Self Discipline

"The first and best victory is to conquer self."

"You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself."

"Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from the expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear—and doubt. Self-discipline allows a pitcher to feel his individuality, his inner strength, his talent. He is master of, rather than a slave to, his thoughts and emotions."

"Success is a matter of understanding and religiously practicing specific, simple habits that always lead to success."

"Rule your mind or it will rule you."

"Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power."

"If we don't discipline ourselves, the world will do it for us."

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."

Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind-you could call it character in action."

"Nothing is more harmful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another."

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."

"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit."

"I think the guys who are really controlling their emotions ... are going to win."

A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself . . . . He belongs to whatever can make captive of him."