--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The disciplined are free." description: "\"The disciplined are free.\" — James Cash Penney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png" --- # The disciplined are free. ![“The disciplined are free.” quote by James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png) > “The disciplined are free.” [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-discipline creates true freedom. **In simple terms:** Discipline leads to freedom. Key Takeaway Practice daily self-control. Themes freedom discipline self‑mastery Mood motivational determined Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - Time management - habit formation - financial planning Key Concepts Stoicism personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What area of your life needs more discipline? - How does discipline feel to you? A Different Perspective Discipline can become rigidity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [Children can become self-reliant and self-disciplined by being free to do what they want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/children-can-become-self-reliant-and-self-disciplined-by-being-free/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [So It's not like I go from being this disciplined person who has to get up and go to work to now I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eriq-la-salle/so-it-s-not-like-i-go-from-being-this-disciplined-person-who-has-to/) [Eriq La Salle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eriq-la-salle/) > [There are plenty of good people, but only a very, very few are precise and disciplined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-plenty-of-good-people-but-only-a-very-very-few-are-precise/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [I wasn't disciplined at all. As good of an athlete as I was, I was not disciplined. Had I had the drive that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-wasn-t-disciplined-at-all-as-good-of-an-athlete-as-i-was-i-was-not/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I'm very disciplined and eat right and gym regularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-ranganathan/i-m-very-disciplined-and-eat-right-and-gym-regularly/) [Suman Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-ranganathan/) > [Discipline must come through liberty. . . . We do not consider an individual disciplined only when he has been rendered as artificially silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/discipline-must-come-through-liberty-we-do-not-consider-an-individual/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“What are we if we are not disciplined?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/what-are-we-if-we-are-not-disciplined/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [I've written what and when I want to. It's been about expressing myself. But with the degree, I had to learn to do everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/i-ve-written-what-and-when-i-want-to-it-s-been-about-expressing/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinoba-bhave/it-is-only-when-our-life-proceeds-within-bounds-and-in-an-accepted/) [Vinoba Bhave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinoba-bhave/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [I'm not a disciplined writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-m-not-a-disciplined-writer/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by James Cash Penney > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [I was long brought up to think that it was nothing short of a crime to miss a sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-was-long-brought-up-to-think-that-it-was-nothing-short-of-a-crime/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [No man can climb the ladder of success without first placing his foot on the bottom rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/no-man-can-climb-the-ladder-of-success-without-first-placing-his-foot/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Do not primarily train men to work. Train them to serve willingly and intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/do-not-primarily-train-men-to-work-train-them-to-serve-willingly-and/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Men are not great or small because of their material possessions. They are great or small because of what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/men-are-not-great-or-small-because-of-their-material-possessions-they/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Selling is our No. 1 job. Never get away from selling a lot of merchandise personally. The more you sell the more you learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/selling-is-our-no-1-job-never-get-away-from-selling-a-lot-of/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [I learned that all things come to those who wait-provided they hustle while they wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-learned-that-all-things-come-to-those-who-wait-provided-they-hustle/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [We can serve our customers well only if our buying jobs are right. You cannot sell if you haven't ordered wanted goods into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/we-can-serve-our-customers-well-only-if-our-buying-jobs-are-right-you/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [In every man s life there lies latent energy. There is, however, a spark that, if kindled, will set the whole being afire, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/in-every-man-s-life-there-lies-latent-energy-there-is-however-a-spark/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/how-can-we-expect-our-children-to-know-and-experience-the-joy-of/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Exchange ideas frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/exchange-ideas-frequently/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The friendly smile, the word of greeting, are certainly something fleeting and seemingly insubstantial. You can’t take them with you. But they work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-friendly-smile-the-word-of-greeting-are-certainly-something/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The five separate fingers are five independent units. Close them and the fist multiplies strength. This is organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-five-separate-fingers-are-five-independent-units-close-them-and/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The problem with the bronco is to get on and stay on. This is the problem with the Golden Rule-to understand and apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-problem-with-the-bronco-is-to-get-on-and-stay-on-this-is-the/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/a-merchant-who-approaches-business-with-the-idea-of-serving-the/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) [Explore all 70 James Cash Penney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## More Discipline quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Stay in your seat come times of trouble. Its only people who jump off the roller coaster who get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harvey/stay-in-your-seat-come-times-of-trouble-its-only-people-who-jump-off/) [Paul Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harvey/) [Browse all 5,597 Discipline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The disciplined are free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Cash Penney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-disciplined-are-free/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-disciplined-are-free/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/james-cash-penney-9836_discipline_the-disciplined-are-free-890924_890924.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The disciplined are free.” — James Cash Penney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Cash Penney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The disciplined are free.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-disciplined-are-free/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-disciplined-are-free/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```