What does this quote mean?

“Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, These three alone lead life to sovereign power.”

Tennyson joins respect for oneself with knowledge and restraint: durable personal power is presented as the result of living by an inward law rather than seeking power merely for its own sake.

Source note: Oenone, in The Early Poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Project Gutenberg #8601. Pallas speaks the lines while arguing that self-reverence, self-knowledge and self-control lead to a life governed by right rather than by reward; this is poetic character speech, not a prose maxim detached from the poem.

“If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully; during one at least out of the three watches a wise man should be watchful.”

Holding oneself dear is expressed as careful stewardship rather than indulgence: valuing the self creates a reason to remain attentive to one’s conduct and direction.

Source note: Dhammapada 157, Chapter XII “Self,” in Max Müller’s translation; the verse explicitly joins self-regard with watchfulness and ethical discipline.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Guarding inner life is presented as practical because attention and motives influence conduct downstream.

Source note: Proverbs 4:23 in the King James Version.

“Remember that thou art a man and do not degrade thyself: this is self-respect.”

Janet treats human dignity as a floor below which humility should not push a person: recognizing weakness does not require degrading oneself or surrendering self-respect.

Source note: Elements of Morals, section 165, Caroline Rollin Corson translation, Project Gutenberg #37016. Janet immediately balances this with “Remember that thou art but a man” as the check against vain pride, making self-respect and humility complementary rather than opposites.

“Have confidence in yourself, and believe that you are proceeding on the right path.”

Seneca makes self-confidence a condition of steadiness: tranquility depends partly on trusting a course that has been examined rather than continually surrendering judgment to outside pressure.

Source note: Of Peace of Mind, section II; the public-domain Aubrey Stewart translation connects tranquility with confidence in one’s chosen path while warning against restless self-doubt.

“Humility should not be an abasement; for it is never a virtue in man to lower himself.”

Janet sharply separates humility from self-degradation: accurate awareness of human weakness should coexist with dignity, so humility does not require pretending that one has no worth or abilities.

Source note: Elements of Morals, section 165, Caroline Rollin Corson translation, Project Gutenberg #37016. Janet contrasts humility with false abasement and defines it alongside self-respect as an accurate estimate of both human weakness and human dignity.