Self-control is essential to happiness and usefulness. It is the master of all the virtues, and has its root in self-respect. Let a man yield to his impulses and passions, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom.

It is the self-discipline of a man that enables him to pursue success with superior diligence and sobriety. Many of the great characters in history illustrate this trait. In ordinary life the application is the same. He who would lead must first command himself. The time of test is when everybody is excited or angry, then the well-balanced mind comes to the front.

There is a very special demand for the cultivation of his trait at present. The young men who rush into business with no good education or drill will do poor and feverish work. Endurance is a much better test of character than act of heroism.

A fair amount of self-examination is good. Self-knowledge is a preface to self-control. Too much self-inspection leads to morbidness; too little conducts to careless and hasty action. There are two things which will surely strengthen our self-control. One is attention to conscience; the other is a spirit of good will. The man who would succeed in any great undertaking must hold all his faculties under perfect control; they must be disciplined and drilled until they quickly and cheerfully obey the will.  

自制力是获取幸福和成就事业不可或缺的能力。它根植于自尊，掌控着所有美德。一个人如果屈从于自己的情感冲动，便会从此失去精神自由。

历史上的许多伟人都具有一种品质，即自律。自律能使人更勤奋、更理性地追求成功。日常生活中，人们同样需要具有这种特质。想要成为领袖的人，首要条件就是要克制自己，每当激动万分或气愤不已时，便是检验自律能力之时。此刻，人们首先要做的就是平和心气。

当今社会特别需要人培养这种特性。一些没有受过良好教育或培训的年轻人仓促进入商界后，做事急躁而毫无成效。和逞英雄相比，耐性更能检验人的品性。

我们应该适当地自我反省。只有做到自知，才能做到自律。然而，反省过多会导致精神病态，过少则会让我们粗心大意、草率行事。确定能加强自制力的方案有两种，一是注重良知，二是心怀善意。一个人要想在事业上取得成功，就必须很好地把握和控制自己的所有才能；他们必须受到良好的教育和训练，这样才能愉悦地迅速学会服从自身的意愿。