Thomas Perry Quotes

A prince must, above all things, accustom himself to moderate his desires. For as he has the power of gratifying them, if he once gives way to them, he will run to the greatest excess, and, by destroying his subjects, will at last complete his own ruin. In order to form himself to this moderation, nothing is more proper, than to accustom himself to patience. This is the most necessary of all virtues for those, who are to command. A man must be patient to become master of himself and others.

The intimate contest for self-command never ends, and lifetime happiness requires finding the right balance between present impulses and future well-being.

There is something good in men that really yearn for discipline.

The ability to delay gratification has implications not only for a person's life, but also for a community, for a people, for a country.

You must first have a lot of patience to learn to have patience.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

Where character forbids self-indulgence, transcendence still hovers around.

Teach him to deny himself.

Learning patience was not an easy lesson.

Longing and desire goes further than instant satisfaction. That's human nature.

As a kid, I often figured it was good to be patient to a fault.

The discipline of desire is the background of character.

Patience is a virtue, and I'm learning patience. It's a tough lesson.

Little hearts, little souls give little lusts big power. Big hearts give little lusts little power.

The worst education which teaches self-denial, is better than the best which teaches everything else, and not that.

Character is the impulse reined down into steady continuance.

Patience means restraining one's inclinations.

First, Resolve upon, and daily endeavour to practise, a life of seriousness and strict sobriety.

There's no credit in not doing what you don't want to do. There's no virtue in not falling, when you're not tempted.

We can endure neither our vices nor the remedies for them.

I didn't want to be greedy. It's a mark of bad character and I always believed that pigs go the slaughterhouse.

All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.

They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.

No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

I think patience is a skill and I wish I had it.