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
If we don’t discipline ourselves, the world will do it for us.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Poet, Dramatist, Satirist
For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.
—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
If we conducted ourselves as sensibly in good times as we do in hard times, we could all acquire a competence.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Get to know yourself. Know your own failings, passions, and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see. Know also when you actually have thought through to the nature of the thing with which you are dealing and when you are not thinking at all… Knowing yourself and knowing the facts, you can judge whether you can change the situation so it is more to your liking. If you cannot—or if you do not know how to improve on things—then discipline yourself to the adjustments that will be necessary.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
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
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
It isn’t until you come to a spiritual understanding of who you are—not necessarily a religious feeling, but deep down, the spirit within—that you can begin to take control.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
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
He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Lack of discipline leads to frustration and self-loathing.
—Marie Chapian (b.1938) American Christian Writer, Psychotherapist
First we form habits, then they form us. Conquer your bad habits, or they’ll eventually conquer you.
—Rob Gilbert
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
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
When the fight begins within himself, a man’s worth something.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
Right discipline consists, not in external compulsion, but in the habits of mind which lead spontaneously to desirable rather than undesirable activities.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
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
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
Brave is the lion tamer, brave is the world subduer, but braver is the one who has subdued himself.
—Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803) German Lutheran Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Literary Critic
We learn to curb our will and keep our overt actions within the bounds of humanity, long before we can subdue our sentiments and imaginations to the same mild tone.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
To know how to dispense with things is to possess them.
—Jean-Francois Regnard (1655–1709) French Dramatist
The discipline of desire is the background of character.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.
—Buddhist Teaching
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
Self-command is the main discipline.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
One-half of life is luck; the other half is discipline – and that’s the important half, for without discipline you wouldn’t know what to do with luck.
—Carl Zuckmayer (1896–1977) German Playwright, Novelist
What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Who loves well, chastises well.
—French Proverb
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
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
No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
No man is free who is not master of himself.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
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
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
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
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
The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.
—Bum Phillips (1923–2013) American Football Coach
Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
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
Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank.
—Unknown
Develop the winning edge; small differences in your performance can lead to large differences in your results.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker