--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: reclaim the ability to abstain because…" description: "\"“reclaim the ability to abstain because within it is your clarity and self-control.”\" — Ryan Holiday" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg" --- # reclaim the ability to abstain because within it is your… ![“reclaim the ability to abstain because within it is your clarity and self-control.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg) > ““reclaim the ability to abstain because within it is your clarity and self-control.”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages reclaiming self‑control through intentional abstention, which brings mental clarity. **In simple terms:** Choose to say no for clarity. Key Takeaway Practice intentional abstention. Themes self-discipline clarity self-control Mood motivational thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - digital detox - dietary choices - spending habits Key Concepts stoicism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What can you abstain from today? - How does restraint improve focus? A Different Perspective Abstinence may cause social friction or missed experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability Abstain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-abstain-5568765/) [Abstain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstain/) [Abstain Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstain-clarity-5568766/) [Clarity Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity-self-3951028/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) ## Related quotes > [The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end - you don't come to an achievement, you don't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-know-yourself-the-more-clarity-there-is-self-knowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you can’t understand the negativity, doubt, or lack of support directed at you just remember this. They are not looking at you…they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-henegan/when-you-can-t-understand-the-negativity-doubt-or-lack-of-support/) [Carl Henegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-henegan/) > [“Every place you go, every person you meet, every job you have is a chance to gain greater clarity in your self-education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/every-place-you-go-every-person-you-meet-every-job-you-have-is-a/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“We must give up many things to which we are addicted, considering them to be good. Otherwise, courage will vanish, which should continually test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-must-give-up-many-things-to-which-we-are-addicted-considering-them-2/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The Christian must abstain from sin. It is as simple and direct as that. You have no right to say, 'I am weak, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn/the-christian-must-abstain-from-sin-it-is-as-simple-and-direct-as/) [Martyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn/) > [When we are in doubt whether an action is good or bad, abstain from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/when-we-are-in-doubt-whether-an-action-is-good-or-bad-abstain-from-it/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [When I am giving the relation of a thing, remember to abstain from altering either in the matter or manner of speaking, so much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/when-i-am-giving-the-relation-of-a-thing-remember-to-abstain-from/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [We live only to dance. If living were not an essential prerequisite, we would abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/we-live-only-to-dance-if-living-were-not-an-essential-prerequisite-we/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [In doubt if an action is just, abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/in-doubt-if-an-action-is-just-abstain/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Make no mistake: Deciding to abstain from the Pledge of Allegiance does communicate something, and therefore, it is a form of speech. It's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/make-no-mistake-deciding-to-abstain-from-the-pledge-of-allegiance/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [“THAT you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves, from these you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/that-you-abstain-from-things-offered-to-idols-from-blood-from-things/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [When you are near I abstain myself,but when you are away I badly miss you sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pappi-reddy/when-you-are-near-i-abstain-myself-but-when-you-are-away-i-badly-miss/) [Pappi Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pappi-reddy/) > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) [John Randolph of Roanoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-randolph-of-roanoke/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Abstain quotes > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) [John Randolph of Roanoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-randolph-of-roanoke/) > [When you are near I abstain myself,but when you are away I badly miss you sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pappi-reddy/when-you-are-near-i-abstain-myself-but-when-you-are-away-i-badly-miss/) [Pappi Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pappi-reddy/) > [“THAT you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves, from these you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/that-you-abstain-from-things-offered-to-idols-from-blood-from-things/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Make no mistake: Deciding to abstain from the Pledge of Allegiance does communicate something, and therefore, it is a form of speech. It's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/make-no-mistake-deciding-to-abstain-from-the-pledge-of-allegiance/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [In doubt if an action is just, abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/in-doubt-if-an-action-is-just-abstain/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [We live only to dance. If living were not an essential prerequisite, we would abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/we-live-only-to-dance-if-living-were-not-an-essential-prerequisite-we/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [When I am giving the relation of a thing, remember to abstain from altering either in the matter or manner of speaking, so much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/when-i-am-giving-the-relation-of-a-thing-remember-to-abstain-from/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [When we are in doubt whether an action is good or bad, abstain from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/when-we-are-in-doubt-whether-an-action-is-good-or-bad-abstain-from-it/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [The Christian must abstain from sin. It is as simple and direct as that. You have no right to say, 'I am weak, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn/the-christian-must-abstain-from-sin-it-is-as-simple-and-direct-as/) [Martyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn/) > [When you are in doubt abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/when-you-are-in-doubt-abstain/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [Every man who has ever been earnest to preserve his higher or poetic faculties in the best condition, has been particularly inclined to abstain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-man-who-has-ever-been-earnest-to-preserve-his-higher-or-poetic/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/to-abstain-from-sin-when-one-can-no-longer-sin-is-to-be-forsaken-by/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Abstain from all sinful, unwholesome actions, perform only pious wholesome ones, purify the mind; this is the teaching of enlightened ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/abstain-from-all-sinful-unwholesome-actions-perform-only-pious/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Browse all 61 Abstain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“reclaim the ability to abstain because within it is your clarity and self-control.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Holiday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-within-it-is-your-clarity-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abstain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-within-it-is-your-clarity-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ryan-holiday-514_abstain_reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-w_3136341.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“reclaim the ability to abstain because within it is your clarity and self-control.” — Ryan Holiday", "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": "Ryan Holiday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“reclaim the ability to abstain because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-within-it-is-your-clarity-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/reclaim-the-ability-to-abstain-because-within-it-is-your-clarity-and/#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 } } ] } ```