Biassou raised his hand, and as if by enchantment the tumult was stilled, and each negro returned to his place in the ranks in silence. The discipline which Biassou had imposed upon his equals by the exercise of his power of will struck me, I may say, with admiration. All the soldiers of the force seemed to exist only to obey the wishes of their chief, as the notes of the harpsichord under the fingers of the musician.

The best thing about self-defense is knowing there is a self

Old man — don't let's forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives, and that we obey them without knowing it.

Pantagruel said to his men, "Gentlemen, I have made this prisoner believe that we will not assault them till to-morrow at noon, but my intention is that we charge them about the hour of the first sleep.

He who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish thoughts, belongs neither to oppressor nor oppressed. He is free.

Man is always the master, even in his weaker and most abandoned state; but in his weakness and degradation he is the foolish master who misgoverns his household.

He must avoid quarrelling as he would avoid drinking a deadly poison.

only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him. Tempest-tossed

The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom

Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power.

he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.

How many people we know who sour their lives, who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, and make bad blood!