Question: Why are we Masters of our Fate, the captains of our souls? Because we have the power to control our thoughts, our attitudes. That is why many people live in the withering negative world. That is why many people live in the Positive Faith world.
—Alfred A. Montapert (1906–97) American Engineer, Philosopher
Let nothing come between you and the light.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American 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
No one can make you jealous, angry, vengeful, or greedy—unless you let him.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
It’s essential to distinguish between events that are really beyond your control and events you caused yourself.
—Barbara Sher (1935–2020) American Career Coach
The control of the palate is a valuable aid for the control of the mind.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU REALLY ARE IN CONTROL—IN TOTAL CONTROL.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Don’t let the negativity given to you by the world disempower you. Instead give to yourself that which empowers you.
—Les Brown
Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.
—Anne Bradstreet (1612–72) American Poet
You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Don’t put limitations on yourself. Other people will do that for you. Don’t do that to yourself. Don’t bet against yourself. And take risk.
—James Cameron (b.1954) Canadian Film Director, Environmentalist
Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group’s greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
The best way to navigate through life is to give up all of our controls.
—Gerald Jampolsky (b.1925) American Psychiatrist
Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and the inward man be at one.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The greatest firmness is the greatest mercy.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
No man is a failure who is enjoying life.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
No temptation can gravitate to a man unless there is that is his heart which is capable of responding to it
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Everybody has a hot button. Who is pushing yours? While you probably cannot control that person, you CAN control the way you react to them.
—Unknown
To exercise some sort of control over others is the secret motive of every selfish person.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Drive thy business, let not that drive thee.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If you don’t know what to do with many of the papers piled on your desk, stick a dozen colleagues’ initials on ’em, and pass them along. When in doubt, route.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
The drive to resist compulsion is more important in wild animals than sex, food, or water. He found that captive white-footed mice spent inordinate time and energy just resisting experimental manipulation. If the experimenters turned the lights up, the mouse spent his time turning them down. If the experimenter turned the lights down, the mouse turned them up. The drive for competence or to resist compulsion is a drive to avoid helplessness.
—Martin Seligman (b.1942) American Psychologist, Author
If one benefits tangibly from the exploitation of others who are weak, is one morally implicated in their predicament? Or are basic rights of human existence confined to the civilized societies that are wealthy enough to afford them? Our values are defined by what we will tolerate when it is done to others.
—William Greider (1936–2019) American Political Journalist
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.
—Anonymous
Your real self—the “I am I”—is master of this land, the ruler of this empire. You rightfully have power and dominion over it, all its inhabitants, and all contained in its realm.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. Without it genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
The physical world, including our bodies, is a response of the observer. We create our bodies as we create the experience of our world.
—Deepak Chopra (b.1946) Indian-born American Physician, Public Speaker, Writer
I am always with myself and it is I who am my tormentor.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
At one time my only wish was to be a police official. It seemed to me to be an occupation for my sleepless intriguing mind. I had the idea that there, among criminals, were people to fight: clever, vigorous, crafty fellows. Later I realized that it was good that I did not become one, for most police cases involve misery and wretchedness—not crimes and scandals.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Authority poisons everybody who takes authority on himself.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
Getting your house in order and reducing the confusion gives you more control over your life. Personal organization some how releases or frees you to operate more effectively.
—Larry King (1933–2021) American TV Personality, Radio Personality, Journalist
There is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman.
—Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) Scottish Writer
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
Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
The best time for you to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust. – Billings, Josh
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
He who has the pepper may season as he lists.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
I cannot make the universe obey me. I cannot make other people conform to my own whims and fancies. I cannot make even my own body obey me.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Take control of your consistent emotions and begin to consciously and deliberately reshape your daily experience of life.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
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
A really good detective never gets married.
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) American Novelist
To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
What man’s mind can create, man’s character can control.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Hatred comes from the heart; contempt from the head; and neither feeling is quite within our control.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher