--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I define discipline as the ability to…" description: "\"I define discipline as the ability to make + keep promises and to honor commitments.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/stephen-covey-339_ability_i-define-discipline-as-the-ability-to-ma_2120255.png" --- # I define discipline as the ability to make + keep promises… ![“I define discipline as the ability to make + keep promises and to honor commitments.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/stephen-covey-339_ability_i-define-discipline-as-the-ability-to-ma_2120255.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/stephen-covey-339_ability_i-define-discipline-as-the-ability-to-ma_2120255.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/stephen-covey-339_ability_i-define-discipline-as-the-ability-to-ma_2120255.png) > “I define discipline as the ability to make + keep promises and to honor commitments.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discipline is keeping promises to oneself and others, building trust and reliability. **In simple terms:** Discipline means keeping promises. Key Takeaway Honor commitments consistently. Themes integrity trust self‑control Mood motivational determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - teamwork Key Concepts promise‑keeping habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What promise will you keep today? - How to protect commitments? A Different Perspective External pressures can break resolve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Commitments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitments/) [Define Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-discipline-4321371/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Discipline Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline-ability-1080571/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Commitments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-commitments-875565/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Promises Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promises-honor-411131/) ## Related quotes > [We will maintain and honor the commitments made to people in the IPERS system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/we-will-maintain-and-honor-the-commitments-made-to-people-in-the/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Honor your commitments with integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/honor-your-commitments-with-integrity/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [Honor your commitments...or stop making them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honor-your-commitments-or-stop-making-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Keep your word. 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Callister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-r-callister/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [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/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. 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True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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