Prudent, cautious self-control, is wisdom’s root.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.
—Clint Eastwood (b.1930) American Film Director, Film Producer, Film Actor
Hatred comes from the heart; contempt from the head; and neither feeling is quite within our control.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Such power there is in clear-eyed self-restraint.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
With their souls of patent leather, they come down the road. Hunched and nocturnal, where they breathe they impose, silence of dark rubber, and fear of fine sand.
—Federico Garcia Lorca (1898–1936) Spanish Poet
When we direct our thoughts properly, we can control our emotions…
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
No one can make you jealous, angry, vengeful, or greedy—unless you let him.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The measure of greatness in a scientific idea is the extent to which it stimulates thought and opens up new lines of research.
—Paul Dirac (1902–84) English Theoretical Physicist
We fail to see that we can control our own destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
A wise man who stands firm is a statesman, a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
This work somehow awakened my dormant powers of will and I began to practice self-control. At first my resolutions faded like snow in April, but in a little while I conquered my weakness and felt a pleasure I never knew before—that of doing as I willed.
—Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) Serbian-American Electrical Engineer, Inventor
It is far more important that one’s life should be perceived than it should be transformed; for no sooner has it been perceived, than it transforms itself of its own accord.
—Unknown
There is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman.
—Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) Scottish Writer
Mind is consciousness which has put on limitations. You are originally unlimited and perfect. Later you take on limitations and become the mind.
—Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian Hindu Mystic
No one has ever been able to control his thinking, although people may tell the story of how they have. I don’t let go of my thoughts?—I meet them with understanding. Then they let go of me.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
If you don’t program yourself, life will program you!
—Les Brown
I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
You want to change your life? Control the only thing you can control: the meaning you give something.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
We improve ourselves by victories over ourself. There must be contests, and you must win.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
If you are ruled by mind you are a king; if by body, a slave.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
Money is multiplied in practical value depending on the number of W’s you control in your life: what you do, when you do it, where you do it, and with whom you do it. I call this the freedom multiplier.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
Nobody controls me. I’m uncontrollable. The only one who can control me is me, and that’s just barely possible. And that’s the lesson I’m learning. If someone’s going to impress me, whether it be a Maharishi or a Yoko, then there comes a point where the emperor has no clothes ’cause I’m naive, but I’m not stupid. For all you folks out there who think I’m having the wool pulled over my eyes, well, that’s an insult to me. But if you think you know me, or you have some part of me because of the music, and then you think I’m being controlled like a dog on a leash because I do things with her, then screw you, brother or sister, you don’t know what’s happening. I’m not here for you, I’m here for me and her, and now the baby.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
Authority is not a quality one person “has,” in the sense that he has property or physical qualities. Authority refers to an interpersonal relation in which one person looks upon another as somebody superior to him.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Does it follow that I reject all authority? Perish the thought. In the matter of boots, I defer to the authority of the boot-maker.
—Mikhail Bakunin (1814–76) Russian Anarchist Philosopher
Persecutors fear loss of control. Rescuers fear loss of purpose. Rescuers need Victims—someone to protect or fix—to bolster their self-esteem.
—David Emerald