Jean de la Bruyere Quotes

I'm not a very good yes man, and I'm not very easily controlled.

But while I breathe Heaven's air and Heaven looks down on me, And smiles at my best meanings, I remain Mistress of mine own self and mine own soul.

The more help a person has in his garden, the less it belongs to him.

A spirit, breathing the language of independence, is natural to Englishmen, few of whom are disposed to brook compulsion, or submit to the dictates of others, when not softened by reason, or tempered with kindness.

I never concerned myself with other people's decisions.

Who then is free? The wise man who can command himself.

No one is free who does not lord over himself.

Human passions, like the forces of nature, are eternal; it is not a matter of denying their existence, but of assessing them and understanding them. Like the forces of nature, they can be subjected to man's deliberate act of will and be made to work in harmony with reason.

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business.

I content myself with my own. I wish to command only my own subjects; but on the other hand I do not choose that anyone shall have it in his power to command me.

The liberty to live for self alone becomes in time a weary bondage.

What someone else does or doesn't do has no effect on me and what I do.

I myself think that the wise man meddles little or not at all in affairs and does his own things.

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

Our thoughts and our conduct are our own.

Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.

I think I'm in control of what I do and what I've done. I think that's the ultimate feminine power. Do as you want.

Being Adam Parrish was a complicated thing, a wonder of muscles and organs, synapses and nerves. He was a miracle of moving parts, a study in survival. The most important thing to Adam Parrish, though, had always been free will, the ability to be his own master. This was the important thing. It had always been the important thing. This was what it was to be Adam.

Independence means voluntary restraints and discipline, voluntary acceptance of the rule of law.

There were more ways to live than the ones given by one's superiors

I value my own independence so highly that I can fancy no degradation greater than that of having another man perpetually directing and advising and lecturing me, or even planning too closely in any way about my actions. He might be the wisest of men, or the most powerful - I should equally rebel and resent his interference.

I do not believe there ever was a man who was his own master, but that every man has a master of some kind or other.

I think the way I want to think. I live the way I want to live.

Those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them.