [The art of these Fifties movies was in sustaining forever the moment before sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/the-art-of-these-fifties-movies-was-in-sustaining-forever-the-moment/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [This is not a pleasant route for many young people to consider. You have to be either hopelessly passionate, or very stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/this-is-not-a-pleasant-route-for-many-young-people-to-consider-you/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I often say that in making dances I can make a world where I think things are done morally, done democratically, done honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-often-say-that-in-making-dances-i-can-make-a-world-where-i-think/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I had received my first establishment grants in response to applications filed the year before. To the pages of baffling forms I had simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-had-received-my-first-establishment-grants-in-response-to/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I find the aesthetics of the 20th century hopelessly barren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-find-the-aesthetics-of-the-20th-century-hopelessly-barren/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't think that scheduling is uncreative. I think that structure is required for creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-don-t-think-that-scheduling-is-uncreative-i-think-that-structure-is/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I have always felt one of the things dance should do - its business being so clearly physical - is challenge the culture's gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-always-felt-one-of-the-things-dance-should-do-its-business/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [There really is nothing I ever had access to that I didn't appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/there-really-is-nothing-i-ever-had-access-to-that-i-didn-t-appreciate/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Destiny, quite often, is a determined parent. Mozart was hardly some naive prodigy who sat down at the keyboard and, with God whispering in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/destiny-quite-often-is-a-determined-parent-mozart-was-hardly-some/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [When it all comes together, a creative life has the nourishing power we normally associate with food, love and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-it-all-comes-together-a-creative-life-has-the-nourishing-power/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Things change all the time, so why do people make such a philosophical to-do that things are constantly in transition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/things-change-all-the-time-so-why-do-people-make-such-a-philosophical/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) [Explore all 298 Twyla Tharp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## More Assertiveness quotes > [Assertiveness is not what you do, it's who you are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/assertiveness-is-not-what-you-do-it-s-who-you-are/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [“Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman-2/be-calm-yet-assertive-be-meek-yet-courageous-be-gentle-yet-bold-be/) [Charles F Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman-2/) > [Being assertive in the home does not produce any smiling faces, but it does bring out a few tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/being-assertive-in-the-home-does-not-produce-any-smiling-faces-but-it/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-think-naturally-if-you-re-an-actor-there-s-a-high-level-of/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [“It’s a fact that you’re going to have a different opinion or view on certain topics or issues. You need stand your ground by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-barbarulo-author-god-s-healing-hands-allow-god-to-reshape-your-soul/it-s-a-fact-that-you-re-going-to-have-a-different-opinion-or-view-on/) Michael Barbarulo: Author God's Healing Hands: Allow God To Reshape Your Soul > [I had received my first establishment grants in response to applications filed the year before. To the pages of baffling forms I had simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-had-received-my-first-establishment-grants-in-response-to/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [“Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-great-achiever-is-inspired-by-a-great-mentor/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [ \[After her 18-day disappearance in 1974:\] I love my husband very, very much, but he didn't ask me when he ran for mayor and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-alioto/after-her-18-day-disappearance-in-1974-i-love-my-husband-very-very/) [Angela Alioto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-alioto/) > [If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-you-are-going-to-have-to-play-defense-all-the-time-you-cannot-have/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [“Some people’s self-esteem was secretly improved when they discovered that their then-lovers had killed themselves over them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-s-self-esteem-was-secretly-improved-when-they-discovered/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Once you have a major success with assertiveness, you learn that it's a much healthier path than being a doormat to the insensitive folks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/once-you-have-a-major-success-with-assertiveness-you-learn-that-it-s/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [The duty we owe ourselves is greater than that we owe others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-duty-we-owe-ourselves-is-greater-than-that-we-owe-others/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“I have what it takes to get the work done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-have-what-it-takes-to-get-the-work-done/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“Whoa, hello, assertiveness! How lovely to make your acquaintance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-leveen/whoa-hello-assertiveness-how-lovely-to-make-your-acquaintance/) [Tom Leveen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-leveen/) [Browse all 85 Assertiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "when the time came I would do battle with my mother for the right to sit at the center of my own life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Twyla Tharp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-with-my-mother-for-the-right-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assertiveness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-with-my-mother-for-the-right-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/twyla-tharp-1069_assertiveness_when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-wit_1622141.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“when the time came I would do battle with my mother for the right to sit at the center of my own life.” — Twyla Tharp", "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": "Twyla Tharp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "when the time came I would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-with-my-mother-for-the-right-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-the-time-came-i-would-do-battle-with-my-mother-for-the-right-to/#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 } } ] } ```