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…remaining true to one’s conscience is a powerful force.

…willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse but can also be strengthened over the long term through exercise.

Ultimately, self-control lets you relax because it removes the stress and enables you to conserve willpower for the important challenges.

Emotional control is uniquely difficult because you generally can’t alter your mood by an act of will.

…people have a hard time giving up options, even when the options aren’t doing them any good. This reluctance… becomes more pronounced when willpower is low.

…now that computers are getting smarter… they’re not becoming self-aware and they’re not seizing power from us. Instead, they’re enhancing our powers by making us more self-aware.

Changing personal behavior to meet standards requires willpower, but willpower without self-awareness is as useless as a cannon commanded by a blind man.

Emotion regulation does not rely on willpower. People cannot simply will themselves to be in love, or to feel intense joy, or to stop feeling guilty.

…willpower is humans’ greatest strength, but the best strategy is not to rely on it in all situations. Save it for emergencies.

…self-control is not selfish. Willpower enables us to get along with others and override impulses that are based on personal short-term interests.