前面幾章我們所強調的，是控制思想的重要性，對思想的 控制，是你的個人進取心、積極心態和熱忱控制的關鍵因素， 而自律則是結合所有這些努力的過程。

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.

一個人能達到自律要求后，在其他原則方面必然也會有 所進步。自律要求自我認識以及對自己能力的正確評估。同 樣的，如果缺乏自律功夫，其他原理也無法真正付諸行動。自 律可說是一條管道，而你為了達到成功目標，所必須表現出來 的所有個人力量，都會流經這個管道。

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貯存你潛在力量的貯存庫，你現在應學習從庫中釋放適當數量的力量，并將它導引到正確方向，這就是自律的本質。

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.