Lao Tzu — He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.
Strength faces outward; might faces in. Anyone can push against the world, Lao Tzu says, but the rarer power is mastering your own impulses and fears.
The learner who overcomes the urge to quit, to compare, to fear the mistake, has won the harder victory — and it is the one that lasts.
Words that widen the world
To overcome or gain control over something.
Synonyms: overcome, master, defeat
The hardest thing to conquer is yourself.
Possessing great and impressive power or strength.
Synonyms: powerful, formidable, strong
Self-mastery is a mighty thing.
Common questions
It means overpowering others shows strength, but mastering your own impulses and weaknesses shows a deeper, greater power.
From the Tao Te Ching, chapter 33, attributed to the ancient Chinese sage Lao Tzu.
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