# Quotes about temptation - Quotes: 20 - Authors: 15 - Broader topic: [Quotes about desire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/desire.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.json ## Quotes > While superfluity engenders disgust, appetite is but whetted when fruit is forbidden. [Giovanni Boccaccio](https://www.leafyquotes.com/giovanni-boccaccio.md) · [The Decameron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/giovanni-boccaccio/the-decameron.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/giovanni-boccaccio/the-decameron/while-superfluity-engenders.md) Topics: [desire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/desire.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > The gates of hell are open night and day; > > Smooth the descent, and easy is the way: > > But to return, and view the cheerful skies, > > In this the task and mighty labor lies. [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md) · [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/the-gates-of-hell.md) Topics: [hell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hell.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > I see better things, and approve, but I follow worse. [Ovid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ovid.md) · [Metamorphoses](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ovid/metamorphoses.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ovid/metamorphoses/i-see-better.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > Margret saw that this is how it is that folk are made to desire what they know they should not have, they are made to wait for it, so that when it comes, no matter how dark and full of sin and repellent it is, they are glad enough to welcome it. [Jane Smiley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-smiley.md) · [The Greenlanders](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-smiley/the-greenlanders.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-smiley/the-greenlanders/margret-saw-that.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md), [waiting](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/waiting.md) > ... while discretion points out the impropriety of my conduct, inclination urges me on to ruin. [Susanna Rowson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susanna-rowson.md) · [Charlotte Temple](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susanna-rowson/charlotte-temple.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susanna-rowson/charlotte-temple/while-discretion-points.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > Some temptations cannot be fought. One must close one's mind and fly from them. [A. J Cronin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/a-j-cronin.md) · [The Keys of the Kingdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/a-j-cronin/the-keys-of-the-kingdom.md) · p. 90 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/a-j-cronin/the-keys-of-the-kingdom/some-temptations-cannot.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > Adam was but human — this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent. [Mark Twain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain.md) · [Pudd'nhead Wilson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/puddnhead-wilson.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/puddnhead-wilson/adam-was-but.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > All is not frustrated, though thou find thyself very often afflicted or grievously tempted. Thou art man, not God; thou art flesh, not an angel. [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/all-is-not.md) Topics: [human nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/human-nature.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > Yet, notwithstanding, temptations turn greatly unto our profit, even though they be great and hard to bear; for through them we are humbled, purified, instructed. All Saints have passed through much tribulation and temptation, and have profited thereby. [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/yet-notwithstanding-temptations.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > And so little by little the enemy entereth in altogether, because he was not resisted at the beginning. [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/and-so-little.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > The beginning of all temptations to evil is instability of temper and want of trust in God; for even as a ship without a helm is tossed about by the waves, so is a man who is careless and infirm of purpose tempted, now on this side, now on that. As fire testeth iron, so doth temptation the upright man. [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/the-beginning-of-all.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > It may almost be a question whether such wisdom as many of us have in our mature years has not come from the dying out of the power of temptation, rather than as the results of thought and resolution. [Anthony Trollope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope.md) · [The Small House at Allington](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/the-small-house-at-allington.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/the-small-house-at-allington/it-may-almost.md) Topics: [old age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/old-age.md), [wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > A monk should surely love his books with humility, wishing their good and not the glory of his own curiosity; but what the temptation of adultery is for laymen and the yearning for riches is for secular ecclesiastics, the seduction of knowledge is for monks. [Umberto Eco](https://www.leafyquotes.com/umberto-eco.md) · [The Name of the Rose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/umberto-eco/the-name-of-the-rose.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/umberto-eco/the-name-of-the-rose/a-monk-should.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures. [Herman Melville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville.md) · [Moby-Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick.md) · p. 492 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick/what-is-best.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > We cannot use the Ruling Ring. That we now know too well. It belongs to Sauron and was made by him alone, and is altogether evil. Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power of their own. But for them it holds an even deadlier peril. The very desire of it corrupts the heart. [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien.md) · [The Fellowship of the Ring](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/we-cannot-use.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evil.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask what you offer. For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the Great Ring come into my hands, and behold! it was brought within my grasp. The evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways, whether Sauron himself stands or falls. Would not that have been a noble deed to set to the credit of his Ring, if I had taken it by force or fear from my guest? > > 'And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!' > > She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illumined her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then she let her hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad. > > 'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.' [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien.md) · [The Fellowship of the Ring](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/i-do-not.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > 'You are wise and powerful. Will you not take the Ring?’ > > 'No!' cried Gandalf, springing to his feet. 'With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly.' His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within. 'Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me.' [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien.md) · [The Fellowship of the Ring](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/you-are-wise.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > Ay me, how many perils doe enfold > > The righteous man, to make him daily fall! [Edmund Spenser](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmund-spenser.md) · [The Faerie Queene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmund-spenser/the-faerie-queene.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmund-spenser/the-faerie-queene/ay-me-how.md) Topics: [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > It was the last weakness he meant to indulge in; and a man never lies with more delicious languor under the influence of a passion than when he has persuaded himself that he shall subdue it to-morrow. [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [Adam Bede](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/adam-bede.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/adam-bede/it-was-the.md) Topics: [passion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/passion.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md) > Reading, solitude, idleness, a soft and sedentary life, intercourse with women and young people, these are perilous paths for a young man, and these lead him constantly into danger. I divert his senses by other objects of sense; I trace another course for his spirits by which I distract them from the course they would have taken; it is by bodily exercise and hard work that I check the activity of the imagination, which was leading him astray. When the arms are hard at work, the imagination is quiet; when the body is very weary, the passions are not easily inflamed. The quickest and easiest precaution is to remove him from immediate danger. At once I take him away from towns, away from things which might lead him into temptation. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/reading-solitude-idleness.md) Topics: [youth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/youth.md), [temptation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/temptation.md)