From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordSelf-conquest is the discipline through which desire, attention, and conduct are directed toward what is good and true.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe original introduction changes the question from what benefits oneself to what is good in itself.
- In this editionThe hyphenated self-conquest is preserved.
- A place to readI.23: … “physical body; but, transcending these by Regeneration (self -conquest), and becoming perfect in Humanity, man attains” …
Meaning
Self-conquest is the discipline through which desire, attention, and conduct are directed toward what is good and true. Its object is the person's own disorder, rather than another person's subjection.
Use in the book
The original introduction changes the question from what benefits oneself to what is good in itself. It then describes initiation as repeated effort, disappointment, renewed conflict, and the government of bodily impulses. The later portrayal of a faithful, well-polished person gives this work a social test: others should be able to trust the result.
Places to read
- Original Introduction · Block 23… “physical body; but, transcending these by Regeneration (self -conquest), and becoming perfect in Humanity, man attains Divinity. This is the meaning, aim, and consummation of Human Evolution; and this Philosophy defines” …
- Original Introduction · Block 26… “than harmony, results. Hence the saying: "He that conquers himself is greater than he who taketh a city. "”
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 58“263. "In the Old Lectures it is said, 'He that is truly square, well polished, and uprightly fixed, is qualified to be a member of our most honorable society. He that” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 84… “Divine radiance on the mind after it has conquered the prejudice, and passions, and ignorance,* with which it has so long been struggling."**”
In this edition
The hyphenated self-conquest is preserved. Broader forms of conquer may describe other victories and are reported as lexical matches.
Reading the argument
The image of conquest could suggest one decisive triumph, but the introduction describes continuing labor. Read the completed temple or perfected master against that continuing process. A claimed rank is not a substitute for trustworthy conduct.
self-conquest
“self-conquest” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: M.68.
conquers
“conquers” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: I.26.
conquered
“conquered” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: S.84.
conquest
“conquest” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: I.23, 25; M.68.