You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself.
What's the meaning of this quote?
Quote Meaning: The essence of the saying, "You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself," speaks to the profound reality that the only true control we possess is over our own thoughts, actions, and reactions. In a world filled with uncontrollable external factors, this statement serves as a reminder that self-mastery is both the highest form of power and the foundation upon which all other forms of influence rest.
To understand this fully, let's break it down. Imagine standing at the center of a vast, bustling marketplace. Around you, people are shouting, goods are being exchanged, and there's a constant hum of activity and chaos. In this setting, you might be tempted to exert control over the noise, to dictate the actions of others, or to influence the flow of the crowd. But no matter how much you try, the chaos will continue, often indifferent to your attempts at control. Now, contrast this with the quiet, still space inside your mind, where your thoughts take shape and your intentions are born. Here, you have the ability to choose how you respond to the chaos, whether to remain calm or be swept away by it. This inner domain is the only territory where you can exercise absolute control.
Self-dominion begins with the realization that our reactions to the world are far more significant than the events themselves. External circumstances will always fluctuate—people will come and go, fortunes will rise and fall, and situations will change without warning. However, your power lies in how you choose to interpret and respond to these changes. You may not be able to control the storm, but you can decide whether to be its victim or to navigate through it with resilience and clarity.
Consider the story of a young tree planted in an open field. It faces harsh winds, scorching heat, and torrential rains. It has no power over these forces of nature. Yet, it can strengthen its roots, stretch towards the sun, and bend rather than break when the storm rages. Over time, it grows tall and strong, not because it changed the environment, but because it mastered its own growth. Similarly, we cannot dictate the challenges we face in life, but we can cultivate strength, resilience, and a sense of purpose that allows us to thrive despite them.
True dominion over oneself requires a deep understanding of one’s own nature. It’s not just about suppressing desires or controlling impulses; it's about recognizing them, understanding where they come from, and making conscious choices about how to act. For instance, if you find yourself frequently angered by a colleague's behavior, the solution isn't to change the colleague—something that is often impossible—but to explore why their actions provoke such a strong response in you. Is it a sense of injustice, a fear of being undermined, or perhaps an unresolved issue from the past? By investigating these reactions, you gain insight into your own psyche and, subsequently, the ability to choose a different response.
Moreover, self-dominion is not about perfection or an unrealistic sense of self-control. It’s about consistency in aligning your actions with your values, even when it’s difficult. It's about having the courage to stand by your principles when circumstances test them and the humility to acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them. This internal governance is not static; it's a dynamic, ongoing process of self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-improvement.
Imagine a captain steering a ship through turbulent waters. The captain cannot calm the sea or change the direction of the wind. What they can do, however, is steer the ship with skill, making calculated adjustments to the sails and the rudder, ensuring that the vessel stays on course. The captain’s mastery over the ship mirrors our mastery over ourselves. Life's challenges are the waves and the wind—unpredictable and often beyond our control—but our responses are the ship's course, always subject to our command.
In many ways, seeking to control others or external circumstances is like trying to command the ocean with a broom. It is an exercise in futility, leading only to frustration and a sense of powerlessness. On the other hand, focusing on self-dominion is like building a sturdy boat; it doesn’t stop the waves, but it equips you to sail through them. This inner mastery is the most powerful form of control we can achieve because it is not dependent on the ever-changing external world.
In essence, the true measure of power is not found in the ability to bend others to our will or to change the world around us, but in the strength and clarity we bring to our own thoughts and actions. By mastering ourselves, we create a stable foundation from which we can influence the world in meaningful ways. This is the paradox of self-dominion: it is both the smallest and the greatest domain, limited in scope but limitless in potential.
To summarize, self-dominion is the ultimate form of power because it’s the only thing that truly belongs to us. Everything else—our possessions, our relationships, our status—can be taken away, altered, or influenced by factors beyond our control. But how we respond, how we choose to act, and how we decide to shape our own character are entirely within our realm of influence. Cultivating this inner mastery allows us to navigate life’s inevitable uncertainties with grace, resilience, and a sense of purpose, transforming us into the calm within the storm, the eye of the hurricane, unmoved by the chaos swirling around us.
Who said the quote?
The quote "You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself." is often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (Quotes). Leonardo da Vinci is a Renaissance polymath whose contributions spanned art, science, and invention.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
