Some of these books say that ruling yourself beats winning any battle. Others compare the senses to horses and the restless heart to the wind. Each quote is copied exactly from its book.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Who is a hero? He who conquers his passions, as it is written [Prov. xvi. 32]: 'One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.'
40 But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from lust, 41 Lo! the Garden will be his home.
134 Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good
But he who has understanding and whose mind is always firmly held, his senses are under control, like good horses of a charioteer.
It were all one, I think, To hold the wayward wind, as tame man's heart. Krishna. Hero long-armed! beyond denial, hard Man's heart is to restrain, and wavering; Yet may it grow restrained by habit, Prince! By wont of self-command.
103. If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.
35. It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and flighty, rushing wherever it listeth; a tamed mind brings happiness.
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.
To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue.
Though a man should conquer thousands and thousands of valiant (foes), greater will be his victory if he conquers nobody but himself.
Every quote on this page is checked word for word against the stored text of its book.