Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
The hope of a secure and liveable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Discipline must come through liberty. . . . We do not consider an individual disciplined only when he has been rendered as artificially silent as a mute and as immovable as a paralytic. He is an individual annihilated, not disciplined.
—Maria Montessori (1870–1952) Italian Physician, Educator
Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
—Frank Herbert (1920–86) American Science Fiction Writer
The discipline that is needed in our lives is the discipline that comes from within.
—Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) American Mormon Religious Leader
Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility, and commitment.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Cheerfulness, in most cheerful people, is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
Restraint and discipline and examples of virtue and justice. These are the things that form the education of the world.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
When we teach ourselves and our children discipline, we are teaching them and ourselves how to suffer and also how to grow.
—M. Scott Peck (1936–2005) American Psychiatrist, Author
If you once turn on your side after the hour at which you ought to rise, it is all over. Bolt up at once.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
No man is free who is not master of himself.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The time is always right to do what’s right.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Only the man who can impose discipline on himself is fit to discipline others or can impose discipline on others.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
I think that, for all of us, as we grow older, we must discipline ourselves to continue expanding, broadening, learning, keeping our minds active and open.
—Clint Eastwood (b.1930) American Film Director, Film Producer, Film Actor
Tired mothers find that spanking takes less time than reasoning and penetrates sooner to the seat of the memory.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
He who lives without discipline dies without honor.
—Icelandic Proverb
I learned about the strength you can get from a close family life. I learned to keep going, even in bad times. I learned not to despair, even when my world was falling apart. I learned that there are no free lunches. And I learned the value of hard work.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is of all things most shameful and vile.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Make your educational laws strict and your criminal ones can be gentle; but if you leave youth its liberty you will have to dig dungeons for ages.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do when you need to do them, and the day will come when you will be able to do the things you want to do when you want to do them!
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
How shall I be able to rule over others, that have not full power and command of myself?
—Francois Rabelais (1494–1553) French Humanist, Satirist
Where one person shapes their life by precept and example, there are a thousand who have shaped it by impulse and circumstances.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself—and be lenient to everybody else.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.
—Buddhist Teaching
What are numbers knit
By force or custom? Man who man would be,
Must rule the empire of himself; in it
Must be supreme, establishing his throne
On vanquished will, quelling the anarchy
Of hopes and fears, being himself alone.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
No man is such a conqueror, as the one that has defeated himself.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Nothing of importance is ever achieved without discipline. I feel myself sometimes not wholly in sympathy with some modern educational theorists, because I think that they underestimate the part that discipline plays. But the discipline you have in your life should be one determined by your own desires and your own needs, not put upon you by society or authority.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.
—Bum Phillips (1923–2013) American Football Coach