Quotes About Self-control

And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel, But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatched, unfledged comrade.

No, I will be the pattern of all patience; I will say nothing.

If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the meantime, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me.

Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding.

I yet beseech your majesty,-- If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, I'll do't before I speak,--that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath deprived me of your grace and favour; But even for want of that for which I am richer, A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue As I am glad I have not, though not to have it Hath lost me in your liking.

Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order.

The balcony is a metaphor for a mental and emotional place of perspective, calm, and self-control. If life is a stage and we are all actors on that stage, then the balcony is a place from which we can see the entire play unfolding with greater clarity. To observe our selves, it is valuable to go to the balcony at all times, and especially before, during, and after any problematic conversation or negotiation.

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. —Ambrose Bierce If

Everything is habit forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing.

By swallowing evil word unsaid noone has ever yet harmed his stomach.

He felt righteous and unashamed. He decided to go to bed sober.

Sentì svegliarsi dentro di sè l'oscuro desiderio di mandare in pezzi la sua compostezza, ma subito lo represse.

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

We are still masters of our fate. We are still captains of our souls.

Life is fraught with opportunities to keep your mouth shut.

I've gotten more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.

I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me

more than is wise or philosophic; but I contain myself, when nothing is to be gained by giving way.

In all circumstances, what you believe determines your actions. Your actions determine your future. The choice of how you live and what becomes of you is in your own hands.

I would force myself again and again to guard against my own overeagerness. Such self-control was crucial, for many times it led to great victories when self-indulgence might have led to defeats.

Do you think there is anything worse for a man than that which makes him choose what is bad for him instead what is good, and persuades him to cultivate the former and disregard the latter, and compels him to behave in the opposite way to that which is adopted by disciplined people?

What good have you to offer, or what do you know of pleasure, you who refuse to do anything with a view of either? You don't even wait for the desire for what is pleasant: you stuff yourself with everything before you want it, eating before you are hungry and drinking before you are thirsty.

In my opinion, however, disasters such as these teach men this lesson with regard to anger: one ought not to punish even a slave in anger; for masters who have lost their tempers often do more harm to themselves than they inflict; but in dealing with enemies it is utterly and entirely wrong to launch an attack under the influence of anger and without deliberation. Anger does not look ahead, whereas deliberation is just as concerned with avoiding harm oneself as with inflicting it on the enemy.

It's amazing how willpower can build walls.