Duke Ellington Quotes

Self-discipline is the golden key; without it, you cannot be happy.

It is not only by one's impulses that one achieves greatness, but also by patiently filing away the steel wall that separates what one feels from what one is capable of doing.

Self-control is the only possible road to character development

All successes begin with Self-Discipline. It starts with you.

Discipline is the highest of all virtues. Only so may strength and desire be counterbalanced and the endeavors of man bear fruit.

The one human quality that must be developed is self discipline for success. The will power to force yourself to do what you know you should do when you should do it, whether you like it or not, whether you feel like it or not. Success is tons of discipline.

The battle for self-discipline may leave you a bit bruised and battered but always a better person.

Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.

Cultivate will power, that massive creative force that God the creator built into you. Do not let it remain flabby but strengthen it by use and exercise.

In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came first.

Make yourself do unpleasant things so as to gain the upper hand of your soul.

Self-control is only courage under another form. It may also be regarded as the primary essence of character.

Every act of self-discipline increases your confidence, trust, and belief in yourself and your abilities.

Only in the crucible of self-mastery can freedom be smelted

Learn to self-conquest, persevere thus for a time, and you will perceive very clearly the advantage which you gain from it.

Cultivate within yourselves the mighty power of self-discipline.

You must have the strength to discipline yourselves so that you can accomplish your goals and enhance your natural strengths. Habits of self-discipline formed while you are young will become part of the makeup of your character for the rest of your lives.

Self-discipline is crucial to a simpler, more contented life.

The discipline of desire is the background of character.

The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.

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.

Human will-power alone is not enough. Will-power is excellent and we should always be using it; but it is not enough. A desire to live a good life is not enough. Obviously we should all have that desire, but it will not guarantee success.

Everyone can reach his goal, if he can think, wait and fast.

For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories... The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile.

Training the will in trivial and grave matters increases its strength and flexibility, and enables man to constantly strive and persevere.