The societal pursuit of high self-esteem for everyone may literally end up doing considerable harm.

For most of us... the problem is not a lack of goals but rather too many of them.

Most of the problems that plague our society - addiction, overeating, crime, domestic violence, prejudice, debt, unwanted pregnancy, educational failure, underperformance at school and work, lack of savings, failure to exercise - are in some degree a failure of self-control.

Willpower is what separates us from the animals. It's the capacity to restrain our impulses, resist temptation - do what's right and good for us in the long run, not what we want to do right now. It's central, in fact, to civilisation.

Evil is not likely to result where people firmly believe that ends do not justify the means.

Researchers were surprised to find that people with strong self-control spent less time resisting desires than other people did. . . . people with good self-control mainly use it not for rescue in emergencies but rather to develop effective habits and routines in school and at work.

What sets human beings apart from animals is not the pursuit of happiness, which occurs all across the natural world, but the pursuit of meaning, which is unique to humans.

People with high but unstable self-esteem exhibit the greatest hostility.

Willpower is a muscle that can be strengthened.