As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual freedom, for man's free agency is a God-given gift.
David O. MckayRead
A man who cannot control his temper is not very likely to control his passions, and no matter what his pretensions in religion, he moves in daily life very close to the animal plane.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-control is essential for managing one's passions and higher aspirations.
This quote emphasizes the importance of controlling one's temper as a foundation for managing deeper emotions and passions. It suggests that without self-regulation, an individual risks living a life driven by instinctual, animalistic behaviors, regardless of their outward appearance of moral or religious superiority.
Themes
Self-ControlTemperPassionsWisdomEmotionReligion
In practice
Example use cases
During a leadership workshop, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of emotional intelligence.
More from David O. Mckay
All quotes →The rising sun can dispel the darkness of night, but it cannot banish the blackness of malice, hatred, bigotry, and selfishness from the hearts of humanity.
David O. MckayRead
Motherhood is the one thing in all the world which most truly exemplifies the God-given virtues of creating and sacrificing. Though it carries the woman close to the brink of death, motherhood also leads her into the very realm of the fountains of life and makes her co-partner with the Creator in bestowing upon eternal spirits mortal life.
David O. MckayRead
It is possible to make home a bit of heaven; indeed, I picture heaven to be a continuation of the ideal home
David O. MckayRead
Happiness and peace will come to earth only as the light of love and human compassion enter the souls of men.
David O. MckayRead
Out of the homes of America will come the future citizens of America, and only as those homes are what they should be will this nation be what it should be.
David O. MckayRead
Similar quotes
When you have emptied all content - thoughts, desires, memories, projections, hopes - when all is gone, for the first time you find yourself, because you are nothing but that pure space, that virgin space within you. Unburdened by anything, that contentless consciousness, that's what you are! Seeing it, realizing it, one is free. One is freedom, one is joy, one is bliss.
RajneeshRead
Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world.
EuripidesRead
He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face. - Ben Franklin
Benjamin FranklinRead
Diversity and independence are important because the best collective decisions are the product of disagreement and contest, not consensus or compromise.
James SurowieckiRead
If thou fill thy brain with Boston and New York, with fashion and covetousness, and wilt stimulate thy jaded senses with wine and French coffee, thou shalt find no radiance of wisdom in the lonely waste of the pinewoods.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
Every vocation becomes more agreeable when united with devotion.
Saint Francis De SalesRead