
Why is Self-control Important?
Self-control, or the ability to regulate one's own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, is important for several reasons:
Achieving goals: Self-control allows individuals to set and work towards goals, by resisting short-term temptations that may hinder progress towards those goals.
Health: Is linked to better physical health, as individuals who practice self-control are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding harmful substances.
Emotional well-being: It is also linked to better emotional well-being, as it allows individuals to manage their emotions and respond to situations in a more adaptive manner, rather than reacting impulsively.
Social relationships: Self-control is important for maintaining positive social relationships, as it allows individuals to regulate their behaviors and reactions, and to respond to others in a thoughtful and considerate manner.
In summary, mastering self-control is important for achieving goals, maintaining physical and emotional health, and developing positive social relationships. It allows individuals to regulate their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and to make more intentional and purposeful choices in their lives.
50+ General Self-Control Quotes
“Self-control is a key factor in achieving success. We can’t control everything in life, but we can definitely control ourselves.” – Jan McKingley Hilado
“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
“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
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.” – Grenville Kleise
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“In the midst of movement and chaos keep stillness inside of you.” – Deepak Chopra
“What we do upon some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are, and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline.” – H.P. Liddon
“I am very happy Because I have conquered myself And not the world.” – Sri Chinmoy
“Don’t speak unless you can improve on the silence.” – Spanish Proverb
“If you learn self-control, you can master anything.” – Anonymous
“Never respond to an angry person with a fiery comeback, even if he deserves it…Don't allow his anger to become your anger.” – Bohdi Sanders
“He who cannot obey himself will be commanded. That is the nature of living creatures.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
“Any woman who is sure of her own wits, is a match, at any time, for a man who is not sure of his own temper.” – Wilkie Collins
“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” – Aristotle
“The man who masters his own soul will forever be called the conqueror of conquerors.” – Plautus
What man's mind can create, man's character can control. Thomas Edison
“You must have discipline to have fun.” – Julia Child
“Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.” – Thucydides
The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts.” – Charles Darwin
“Self-control is one mark of a mature person; it applies to control of language, physical treatment of others, and the appetites of the body.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin
“He who reigns within himself, and rules passions, desires, and fears, is more than a king.” – John Milton
“There never has been, and cannot be, a good life without self-control.” – Count Leo Tolstoy
“Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.” – Benjamin Franklin
“If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.” – Napoleon Hill
“I think self-discipline is something, it’s like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.” – Daniel Goldstein
“The first and best victory is to conquer self. To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and objectionable.” – Plato
“It is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.” – Epictetus
“In that power of self-control lies the seed of eternal freedom.” – Paramahansa Yogananda
If you conquer yourself, then you conquer the world” – Paulo Coelho
“I cannot trust a man to control others if he cannot control himself.” – Robert E. Lee
“Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
“One’s greatest challenge is to control oneself.” – Kazi Shams
“The biggest enemies of willpower: temptation, self-criticism, and stress. (…) these three skills —self-awareness, self-care, and remembering what matters most — are the foundation for self-control.” – Kelly McGonigal
“Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.” – Michel de Montaigne
“The intelligent desire self-control; children want candy.” – Rumi
“You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.” – Chinese Proverb
“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” – Lao Tzu
“No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.” – William Penn
“No one can make you jealous, angry, vengeful, or greedy–unless you let him.” – Napoleon Hill
“When we have begun to take charge of our lives, to own ourselves, there is no longer any need to ask permission of someone.” – George O’Neil
“Prudent, cautious self-control, is wisdom’s root.” – Robert Burns
“Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.” – Elie Wiesel
“The best time for you to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust.” – Josh Billings
“The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you don't, life controls you.” Anthony Robbins
By constant self discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.” –Grenville Kleise
I am a spiritual being... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. Max Lucado
Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future lives and crimes to society. Daniel Webster
Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions... These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control. - Jerry Bridges
We must have a spirit of power towards the enemy, a spirit of love towards men, and a spirit of self-control towards ourselves. Watchman Nee
If we know that the aim of the Holy Spirit is to lead man to the place of self-control, we shall not fall into passivity but shall make good progress in spiritual life. "The fruit of the Spirit is self-control" Watchman Nee
Such power there is in clear-eyed self-restraint. James Russell Lowell
Anger is not in itself sinful, but...it may be the occasion for sin. The issue of self-control is the question of how we deal with anger. Violence, tantrums, bitterness, resentment, hostility, and even withdrawn silence are all sinful responses to anger. R. C. Sproul
Self-control – what lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.” Aristotle
“Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.” Elie Wiesel
5 Self Control-Quotes From The Bible
Here are some self-control quotes from the Bible:
"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." - Proverbs 25:28
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
The above quotes emphasize the importance of self-control in achieving our goals and living a fulfilling life. They also remind us that self-control is a spiritual quality that comes from God and can be cultivated through discipline and training.
4 Funny Self-control Quotes
Here are some funny self-control quotes that you might enjoy:
"I have a lot of self-control. It's just that sometimes I forget to use it." - Anonymous
"I have a love-hate relationship with self-control. I love it when I have it, but I hate it when I don't." - Anonymous
"I have a six-pack, it's just hiding under my layer of self-control." - Anonymous
"I have the self-control of a squirrel in a nut factory." - Anonymous
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About the Author:
Corine Williams, Ph.D. is Clinical Psychologist that is currently seeing clients in the States of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. You can find out more about her practice by visiting www.therapyforchristians.com/corinewilliams. In addition to providing individual therapy, Dr. Williams is also passionate about writing books and designing merchandise that educate, uplift, and normalize mental health subject in the Christian community. You can find out more about her at www.booksbycorine.com or by visiting her amazon profile here: https://www.amazon.com/Corine-Hyman/e/B00AWZ5FL2
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