--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pretend to be completely in control and…" description: "\"Pretend to be completely in control and people will assume that you are.\" — Walter Isaacson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png" --- # Pretend to be completely in control and people will assume… ![“Pretend to be completely in control and people will assume that you are.” quote by Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png) > “Pretend to be completely in control and people will assume that you are.” [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Projecting confidence can cause others to perceive you as actually confident and in control. **In simple terms:** Appear confident to be seen as confident. Key Takeaway Project confidence to influence perception. Themes leadership confidence perception Mood assertive strategic Type business motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - team leadership - interviews - negotiations Key Concepts psychology social influence self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - When does confidence become arrogance? - How can you balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence may lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [If you pretend you're completely mad, people believe it. The only thing I wanted when making the film was to have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-sfar/if-you-pretend-you-re-completely-mad-people-believe-it-the-only-thing/) [Joann Sfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joann-sfar/) > [It's true that people do assume that people who are critical are smarter than people who are uncritical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/it-s-true-that-people-do-assume-that-people-who-are-critical-are/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [If we speak poorly about that which we do well... people will assume we perform poorly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-we-speak-poorly-about-that-which-we-do-well-people-will-assume-we/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I would say most people assume that I'm not very smart or educated or earnest, because I have this image that I'm sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-would-say-most-people-assume-that-i-m-not-very-smart-or-educated-or/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [People who assume I want to run for elected office may be dealing from a bad assumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/people-who-assume-i-want-to-run-for-elected-office-may-be-dealing/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [People often assume New York City is no place to keep a dog. This is certainly what my parents told me when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/people-often-assume-new-york-city-is-no-place-to-keep-a-dog-this-is/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Testosterone makes you completely out of control, but that's okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/testosterone-makes-you-completely-out-of-control-but-that-s-okay/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [For me, there's nothing more masculine than when I'm completely in control of my body and can call upon my body to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/for-me-there-s-nothing-more-masculine-than-when-i-m-completely-in/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [Every human being has the ability to completely control his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-human-being-has-the-ability-to-completely-control-his-own-mind/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [My kids were completely out of control, while I was working fifteen hours a day plus weekends. I screamed a lot, something I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-kids-were-completely-out-of-control-while-i-was-working-fifteen/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [Motherhood has changed me completely; you are not in control of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soha-ali-khan/motherhood-has-changed-me-completely-you-are-not-in-control-of/) [Soha Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soha-ali-khan/) > [With the piano I'm completely in control of the gestural situation-not that I'm going to play the piece myself, but I know what's difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-ferrari/with-the-piano-i-m-completely-in-control-of-the-gestural-situation/) [Luc Ferrari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-ferrari/) > [The only motive that there ever was was to completely control a person; a person I found physically attractive. And keep them with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/the-only-motive-that-there-ever-was-was-to-completely-control-a/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [“But a good servant, and I am an excellent one, can completely control his master, tell him what to think, how to act, whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-a-good-servant-and-i-am-an-excellent-one-can-completely-control/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [There is always one option that is completely within your control: the ability to work harder than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-always-one-option-that-is-completely-within-your-control-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Walter Isaacson > [“he never finished any of the works he began because, so sublime was his idea of art, he saw faults even in the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/he-never-finished-any-of-the-works-he-began-because-so-sublime-was/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [He had the attitude that he could do anything, and therefore so can you. He put his life in my hands. So that made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/he-had-the-attitude-that-he-could-do-anything-and-therefore-so-can/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [But the point is to get a whole new generation of people and people in general more re-engaged in news, and this has happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/but-the-point-is-to-get-a-whole-new-generation-of-people-and-people/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“There was never a good knife made of bad steel ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/there-was-never-a-good-knife-made-of-bad-steel/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Jobs's intensity was also evident in his ability to focus. He would set priorities, aim his laser attention on them, and filter out distractions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/jobs-s-intensity-was-also-evident-in-his-ability-to-focus-he-would/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Atop the brochure McKenna put a maxim, often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, that would become the defining precept of Jobs’s design philosophy: “Simplicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/atop-the-brochure-mckenna-put-a-maxim-often-attributed-to-leonardo-da/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“The company began attracting influential new investors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-company-began-attracting-influential-new-investors/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“You have to remain critically vigilant.” Question every premise, challenge conventional wisdom, and never accept the truth of something merely because everyone else views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-have-to-remain-critically-vigilant-question-every-premise/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“in 1996, bought NeXT, bringing Jobs back. BILL ATKINSON. Early Apple employee, developed graphics for the Macintosh. CHRISANN BRENNAN. Jobs’s girlfriend at Homestead High,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/in-1996-bought-next-bringing-jobs-back-bill-atkinson-early-apple/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“The last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-last-time-there-was-this-much-excitement-about-a-tablet-it-had/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“If you want to live your life in a creative way, as an artist, you have to not look back too much. 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But this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/an-object-will-display-the-greatest-difference-of-light-and-shade/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) [Explore all 593 Walter Isaacson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pretend to be completely in control and people will assume that you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Isaacson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and-people-will-assume-that-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and-people-will-assume-that-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/walter-isaacson-384_assuming_pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and_528224.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pretend to be completely in control and people will assume that you are.” — Walter Isaacson", "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": "Walter Isaacson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pretend to be completely in control...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and-people-will-assume-that-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/pretend-to-be-completely-in-control-and-people-will-assume-that-you/#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 } } ] } ```