Lack of discipline leads to frustration and self-loathing.
—Marie Chapian (b.1938) American Christian Writer, Psychotherapist
Who loves well, chastises well.
—French Proverb
Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.
—Buddhist Teaching
Practice yourself, for heaven’s sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.
—Hesiod (f.700 BCE) Greek Poet
For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
A man in old age is like a sword in a shop window. Men that look upon the perfect blade do not imagine the process by which it was completed. Man is a sword; daily life is the workshop; and God is the artificer; and those cares which beat upon the anvil, and file the edge, and eat in, acid-like, the inscription on the hilt—those are the very things that fashion the man.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
He who requires much from himself and little from others, will keep himself from being the object of resentment.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Self-control is the quality that distinguishes the fittest to survive.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it’s easy.
—Unknown
So far as discipline is concerned, freedom means not its absence but the use of higher and more rational forms as contrasted with those that are lower or less rational.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them, if they will not apply themselves to me.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
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
The consistent anarchist should be a socialist, but a socialist of a particular sort. He will not only oppose alienated and specialized labor and look forward to the appropriation of capital by the whole body of workers, but he will also insist that this appropriation be direct, not exercised by some elite force acting in the name of the proletariat. Some sort of council communism is the natural form of revolutionary socialism in an industrial society. It reflects the intuitive understanding that democracy is largely a sham when the industrial system is controlled by any form of autocratic elite, whether of owners, managers, and technocrats, a “vanguard” party, or a State bureaucracy.
—Noam Chomsky (b.1928) American Linguist, Social Critic
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
If we don’t discipline ourselves, the world will do it for us.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.
—Helen Hayes (1900–93) American Actor, Philanthropist
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
It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
—Buddhist Teaching
There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.
—Buddhist Teaching
Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure.
—Gary Ryan Blair
I forget who it was that recommended men for their soul’s good to do each day two things they disliked… . It is a precept I have followed scrupulously: for every day I have got up and I have gone to bed.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.
—Bum Phillips (1923–2013) American Football Coach
The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return love for hate, to include the excluded, and to say, “I was wrong.”
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
One discipline always leads to another discipline.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
Good discipline requires time. When we have no time to give our children, or no time that we are willing to give, we don’t even observe them closely enough to become aware of when their need for our disciplinary assistance is expressed subtley.
—M. Scott Peck (1936–2005) American Psychiatrist, Author
Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
Self-respect is the fruit of discipline, the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
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
He that would govern others, first should be the master of himself, richly endued with depth of understanding and height of knowledge.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
When the fight begins within himself, a man’s worth something.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people’s lives.
—Clint Eastwood (b.1930) American Film Director, Film Producer, Film Actor
Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly.
—Julie Andrews (b.1935) British Actress, Singer
Man must be disciplined, for he is by nature raw and wild.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
He is strong who conquers others; He who conquers himself is mighty.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterward, when you’ve worked on your own corner.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, 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
When you discipline yourself to do what is hard, you gain access to a realm of results that are denied everyone else. The willingness to do what is difficult is like having a key to a special private treasure room.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
—Frank Herbert (1920–86) American Science Fiction Writer
Without discipline, there’s no life at all.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
The man who masters his own soul will forever be called conqueror of conquerors.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself to do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done whether you like it or not. It is the first lesson that ought to be learned and however early a person’s training begins, it is probably the last lesson a person learn thoroughly.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
First we form habits, then they form us. Conquer your bad habits, or they’ll eventually conquer you.
—Rob Gilbert
Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today’s actions to tomorrow’s results. There’s a season for sowing a season for reaping. Self-discipline helps you know which is which.
—Gary Ryan Blair
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence, but in the mastery, of his passions.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank.
—Unknown
We must learn to let go, to give up, to make room for the things we have prayed for and desired.
—Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) American New Thought Mystic
Cheerfulness, in most cheerful people, is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
Self-command is the main discipline.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher