--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difficulty is to keep a tight reign…" description: "\"The difficulty is to keep a tight reign on our emotions. They may remain, but it is not they who are to rule the action. They have no authority. A life..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/elisabeth-elliot-1209_acting_the-difficulty-is-to-keep-a-tight-reign_642418.jpg" --- # The difficulty is to keep a tight reign on our emotions… ![“The difficulty is to keep a tight reign on our emotions. They may remain, but it is not they who are to rule the action. They have no authority. A life lived in God is not lived on the plane of the feelings, but of the will. In Scripture the heart is the will - the man himself, the spring of all…” quote by Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/elisabeth-elliot-1209_acting_the-difficulty-is-to-keep-a-tight-reign_642418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/elisabeth-elliot-1209_acting_the-difficulty-is-to-keep-a-tight-reign_642418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/elisabeth-elliot-1209_acting_the-difficulty-is-to-keep-a-tight-reign_642418.jpg) > “The difficulty is to keep a tight reign on our emotions. They may remain, but it is not they who are to rule the action. They have no authority. A life lived in God is not lived on the plane of the feelings, but of the will. In Scripture the heart is the will - the man himself, the spring of all action, the ruling power bestowed on him by his Creator, capable of choosing and acting.” [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True mastery over actions comes from letting the will, not fleeting emotions, guide decisions. **In simple terms:** Will should guide actions, not feelings. Key Takeaway Cultivate willful discipline. Themes self‑control spirituality willpower Mood reflective determined Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts theology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate will from feeling? - What practices strengthen willful control? A Different Perspective Emotions still influence behavior despite willful intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Reign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reign/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) ## Related quotes > [Scripture is, at its heart, the great story that we sing in order not just to learn it with our heads but to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/scripture-is-at-its-heart-the-great-story-that-we-sing-in-order-not/) [N. 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