--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-mastery and self-discipline are the…" description: "\"Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png" --- # Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of… ![“Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png) > “Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others.” [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. Self‑control and discipline are essential for building healthy, reciprocal relationships. **In simple terms:** Discipline builds good relationships. Key Takeaway Practice self‑mastery daily. Themes relationships self‑discipline growth Mood encouraging practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - teamwork - friendships - family dynamics Key Concepts behavioral psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal discipline with empathy? - What habits strengthen relational health? A Different Perspective Discipline alone cannot fix toxic dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Good relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-relationship/) [Good relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-relationships/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Relationships with others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships-with-others/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discipline/) [Self mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-mastery/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Self-mastery, self-control, self-discipline are essential for anyone who wants to achieve greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/self-mastery-self-control-self-discipline-are-essential-for-anyone/) Senoraroy > [“The instrument of leadership is the self, and mastery of the art of leadership comes from mastery of the self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-kouzes/the-instrument-of-leadership-is-the-self-and-mastery-of-the-art-of/) [James M. Kouzes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-kouzes/) > [All who become men of power reach their estate by the same self-mastery, the same self-adjustment to circumstances, the same voluntary exercise and discipline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/all-who-become-men-of-power-reach-their-estate-by-the-same-self/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [We have to get good at being with ourselves before we can hope to be good at being in relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/we-have-to-get-good-at-being-with-ourselves-before-we-can-hope-to-be/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [The teenager begins to realize he or she really does want to be part of a community, really does want to have good relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-teenager-begins-to-realize-he-or-she-really-does-want-to-be-part/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I think they're cute together, I've said that, but, honey, I don't know.. I like Kanye. I think Kim and Kanye, they've known each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/i-think-they-re-cute-together-i-ve-said-that-but-honey-i-don-t-know-i/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) > [My girlfriend has got the new, improved me. Before, I was argumentative: now I will get out of a situation before mud-slinging begins. Having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bez/my-girlfriend-has-got-the-new-improved-me-before-i-was-argumentative/) [Bez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bez/) > [My mom struggled for a long time growing up poor, and then we were on welfare when I was a kid. So to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-navedo/my-mom-struggled-for-a-long-time-growing-up-poor-and-then-we-were-on/) [Andrea Navedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-navedo/) > [I get on well with people and I have really good relationships with the other coaches around me. I don't know everything about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/i-get-on-well-with-people-and-i-have-really-good-relationships-with/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [“The best defense industry is to build good relationships with your neighbors! The best missile, the best tank, the best atomic bomb is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-best-defense-industry-is-to-build-good-relationships-with-your/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The good life is built with good relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-waldinger/the-good-life-is-built-with-good-relationships/) [Robert J. Waldinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-waldinger/) > [“The less secure the relationship attachments in our first two years, the harder it is to have good relationships throughout our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-hans/the-less-secure-the-relationship-attachments-in-our-first-two-years/) [Heather Hans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-hans/) > [Creative people don't behave very well generally. If you're looking for examples of good relationships in show business, you're gonna be depressed real fast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/creative-people-don-t-behave-very-well-generally-if-you-re-looking/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [Good relationships are ones that you don't see bad memories because you are having a good time with that person that makes you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-im/good-relationships-are-ones-that-you-don-t-see-bad-memories-because/) Ian Im ## 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. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... 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 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": "Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the-foundation-of-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the-foundation-of-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/stephen-covey-339_discipline_self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the_1647322.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others.” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the-foundation-of-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/self-mastery-and-self-discipline-are-the-foundation-of-good/#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 } } ] } ```