I see what you are saying, Allimsaying. It certainly was written during the time of dictators, and not democracy as we know it. But I take this quote to mean something more personal, as in...the only thing we can control is our own reaction, our own thoughts, not the actions or thoughts of others, including events. It reminds me quite a bit of Steven Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Habit One.