“If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.”
What this quote means
Napoleon Hill's quote warns of the dangers of indiscipline. If we do not take control of ourselves, our own weaknesses and bad habits will eventually dominate us. It is a constant struggle between our will and our impulses. Victory over oneself is therefore a necessity, otherwise we become slaves to our desires. It reminds us that true freedom comes from self-mastery.
How to apply it daily
Identify one of your habits that works against you. Decide to replace it with a positive action and persist, even when it's difficult, to keep control of your life.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Napoleon Hill?
Our starting point
Understanding the ideas behind his best-known sayings
Think and Grow Rich
It is the most direct starting point for his themes of desire, decision, persistence, and personal organization.
- Level
- Accessible
- Reading time
- 8–10 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”Create visual
“Be proactive. Begin with the end in mind.”Create visual
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”Create visual
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”Create visual
“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”Create visual
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”Create visual
More quotes by Napoleon Hill
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”Create visual
“A goal is a dream with a deadline.”Create visual
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”Create visual
“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”Create visual