Self-control means wanting to be effective at some random point in the infinite radiations of my spiritual existence.

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.

It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.

If you learn a martial art, you learn to be dangerous, but simultaneously, you learn to control it.

Over the years, I’ve learned that a confident person doesn’t concentrate or focus on their weaknesses – they maximize their strengths.

Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.

I would counsel people to go to college, because it’s one of the best times in your life in terms of who you meet and develop a broad set of intellectual skills.

A man’s worth is no greater than his ambitions.

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.

People have this capacity within them to set the world straight.

Eventually you get to this point where you understand what you want to do and get across and sound like.

We never repent of having eaten too little.

Maybe some people can wake up and play PlayStation all day, but that’s never been me.

Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people’s actions, and see what they would be at, as often as it is practicable; and to make this custom the more significant, practice it first upon yourself.

To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.

With ideas it is like with dizzy heights you climb: At first they cause you discomfort and you are anxious to get down, distrustful of your own powers; but soon the remoteness of the turmoil of life and the inspiring influence of the altitude calm your blood; your step gets firm and sure and you begin to look – for dizzier heights.

The art of being a slave is to rule one’s master.

God always wants us to be growing.

A man can do what he wants, but not want what he wants.

I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.

The human body has two ends on it: one to create with and one to sit on. Sometimes people get their ends reversed. When this happens they need a kick in the seat of the pants.

Reactive people… are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior.

Critics only make you stronger. You have to look at what they are saying as feedback. Sometimes the feedback helps, and other times, it’s just noise that can be a distraction.

Show me a poorly uniformed troop and I’ll show you a poorly uniformed leader.

I’m not good at talking about myself.

Everybody has a creative potential and from the moment you can express this creative potential, you can start changing the world.

The person we believe ourselves to be will always act in a manner consistent with our self-image.

I would venture to guess that the biggest reason creative types don’t produce isn’t because they don’t have vision… or talent… in most cases, it’s a lack of discipline.

A person places themselves on a level with the ones they praise.

I don’t think I get angry.

Man is fully responsible for his nature and his choices.

Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you’re doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you.

Talk that does not end in any kind of action is better suppressed altogether.

I try to live what I teach. A lot of things come against us in life, but we should try to find something to be grateful for, and see each day as a gift.

I never sell a book. I sell myself. And the way to sell yourself is to be an instrument of love.

Only a man’s character is the real criterion of worth.

Getting out of bed is like the foundation of the discipline, and I think it carries over into everything else.

The wise use of your freedom to make your own decisions is crucial to your spiritual growth, now and for eternity.

Learning never exhausts the mind.

Always remember that your calmness under fire is your best defense in any argument or discussion.

Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.

Culture is the process by which a person becomes all that they were created capable of being.

If man makes himself a worm he must not complain when he is trodden on.

I have no problem yelling at anybody’s kid – free of charge!

I entered the diocesan seminary. I liked the Dominicans, and I had Dominican friends. But then I chose the Society of Jesus, which I knew well because the seminary was entrusted to the Jesuits. Three things in particular struck me about the Society: the missionary spirit, community and discipline.

It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.

This above all, to refuse to be a victim.

The noblest search is the search for excellence.

Well, I wouldn’t say that I was in the great class, but I had a great time while I was trying to be great.

I never resist temptation, because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.

Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.

Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get.

You can change your world by changing your words… Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Our lives are a sum total of the choices we have made.

You have a more interesting life if you wear impressive clothes.

Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.

A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him.

I’m 31 now. I think I’m beginning to understand what life is, what romance is, and what a relationship means.

To put it bluntly, I seem to have a whole superstructure with no foundation. But I’m working on the foundation.

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.