Temptation is a woman’s weapon and man’s excuse.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Great possessions and great want of them are both strong temptations.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The temptation is not here, where you are reading about it or praying about it. It is down in your shop, among bales and boxes, ten-penny nails, and sandpaper.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Good habits result from resisting temptation.
—Common Proverb
Temptations without imply desires within; men ought not to say, “How powerfully the devil tempts,” but “How strongly I am tempted.”
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Happy the man who resists his temptations.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Why resist temptation? There will always be more.
—Don Herold (1889–1966) American Humorist, Writer, Illustrator, Cartoonist
Every temptation is great or small according as the man is.
—Jeremy Taylor
Most confidence has still most cause to doubt.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
The absence of temptation is the absence of virtue.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If you take temptations into account, who is to say that he is better than his neighbor?
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
No man is matriculated to the art of life till he has been well tempted.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Sometimes we are devils ourselves, when we will tempt the frailty of our powers, presuming on their changeful potency.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
That fortitude which has encountered no dangers, that prudence which has surmounted no difficulties, that integrity which has been attacked by no temptation, can at best be considered but as gold not yet brought to the test, of which, therefore, the true value cannot be assigned.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Lie in the lap of sin, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil: They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, the devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you’re fighting temptation.
—Tom Wilson (1931–2011) American Cartoonist
St. Augustine teaches that there is in each man a Serpent, an Eve, and an Adam. Our senses and natural propensities are the Serpent; the excitable desire is Eve; and the reason is the Adam. Our nature tempts us perpetually; criminal desire is often excited; but sin is not completed till reason consents.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Better shun the bait than struggle in the snare.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
When devils will their blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
When I cannot be forced, I am fooled out of my integrity. He cannot constrain if I do not consent. If I do but keep possession, all the posse of hell cannot violently eject me; but I am cast out when I cowardly surrender to his summons. Thus there needs no more to be my undoing but myself.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Saintliness is also a temptation.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
Learn to say “No”; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
No temptation can ever be measured by the value of its object.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin in loving virtue.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
He who cannot resist temptation is not a man.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
As the Sandwich Islander believes that the strength and valor of the enemy he kills passes into himself, so we gain the strength of the temptations we resist.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The study of God’s Word is the only antidote against temptation.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Some temptations come to the industrious, but all temptations attack the idle.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
He who is not tempted, what does he know? And he who is not tried, what are the things he knows?
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Temptation is an irresistible force at work on a moveable body.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
When the flesh presents thee with delights, then present thyself with dangers; where the world possesses thee with vain hopes, there possess thyself with true fear; when the devil brings thee oil, bring thou vinegar. The way to be safe is never to be secure.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
He who has no mind to trade with the devil, should be so wise as to keep away from his shop.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil than in many formal prayers.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds, makes deeds ill done!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Often the best way to overcome desire is to satisfy it.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
To resist temptation once is not a sufficient proof of honesty. If a servant, indeed, were to resist the continued temptation of silver lying in a window, when he is sure his master does not know how much there is of it, he would give a strong proof of honesty. But this is a proof to which you have no right to put a man. You know there is a certain degree of temptation which will overcome any virtue. Now, in so far as you approach temptation to a man, you do him an injury; and, if he is overcome, you share his guilt.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Every temptation is an opportunity of our getting nearer to God.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
Prosperity doth bewitch men, seeming clear;
As seas do laugh, show white, when rocks are near.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
The most successful tempters and thus the most dangerous are the deluded deluders.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
The devil tempts us not. It is we tempt him, beckoning his skill with opportunity.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
We gain the strength of the temptation we resist.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Temptation is a fearful word. It indicates the beginning of a possible series of infinite evils. It is the ringing of an alarm bell, whose melancholy sounds may reverberate through eternity. Like the sudden, sharp cry of “Fire!” under our windows by night, it should rouse us to instantaneous action, and rouse every muscle to its highest tension.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods thyself a Goddess.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
It is easier to stay out than get out.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Abstainer: A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
How can a young man keep his way pure?. By keeping it according to Thy Word. Thy Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith