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Creativity Quote by Mariah Carey

"In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best"

About this Quote

There is a particular kind of pop bravado that only lands when it’s delivered like a boundary, not a boast. “In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best” reads less like a tantrum than a thesis statement from someone who’s spent a career being underestimated, overmanaged, and endlessly commented on. Mariah Carey isn’t just asserting confidence; she’s insisting on authorship.

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

TopicConfidence
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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.

More Quotes by Mariah Add to List
Mariah Carey quote: Calling the shots and agency
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About the Author

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1971) is a Musician from USA.

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