前面几章我们所强调的，是控制思想的重要性，对思想的 控制，是你的个人进取心、积极心态和热忱控制的关键因素， 而自律则是结合所有这些努力的过程。

Earlier chapters have placed heavy emhasis on the importance of taking control of your mind. This control is pivotal to your personal initiative, positive mental attituded, and controlled enthusiasm. Self-discipline is the process that ties all these efforts together for you.

一个人能达到自律要求后，在其他原则方面必然也会有 所进步。自律要求自我认识以及对自己能力的正确评估。同 样的，如果缺乏自律功夫，其他原理也无法真正付诸行动。自 律可说是一条管道，而你为了达到成功目标，所必须表现出来 的所有个人力量，都会流经这个管道。

It isn’t possible to achieve self-discipline without making some progress on theose other principles; self discipline requries self-knowledge and an accurate assesssment of your current abilities. Likewise, the other principles can’t really be put into action without self-disciples can’t really be put into action without self-discipline. It is the channel through which all your personal power for success must flow.

把你的心智想像成是一座贮存你潜在力量的贮存库，你现在应学习从库中释放适当数量的力量，并将它导引到正确方向，这就是自律的本质。

Think of your mind as a reserveoir in which you have been storing up potential power. You will now learn to release that power in precise quantities and specific directions. This is the essence of self-discipline.