--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best-regulated home is always that in…" description: "\"The best-regulated home is always that in which the discipline is the most perfect, and yet where it is the least felt. Moral discipline acts with the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png" --- # The best-regulated home is always that in which the… ![“The best-regulated home is always that in which the discipline is the most perfect, and yet where it is the least felt. Moral discipline acts with the force of a law of nature.” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png) > “The best-regulated home is always that in which the discipline is the most perfect, and yet where it is the least felt. Moral discipline acts with the force of a law of nature.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideal discipline is most effective when it is internal and unnoticed, guiding behavior like a natural law. **In simple terms:** Best discipline works quietly, like a natural law. Key Takeaway Cultivate self-discipline that feels effortless. Themes self-improvement discipline personal growth Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - education - leadership Key Concepts intrinsic motivation habit formation self-regulation Questions to Reflect On - How can you make discipline feel natural? - What habits reflect invisible discipline? A Different Perspective Discipline should be unseen yet powerful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Discipline Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline-acts-1570241/) [Discipline Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline-perfect-1274549/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-discipline-1570240/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law of nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-of-nature/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-discipline-1570239/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Regulated Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulated-home-1570242/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [Although I often give in to my daughter, she is fully aware that I am the only one at home who will discipline her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/although-i-often-give-in-to-my-daughter-she-is-fully-aware-that-i-am/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Listen, there is no way any true man is going to let children live around him in his home and not discipline and teach,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-devlin/listen-there-is-no-way-any-true-man-is-going-to-let-children-live/) [Victor Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-devlin/) > [There is only one kind of discipline, and that is the perfect discipline. As a leader, you must enforce and maintain that discipline; otherwise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/there-is-only-one-kind-of-discipline-and-that-is-the-perfect/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-only-one-sort-of-discipline-perfect-discipline/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/moral-discipline-is-the-consistent-exercise-of-agency-to-choose-the/) [D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/) > [We must destroy all which in the present school answers to the organization of constraint, the artificial surroundings by which children are separated from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesc-ferrer-i-guardia/we-must-destroy-all-which-in-the-present-school-answers-to-the/) [Francesc Ferrer i Guardia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesc-ferrer-i-guardia/) > [By "moral discipline," I mean self-discipline based on moral standards. Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/by-moral-discipline-i-mean-self-discipline-based-on-moral-standards/) [D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/) > [There could never be enough rules so finely crafted as to anticipate and cover every situation, and even if there were, enforcement would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/there-could-never-be-enough-rules-so-finely-crafted-as-to-anticipate/) [D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/) > [“For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/for-sound-advice-is-a-beacon-good-teaching-is-a-light-moral/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Jesus' own moral discipline was rooted in His discipleship to the Father. To His disciples He explained, “My meat is to do the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/jesus-own-moral-discipline-was-rooted-in-his-discipleship-to-the/) [D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/) > [Every serious-minded person knows that a large part of the effort required in moral discipline consists in the courage needed to acknowledge the unpleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/every-serious-minded-person-knows-that-a-large-part-of-the-effort/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [God only acts and is, in existing beings or men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/god-only-acts-and-is-in-existing-beings-or-men/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/this-extraordinary-metal-the-soul-of-every-manufacture-and-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/man-cannot-aspire-if-he-looked-down-if-he-rise-he-must-look-up/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman-and-has-been-recognized-as-a/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More Acts quotes > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [God only acts and is, in existing beings or men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/god-only-acts-and-is-in-existing-beings-or-men/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [We are surrounded every day by countless acts of immeasurable kindness and goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/we-are-surrounded-every-day-by-countless-acts-of-immeasurable/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) > [Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/foreign-journalists-have-to-have-an-approved-interpreter-assigned/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/) [Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/) > [“The book of Luke is the account of the Spirit-empowered ministry of Jesus on the earth, and Acts is the account of the Spirit-empowered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-book-of-luke-is-the-account-of-the-spirit-empowered-ministry-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [I don't meditate before I play or compose, but I see playing and composing as meditative acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-swallow/i-don-t-meditate-before-i-play-or-compose-but-i-see-playing-and/) [Steve Swallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-swallow/) > [“In Acts, every believer was living in a direct relationship with Him (Christ) and each one functioned normally as a member of His body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/in-acts-every-believer-was-living-in-a-direct-relationship-with-him/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [Ladies seem very intrigued by a guy who is ultra confident and acts like he doesn't need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorma-taccone/ladies-seem-very-intrigued-by-a-guy-who-is-ultra-confident-and-acts/) [Jorma Taccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorma-taccone/) > [In the name of noble purposes men have committed unspeakable acts of cruelty against one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/in-the-name-of-noble-purposes-men-have-committed-unspeakable-acts-of/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [How do you make the timelessness of inert, silent objects count for something? How to use the, in a way, dumbness of sculpture in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/how-do-you-make-the-timelessness-of-inert-silent-objects-count-for/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [Only free people have an incentive to be virtuous. Only people who bear the consequences of their own acts will care about those consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/only-free-people-have-an-incentive-to-be-virtuous-only-people-who/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The legitimacy of coercive acts in a democracy arises from the process by which they are justified and by the degree to which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-legitimacy-of-coercive-acts-in-a-democracy-arises-from-the/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) [Browse all 251 Acts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best-regulated home is always that in which the discipline is the most perfect, and yet where it is the least felt. Moral discipline acts with the force of a law of nature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Smiles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-in-which-the-discipline-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-in-which-the-discipline-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/samuel-smiles-2037_acts_the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-i_2556750.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best-regulated home is always that in which the discipline is the most perfect, and yet where it is the…” — Samuel Smiles", "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": "Samuel Smiles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best-regulated home is always that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-in-which-the-discipline-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-best-regulated-home-is-always-that-in-which-the-discipline-is-the/#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 } } ] } ```