Date: April, 1871

"When the inability to prevent the recurrence of the idea is very great, so that the reason is powerless on the mind, the consequent "conviction" is an eager, irritable, and ungovernable passion."

— Bagehot, William (1826-1877)

Date: 1883-1885

"Behind your thoughts and feelings, my brother, stands a mighty commander, and unknown sage--he is called Self. He lives in your body, he is your body."

— Nietzsche, Friedrich (1844-1900)

Date: 1900

"One of these two must ever be, viz., that a man has his fancies in right discipline, turning, leading, and commanding them; or they him. Either they must deal with him, take him up short (as they say), teach him manners, and make him know to whom he belongs; or, this will be his part to teach th...

— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)

Date: 1900

"Jealous for thy authority in thy mansion-house and outward family, but not in the least for thy authority within, in thy chiefest mansion, thy principal economy? Are the servants here to talk high and in what tone they please? Must theirs be the last word, their dictates the rules of action? O s...

— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)

Date: Date Unknown

"The command of one's self is the greatest empire a man can aspire unto, and consequently, to be subject to our own passions is the most grievous slavery."

— Milton, John (1608-1674)

Date: Date Unknown

To "be subject to our own passions is the most grievous slavery"

— Milton, John (1608-1674)

Date: 1911

"You are no longer the slave of those successive atoms into which sleep divides you."

— Lewis, Edwin Herbert (1866-1938)

Date: 1936

"The monarch of the mind is a monkey wrench."

— Miller, Henry (1891-1980)

Date: 1949

"Similarly, self-control is not to be likened to the management of a partially disciplined subordinate by a superior of perfect wisdom and authority; it is simply a special case of the management of an ordinary person by an ordinary person, namely where John Doe, say, is taking both parts."

— Ryle, Gilbert (1900-1976)

Date: 1992

"The kingdom of the mind, therefore, included not only human understanding and willing, but also human seeing, hearing, feeling, pain, and pleasure."

— Kenny, Anthony (b. 1931)