MASTERFUL PERSONALITY - 25. POISE-SELF-MASTERY - Orison Swett Marden - HQ Full Book.In Chapter 25 of Masterful Personality, titled “Poise – Self-Mastery,” Orison Swett Marden delivers a powerful discourse on one of the most underrated yet vital attributes of personal greatness: inner poise. He argues that poise, the calm self-control of a centered mind, is not just a desirable trait—it is the very bedrock of all truly “masterful” personalities. Through illustrative anecdotes, philosophical reasoning, and timeless wisdom, Marden portrays poise as the highest form of personal power, more valuable than wealth, talent, or status. Marden opens the chapter with a striking statement: how few people ever attain that exquisite inner balance that keeps them stable and self-possessed no matter what life throws their way. To achieve this rare equilibrium is, to him, the “art of arts.” Unlike external success—making a fortune, building a business, or winning fame—poise is an internal conquest, a triumph over the self. A poised mind remains functional, efficient, and resilient, even in the midst of chaos. Without it, the most talented individual may fall to pieces when tested. The chapter stresses that if we examine the lives of truly great individuals—those with strong, influential personalities—we will find a common denominator: poise. Whether leaders, thinkers, or reformers, those who leave a lasting mark on the world do so not only through brilliance or drive, but through their capacity for calmness, control, and centered action. Marden equates poise with power. It signifies mental teamwork, sound judgment, initiative, and emotional regulation. Those who cultivate this trait are, in his words, “immune from the annoying, discordant conditions” around them. Poise allows us to rise above the noise of the environment, remain undisturbed by pettiness, and act decisively and wisely. The ability to master oneself is life’s first great duty, Marden asserts. He echoes thinkers like Herbert Spencer, who called self-control “the most important attribute of man as a moral being,” and Tennyson, who ranked self-control alongside self-reverence and self-knowledge as the keys to sovereign power. A person without poise is a victim of circumstance, often betrayed by their own nerves, temper, jealousy, or impulses. Marden observes that many gifted individuals fail to fulfill their potential simply because they cannot command themselves. They are like ships without rudders—brilliant, but unreliable. Through vivid examples, Marden contrasts the composed individual with the scattered one. He tells of a poised man he knows who remains calm even in business crises, court cases, or serious setbacks. This person never loses his head, never betrays his better judgment. He is a master of himself in all situations. Such people are rare, Marden notes, and therefore revered. Poise, in crisis, is especially valuable. Marden uses the example of Ambrose Paré, a young medical student who coolly aided an unconscious king while others panicked. That act of composed courage changed his life. In moments of emergency, when others flail, the poised individual becomes a beacon of stability. They are dependable because they are not driven by erratic emotion but by reason, principle, and calm. Importantly, poise is not passive or stagnant. Marden distinguishes true poise from lethargy or fatalism. The poised man is not like the Sphinx—mute, cold, unmoving—but more like an iceberg, deeply grounded and undisturbed by surface storms. He is alert, present, and focused, yet serene. True calmness, Marden explains, is active composure, not dead inertia. It is the conscious regulation of one’s emotional and mental energies. Marden emphasizes that harmony is the secret to strength. A well-poised mind is one in which all faculties—judgment, compassion, courage, initiative—are in balance. He warns against the overdevelopment of any one trait at the expense of others. For instance, a person may be highly benevolent but lack prudence; such imbalance leads to foolish generosity and eventual harm. Similarly, courage without judgment becomes recklessness. In both cases, absence of poise leads to poor decisions and life imbalance. He observes that many lives are like “crazy quilts,” full of ambition but undermined by inconsistency, bad judgment, or emotional impulsivity. Marden criticizes how many talented people are dismissed as erratic or unreliable because they lack steadiness under pressure. He insists that true self-mastery requires more than ability—it requires the power to direct and restrain that ability wisely. A key insight of the chapter is that poise is closely tied to health, happiness, and efficiency. Marden explains that mental disturbances—anger, fear, jealousy, worry—distort bodily functions and waste energy. A poised mind, by contrast, supports physical harmony, boosts vitality, ...
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