--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fruit of the Spirit is…" description: "\"The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control\" — Watchman Nee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg" --- # The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control ![“The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” quote by Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg) > “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## 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 is a fruit of spiritual maturity, reflecting inner discipline over impulses. **In simple terms:** Self-control shows spiritual growth. Key Takeaway Cultivate discipline daily. Themes spirituality self-discipline growth Mood reflective encouraging Type theological practical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution - habit formation Key Concepts fruit of the spirit inner mastery Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice self-control in stressful moments? - What habits support inner discipline? A Different Perspective Self-control alone cannot solve systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Fruit of the spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit-of-the-spirit/) [Fruits of the spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruits-of-the-spirit/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [Love and Self-control are the bookends of the fruit of the Spirit. Remove one of them and the rest fall over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/love-and-self-control-are-the-bookends-of-the-fruit-of-the-spirit/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, not the byproduct of accumulated wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/peace-is-a-fruit-of-the-spirit-not-the-byproduct-of-accumulated-wealth/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The fruit of the Spirit is not what we can make ourselves do for a moment, But what God makes us to be for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-jacobsen/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-not-what-we-can-make-ourselves-do-for-a/) [Wayne Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-jacobsen/) > [The fruit of the Spirit is fundamentally relational. Rather than originating with us, it flows to us from our union with Christ, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-fundamentally-relational-rather-than/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [The Bible says the fruit of the spirit is longsuffering. I'll tell you one thing about fruit: you will never see a fruit factory.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/the-bible-says-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-longsuffering-i-ll-tell-you/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [Fruit is always the miraculous, the created; it is never the result of willing, but always a growth. The fruit of the Spirit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/fruit-is-always-the-miraculous-the-created-it-is-never-the-result-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The fruit of the Spirit is the natural produce of his gracious inward influence, the spontaneous and inevitable result of his uniting us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-graham-ryken/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-the-natural-produce-of-his-gracious-inward/) [Philip Graham Ryken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-graham-ryken/) > [The fruit of the Spirit wasn't intended to be a list of goals for us to produce - it is the Holy Spirit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kimball/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-wasn-t-intended-to-be-a-list-of-goals-for-us/) [Dan Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-kimball/) > [“Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Notice the verse does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-wyatt-kent/galatians-5-22-23-describes-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-which-is-love-joy/) Keri Wyatt Kent > [And perhaps, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit may be our very best defense against a materialist view of mankind here on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/and-perhaps-exhibiting-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-may-be-our-very-best/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [There is a fruit of the Spirit that must accompany the gift of healing and that is longsuffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/there-is-a-fruit-of-the-spirit-that-must-accompany-the-gift-of/) [Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/) > [God's children have a limitless supply of the fruit of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-children-have-a-limitless-supply-of-the-fruit-of-the-spirit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because peace is a fruit of the Spirit, we are dependent upon the Spirit's work in our lives to produce the desire and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/because-peace-is-a-fruit-of-the-spirit-we-are-dependent-upon-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Patience is a godly attribute that can heal souls, unlock treasures of knowledge and understanding, and transform ordinary men and women into saints and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/patience-is-a-godly-attribute-that-can-heal-souls-unlock-treasures-of/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“Part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Once you get married, however, a good defense is frequency and freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/part-of-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control-once-you-get-married/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## More by Watchman Nee > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [If you perform your part, God will fulfill His. And once you put off specifically, you should just as thoroughly believe that God will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/if-you-perform-your-part-god-will-fulfill-his-and-once-you-put-off/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“That which they have need of . . . let it be given them day by day without fail. Ezra 6:9 If we really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/that-which-they-have-need-of-let-it-be-given-them-day-by-day-without/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [With fear and trembling we must rely upon God for guidance in the inner depths. This is the sole way to walk according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/with-fear-and-trembling-we-must-rely-upon-god-for-guidance-in-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [When the fruit of your service is out of all proportion to the gifts you possess, THAT is Blessing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/when-the-fruit-of-your-service-is-out-of-all-proportion-to-the-gifts/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [If the mind is open the individual will soon perceive the preciousness of a truth which initially appeared rather dull to him but now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/if-the-mind-is-open-the-individual-will-soon-perceive-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [The idea of waste only comes into our Christianity when we underestimate the worth of our Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/the-idea-of-waste-only-comes-into-our-christianity-when-we/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“Only those who are subject to authority can be authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/only-those-who-are-subject-to-authority-can-be-authority/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Henceforth we are dead to everything pertaining to ourselves and alive to His Spirit alone. This requires our exercising faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/henceforth-we-are-dead-to-everything-pertaining-to-ourselves-and/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Victory is the normal experience of a Christian; defeat should be the abnormal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/victory-is-the-normal-experience-of-a-christian-defeat-should-be-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [God is not seeking a display of my Christ-likeness , but a manifestation of His Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/god-is-not-seeking-a-display-of-my-christ-likeness-but-a/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Only those who are spiritual perceive the reality of the spiritual foe and hence engage in battle. Such warfare is not fought with arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/only-those-who-are-spiritual-perceive-the-reality-of-the-spiritual/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [It does not matter what your personal deficiency, or whether it be a hundred and one different things, God has always one sufficient answer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/it-does-not-matter-what-your-personal-deficiency-or-whether-it-be-a/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Never adopt an attitude of indifference, for if you do you will suffer for it. The weight will grow heavier and heavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/never-adopt-an-attitude-of-indifference-for-if-you-do-you-will-suffer/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [None who are shod with fleshly shoes can stand on the holy ground of God's service. Many failures and much waste and confusion which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/none-who-are-shod-with-fleshly-shoes-can-stand-on-the-holy-ground-of/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) [Explore all 227 Watchman Nee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## 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": "The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Watchman Nee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/watchman-nee-1561_discipline_the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control_2760712.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” — Watchman Nee", "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": "Watchman Nee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fruit of the Spirit is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-self-control/#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 } } ] } ```