The first and best victory is to conquer self.
(Plato)
We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. It is not enough to have great talents; you should also have the management of them. Self-control is the ability to control one’s emotions, behavior and desires in order to obtain some reward later, and is the capacity of efficient management to the future.
Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.
Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.
(Lao Tzu)
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)
Nothing is more harmful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another.
(George Washington)
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)
With self-discipline most anything is possible.
(Theodore Roosevelt)