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
There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you’re fighting temptation.
—Tom Wilson (1931–2011) American Cartoonist
The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
No temptation can ever be measured by the value of its object.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
The most successful tempters and thus the most dangerous are the deluded deluders.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods thyself a Goddess.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Temptation hath a music for all ears.
—Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–67) American Poet, Playwright, Essayist
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
It is easier to stay out than get out.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I can resist everything except temptation.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The study of God’s Word is the only antidote against temptation.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
If there were no evil in ourselves there could be no temptation from without, for nothing evil could seem pleasant.
—Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) Italian-born American Novelist, Writer
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
Most confidence has still most cause to doubt.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
If you take temptations into account, who is to say that he is better than his neighbor?
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself. The mutilation of the savage has its tragic survival in the self-denial that mars our lives. We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us. The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of a pleasure, or the luxury of a regret. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful. It has been said that the great events of the world take place in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brain only, that the great sins of the world take place also.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
No degree of temptation justifies any degree of sin.
—Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–67) American Poet, Playwright, Essayist
We love to overlook the boundaries which we do not wish to pass.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Remove the temptation of idleness and cupids bow is useless.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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
Prosperity doth bewitch men, seeming clear;
As seas do laugh, show white, when rocks are near.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
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
Temptation wrings integrity even as the thumbscrew twists a man’s fingers
—Chinese Proverb
Why resist temptation? There will always be more.
—Don Herold (1889–1966) American Humorist, Writer, Illustrator, Cartoonist
Do not give dalliance too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw to the fire in the blood.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Happy the man who resists his temptations.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith