Self-control

The idealistic goal of human sex evolution is monogamy, but it often fails due to a lack of rugged self-control, the acme of all human virtues. 83:6.6

In the Urantia Book

Self-control is better than extreme self-denial. (89:3.7)

• The Dark Ages bear witness to the restoration of balance between self-liberty and self-control. 118:8.6
• Self-control, demanded of advancing mankind, is the supreme test of civilization's actuality, especially when it comes to regulating the powerful sex urge. 82:1.10
• The greatest warrior overcomes and subdues himself, standing noble in the face of enemies and seeking wisdom and virtue. 131:3.6
• Self-control leads to altruistic service, the true fruit of genuine self-respect. 54:1.6
• In expanding human wisdom, man must substitute transcended restraints with new, voluntarily assumed restraints based on moral dictates. 118:8.10
• The manifestation of greatness on a world like Urantia is the exhibition of self-control, the real measure of planetary greatness. 28:6.20
• Self-control is mightier than conquering a city when one walks before God and rules their own spirit with love, mercy, and quiet confidence. 131:2.6
• Havona exemplifies supreme and perfect self-control in living will creatures, equating mind with spirit and uniting intelligence with limitless potential. 14:6.26
• Religion imposes heightened self-discipline, lessening emotional conflict and making mortal life truly worth living, leading to intense striving for supermortal ideals with increasing patience, forbearance, fortitude, and tolerance. 100:6.4
• Self-control eclipses the necessity for human laws as society evolves towards moral and spiritual enlightenment. 55:5.4
• The measure of man's moral nature and indicator of spiritual development is self-mastery, greater than capturing a city. 143:2.3
• The attainment of perfection in self-restraint equals completeness in personal liberty, fostering self-understanding and voluntary self-mastery. 132:3.10
• True liberty is the fruit of enhanced self-control in the exalted state. 54:1.5-6 71:3.7
• Trust is the sacred measure of self-mastery and character, revealing the true sense of obligation and solemnity to all will creatures and governing authorities alike. 28:6.13

Achieving self-control

• Enhanced self-control leads to a more fulfilling life with fewer personal demands, promoting individual liberty and progress. 71:3.7 89:3.3
• Emotional maturity is essential for wise statesmen to work towards international cooperation and avoid the destructiveness of selfish political sagacity. 52:6.6
• Lesson on self-mastery: Self-control is the measure of man's moral nature and indicator of spiritual development. 143:2
• Restraint in all things is the key to true wisdom and happiness. 131:3.6
• Self-mastery is the secret to mastering oneself, bound up with faith in the indwelling spirit, leading to true repentance and triumphant freedom as liberated sons of God. 143:2.7 144:5.43

Historically

• Evolutionary religion provided the foundation for human discipline and self-control, fostering civilization and societal continuity. 92:3.9
• Food hoarding developed self-control, creating the first problems of capital and labor in society's agelong struggle for survival. 68:2.5 69:5.1
• Primitive man cannot emerge with significant self-control due to the principles of biologic evolution, but external restraints like time, space, hunger, and fear help circumscribe their choices. 118:8.5
• Olden ideas of self-control included flogging and physical torture as taught by the priests of the mother cult, who set the example with castration to promote physical suffering as a virtue among Hebrews, Hindus, and Buddhists. 89:3.4
• Restraint against boasting or displaying beauty was a form of self-control, meant to prevent envy from envious spirits. 87:5.7
• Self-control is a taboo, essential step in developing the achievements of civilization and the real rungs on which man climbed civilization's ascending ladder. 89:1.7

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• # 1 Takes a city 28:6.20 — Pr 16:32.
• Control tongue 28:6.20 — Pr 21:23; Jm 3:3-8.
• Man little less than divine 131:2.6 — Ps 8:5. *God knows way of righteous*: Ps 1:6. *Fear of Lord is the beginning of wisdom*: Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7; Pr 9:10; Job 28:28. *Be you perfect*: Gn 17:1; 1 Ki 8:61; Lv 19:2; Dt 18:13; Mt 5:48; 2 Co 13:11; Jm 1:4; 1 P 1:16. *Pride goes before destruction*: Pr 16:18. *He who rules own spirit is mighty*: Pr 16:32. *When you return to your spiritual rest*: Is 30:15. *Those who wait the Lord will renew their strength*: Is 40:31. *Rest from fear*: Is 14:3. *Fear not, I am with you*: Is 41:10.
• He who rules self is great 143:2.3 — Pr 16:32. *Old order was fasting and prayer*: Mt 9:14; Mk 2:18; Lk 5:33. *Old things and new*: Mt 9:16-17; Mk 2:21-22; Lk 5:36-38; Ro 7:6; 2 Co 5:17. *Witness by your love*: Jn 13:35. *From bondage to liberty*: Ro 8:21.
• Poverty and penance 89:3.3 — Gn 37:34; 1 Ki 21:27; Est 4:1-4; Is 37:1-2; Is 58:3-5; Jon 3:5-6.
• Liberated sons of God 143:2.7 — Jn 1:12; Ro 8:14; Ga 3:26. *Goodness of God*: Ps 86:5; Mt 19:17; Mk 10:18; Lk 18:19; Ro 2:4. *Faith is gift of God*: Jn 6:40,65; Eph 2:8; Jm 1:17. *Liberated sons of God*: 1 Ch 22:10; Ps 2:7; Is 56:5; Mt 5:9,16,45; Lk 20:36; Jn 1:12-13; Jn 11:52; Acts 17:28-29; Ro 8:14-15,19,21; Ro 9:26; 2 Co 6:18; Ga 3:26; Ga 4:5-7; Eph 1:5; Phil 2:15; Heb 12:5-8; 1 Jn 3:1-2,10; 1 Jn 5:2; Rev 21:7; 2 Sam 7:14.

Where it appears

Self-control is linked in 26 paragraphs of the text.

See also

• self-denial

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