control oneself

The “road to hell is paved with good intentions,” and any intention towards idealistic change will achieve the opposite—the New Year’s resolutions, the desperation of trying to be different, the attempt to control oneself, and so forth.

A vicious cycle of failing to control oneself followed by feeling intense self-hatred and disgust is common in attempts at self-control.

As to that, it is a matter in which one can, perhaps, hardly control oneself.

“I never realized what a nervous strain 354 it is to control oneself so long,” said Nora, joining Dr. Morgan.

Naturally, it was simpler to assume that it was impossible to control oneself than to find out how to make it possible, but as we grow more civilized we cease to be perfectly content with this simple plan, and begin to perceive its extraordinary injustices and brutalities.