--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is…" description: "\"“Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg" --- # Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the ability to… ![“Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” quote by Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg) > ““Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”” [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) ## 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 means acting on obligations regardless of mood, prioritizing duty over desire to achieve goals. **In simple terms:** Self-discipline is doing what you must, even when you don't feel like it. Key Takeaway Practice actions over feelings. Themes self-discipline willpower habit formation goal achievement Mood determined motivational pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - daily routines - fitness goals - studying - career tasks Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics personal development Questions to Reflect On - What tasks can you commit to today? - How will you reward consistent effort? A Different Perspective Self-discipline can cause burnout if not balanced with rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discipline/) ## Related quotes > [Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/self-discipline-is-the-ability-to-make-yourself-do-what-you-should-do/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. --Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-friend-is-one-who-knows-you-and-loves-you-just-the-same-elbert/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-is-someone-who-knows-all-about-you-and-still-loves-you-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.’ —Elbert Hubbard”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-kapoor/a-little-more-persistence-a-little-more-effort-and-what-seemed-2/) [Virender Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-kapoor/) > [“I mean it wasn’t an empty hole, there was al­ways some­thing in it, but it was never right. It never fit. I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-mean-it-wasn-t-an-empty-hole-there-was-al-ways-some-thing-in-it-but/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [..To many times i've said to my self I will never fall in love..then there was you..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kks/to-many-times-i-ve-said-to-my-self-i-will-never-fall-in-love-then/) Kks > [I said to my self: I should forget him, his not worth keeping... but why I keep thinking of him? knowing hes happy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missyrie/i-said-to-my-self-i-should-forget-him-his-not-worth-keeping-but-why-i/) Missyrie > [“Once Ed said to me, "For a very long time I didn't like myself." It was not said in self-pity but simply as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/once-ed-said-to-me-for-a-very-long-time-i-didn-t-like-myself-it-was/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I woke up this morning and I said to my self, 'Self, I think we need to party today'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swisher/i-woke-up-this-morning-and-i-said-to-my-self-self-i-think-we-need-to/) Nick Swisher > [It's been said to me that I'm self-destructive because I'll walk away from things that are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-rechtshaid/it-s-been-said-to-me-that-i-m-self-destructive-because-i-ll-walk-away/) [Ariel Rechtshaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-rechtshaid/) > [I define discipline as the ability to make + keep promises and to honor commitments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-define-discipline-as-the-ability-to-make-keep-promises-and-to-honor/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When we use punishment, our children are robbed of the opportunity to develop their own inner discipline-the ability to act with integrity, wisdom, compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-coloroso/when-we-use-punishment-our-children-are-robbed-of-the-opportunity-to/) [Barbara Coloroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-coloroso/) > [Being a dancer or athlete of any type teaches you the fundamentals of discipline... and the ability to know you can grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-kadakia/being-a-dancer-or-athlete-of-any-type-teaches-you-the-fundamentals-of/) [Payal Kadakia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-kadakia/) > [Discipline is the ability to do what needs to be done even when you dont feel like doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/discipline-is-the-ability-to-do-what-needs-to-be-done-even-when-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kevin Horsley > [“Exceptional work is always associated with periods of deep concentration. Nothing excellent ever comes from a scattered effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/exceptional-work-is-always-associated-with-periods-of-deep/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Your mind never wanders away; it only moves towards more interesting and outstanding things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/your-mind-never-wanders-away-it-only-moves-towards-more-interesting/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Your mind is the greatest home entertainment centre ever created.” ~ Mark Victor Hansen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/your-mind-is-the-greatest-home-entertainment-centre-ever-created-mark/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Learn to practise peace because if you have no attention you have no retention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/learn-to-practise-peace-because-if-you-have-no-attention-you-have-no/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is a natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.” ~ Jim Rohn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/success-is-neither-magical-nor-mysterious-success-is-a-natural/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Most of us have been taught to think that we are either intelligent or we are not. But the definitions of intelligence we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/most-of-us-have-been-taught-to-think-that-we-are-either-intelligent/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Bruce Sterling said, “Chaos is the sexiest excuse for laziness ever invented.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/bruce-sterling-said-chaos-is-the-sexiest-excuse-for-laziness-ever/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“If you’re hoping to harvest a life of great deeds, remember you first have to plant some great seeds.” ~ Denis Waitley”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/if-you-re-hoping-to-harvest-a-life-of-great-deeds-remember-you-first/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“1. If you continue to hold on to your excuses, what would your life be like five years from now? 2. Who would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/1-if-you-continue-to-hold-on-to-your-excuses-what-would-your-life-be/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“anything new. Your”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/anything-new-your/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Negative beliefs and thoughts place a block on your concentration and memory. Unless you decide to take responsibility and change the thoughts that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/negative-beliefs-and-thoughts-place-a-block-on-your-concentration-and/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Part 2. Create and connect “When you train your creativity, you automatically train your memory. When you train your memory, you automatically train your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/part-2-create-and-connect-when-you-train-your-creativity-you/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“The human brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working as soon as you are born and doesn’t stop until you get up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/the-human-brain-is-a-wonderful-organ-it-starts-working-as-soon-as-you/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Isn’t it amazing how we take them for granted? Those little black marks on paper. Twenty-six different shapes known as letters, arranged in endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/isn-t-it-amazing-how-we-take-them-for-granted-those-little-black/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“Hear a piece of information and three days later you’ll remember 10% of it. Add a picture and you’ll remember 65%.” Some”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/hear-a-piece-of-information-and-three-days-later-you-ll-remember-10/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) [Explore all 31 Kevin Horsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) ## 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": "“Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Horsley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-the-ability-to-make-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-the-ability-to-make-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/kevin-horsley-20202_discipline_elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-t_3003053.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should…” — Kevin Horsley", "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": "Kevin Horsley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Elbert Hubbard said, “Self-discipline is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-the-ability-to-make-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/elbert-hubbard-said-self-discipline-is-the-ability-to-make-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```