Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Humans lack total control over their lives; the best strategy is to align with benevolent people.
In plain terms
You cannot control everything, so choose who influences you wisely.
What can you take from it?
Align with good people who care about you.

Where it applies

  • feeling powerless
  • seeking guidance

Putting it to work

  • evaluate influences
  • choose mentors

Questions to consider

  • Who influences your decisions?
  • Do you choose your controls?

Another view

This ignores systemic forces beyond interpersonal choice.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. Ender stepped under the water and rinsed himself, took the sweat of combat and let it run down the drain. All gone, except they recycled it and we'll be drinki…

    Permalink to quote #14
  2. At last he came to a door, with these words in glowing emeralds: the end of the world. He did not hesitate. He opened the door and stepped through.

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. At first he thought he felt bad because he was afraid of leading an army, but it wasn't true. He knew he'd make a good commander. He felt himself wanting to cr…

    Permalink to quote #13

Related quotes

  1. Freedom means freedom from forces and circumstances which would turn man into a thing, which would impose on man the passivity and predictability of matter. By…

    Eric HofferEric Hoffer quote #167
  2. ...no bloody or unbloody change of society can eradicate the evil in man: as long as there will be men, there will be malice, envy and hatred, and hence there …

    Leo StraussLeo Strauss quote #1
  3. Action is the highest perfection and drawing forth of the utmost power, vigor, and activity of man's nature.

    Robert SouthRobert South quote #1