He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.
Interpretation
To master external circumstances, one must first overcome internal desires and emotions.
This quote by Samuel Johnson highlights the importance of self-control and personal mastery in achieving a state of superiority over external influences. It suggests that before one can navigate the challenges and pressures of the outside world, they must first understand and regulate their own inner passions and desires, indicating that true strength comes from within.
In practice
During a leadership seminar, I referenced a wise quote about self-control to inspire participants.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
Just imagine what would happen if practicing physicians, the ones who have come into contact directly with suffering humanity, had some acquaintance with Eastern systems of healing. The Spirit of the East surges through every pore as a balm for all afflictions.
Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice.
An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.
I learned to focus on what's real rather than imagined; on not letting feelings drive the bus; on being courageous and honest; on putting my total effort into something and not worrying about the result.
Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.
Yes great people are always subject to persecution and always getting into straits.
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