Robert E. Lee Quotes

He that would govern others, first should be The master of himself.

How shall I be able to rule over others, that have not full power and command of myself?

How can I govern others, who can't even govern myself?

A person in my position has to restrain himself.

It's absolutely true that unless you can instill discipline upon yourself, you will never be able to lead others.

Only the man who can impose discipline on himself is fit to discipline others or can impose discipline on others.

The greatest power of ruling consists in the exercise of self-control.

When we, through our educational culture, through the media, through the entertainment culture, give our children the impression that human beings cannot control their passions, we are telling them, in effect, that human beings cannot be trusted with freedom.

If we do not discipline ourselves the world will do it for us.

There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.

Those who can command themselves command others.

The surest test of discipline is its absence.

Wisdom does not show itself so much in precept as in life - in firmness of mind and a mastery of appetite. It teaches us to do as well as to talk; and to make our words and actions all of a color.

In the last analysis, our only freedom is the freedom to discipline ourselves.

To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.

What man's mind can create, man's character can control.

I'm not immune to disciplinary problems and it's up to me to make strong choices. It's my responsibility.

If you want to be pro, you have to hold yourself accountable. It's about what you do when nobody's looking.

I do not want to gain a reputation for lacking discipline because I always look to play within the laws.

Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.

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

Behind real freedom, there lies discipline.

The disciplined are free.

My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them.

Character in leadership is the most important balance for leadership. Without character, leaders have no safety. Leadership has no protection without character.