Self-command is the main elegance.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Who to himself is law, no law doth need.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
How like herrings and onions our vices are in the morning after we have committed them.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
For every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Conquer thyself. Till thou has done this, thou art but a slave; for it is almost as well to be subjected to another’s appetite as to thine own.
—Robert Burton (1577–1640) English Scholar, Clergyman
He who reins within himself and rules passions, desires, and fears is more than a king.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Not using faults does not mean that one does not have them.
—Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Poet
Better conquest never canst thou make, than warn thy constant and thy nobler parts against giddy, loose suggestions.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
What makes resisting temptation difficult for many people is they don’t want to discourage it completely.
—Franklin P. Jones
May I govern my passions with absolute sway, and grow wiser and better as life wears away.
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748) English Hymn writer
I have been my own disciple and my own master. And I have been a good disciple but a bad master.
—Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Poet
The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically—to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good”.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
Rule your mind or it will rule you.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
The constancy of sages is nothing but the art of locking up their agitation in their hearts.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
What government is the best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
What man’s mind can create, man’s character can control.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Heaven is on the other side of that feeling you get when you’re sitting on the couch and you get up and make a triple-decker sandwich. It’s on the other side of that, when you don’t make the sandwich. It’s about sacrifice…. It’s about giving up the things that basically keep you from feeling. That’s what I believe, anyway. I’m always asking, “What am I going to give up next?” Because I want to feel.
—Jim Carrey (b.1962) Canadian Actor, Comedian
Prudent, cautious self-control, is wisdom’s root.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbow’d.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Lies but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
—William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) English Poet, Critic, Editor
The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
All men are tempted. There is no man that lives that can’t be broken down, provided it is the right temptation, put in the right spot.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you’re fighting temptation.
—Tom Wilson (1931–2011) American Cartoonist
Abstainer: A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Over the times thou hast no power.—To redeem a world sunk in dishonesty has not been given thee. Solely over one man therein thou hast a quite absolute, uncontrollable power.—Him redeem and make honest.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.
—Deepak Chopra (b.1946) Indian-born American Physician, Public Speaker, Writer
He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions? Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian