Erik Erikson Quotes

As far as your self-control goes, as far goes your freedom.

I cannot give up my will - I must exercise it, putting it into action.

Do whatever you will, but first be such as are able to will.

I believe in one thing only, the power of human will.

All of us should do what we want and have to do. We can only limit ourselves.

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

I thought The Limits of Control could be interpreted in two ways: as the limits of one's self-control; and as the limits of allowing other people's control over one's - consciousness - which I kind of thought was a double meaning that was appropriate.

We have power over nothing except our will.

Tis weak and vicious people who cast the blame on Fate. The right use of Fate is to bring up our conduct to the loftiness of nature.

One of the very best of all earthly possessions is self-possession.

Free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse. There lies freedom, indeed.

The disciplined are free.

No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline.

The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.

Anything that controls my state of mind I never really want to do because I always want to be under control. That might be part of me being a Virgo. I never want to do something that stops me from being in control of who I am and my actions.

I protest that if some great Power would agree to make me always think what is true and do what is right, on condition of being turned into a sort of clock and would up every morning before I got out of bed, I should instantly close with the offer.

Most people want to avoid pain, and discipline is usually painful.

I think it is important to remind people of the extent of our free will.

Human reason needs only to will more strongly than fate, and she is fate.

There's a drive in me that won't allow me to do certain things that are easy.

Implicit in true freedom of spirit lies a proud and virile will. Such glorious power of free will to choose, envisages beneficent social responsibility as manifest and welcome.

Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it.

No one is free who does not lord over himself.