"In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best"
About this Quote
The first move is scale: “in this world” inflates the stage, turning everyday power struggles into a total environment. It’s not “in this room” or “in this relationship,” but life as an ecosystem where control is constantly negotiated. Then comes the blunt, managerial verb: “call the shots.” It’s a phrase from workplaces and war rooms, and in a music industry that’s historically treated female artists as interchangeable voices, it signals a refusal to be the hired instrument for someone else’s vision.
The slyest part is the tag: “I think I know best.” The “I think” softens the sentence grammatically while hardening it psychologically. It’s self-awareness used as armor: she acknowledges subjectivity while declining to cede the steering wheel. In Carey’s cultural context, this posture sits alongside the “diva” label she’s been handed and has learned to weaponize. The line dares you to call it arrogance, because the alternative on offer is compliance. It’s not just confidence; it’s a survival strategy dressed as a hook.
Quote Details
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Carey, Mariah. (2026, January 16). In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-this-world-i-call-the-shots-and-i-think-i-know-89423/
Chicago Style
Carey, Mariah. "In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-this-world-i-call-the-shots-and-i-think-i-know-89423/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-this-world-i-call-the-shots-and-i-think-i-know-89423/. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.




