#temptation

Idleness is a constant sin, and labor is a duty. Idleness is the devil's home for temptation and for unprofitable, distracting musings; while labor profit others and ourselves. ↗

— Anne Baxter

#devil #distracting #duty #home #idleness

There are two influences ever present in the world. One is constructive and elevating and comes from our Heavenly Father; the other is destructive and debasing and comes from Lucifer. We have our agency and make our own choice in life subject to these unseen powers. There is a division line well defined that separates the Lord's territory from Lucifer's. If we live on the Lord's side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power. By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. Knowing this, how anxious we should always be to live on the Lord's side of the line. ↗

— George Albert Smith

#divine-protection #peace #temptation #life

He turned and quickly removed his pants. My eyes grew huge, since he wore nothing underneath. I started to stammer, trying to avert my gaze,his sex all but riveting my eyes as I stared, blatantly helpless.“We will not make love. You’re in this bed as a friend. Why make things difficult?” I was hot all over; his body was perfect, strong, welcoming and oh-so-alive. ↗

— Alisha Basso

#temptation #undressing #love

Temptation likes best those who think they have a natural immunity, for it may laugh all the harder when they succumb. ↗

— Catherynne M. Valente

#nature

Just because a feeling is natural does not mean it should be indulged. ↗

— Roseanna White

#temptation #urge #nature

People couldn't become truly holy, he said, unless they also had the opportunity to be definitively wicked. ↗

— Terry Pratchett

#good-and-evil #temptation #wickedness #opportunity

I can resist anything except temptation. ↗

— Oscar Wilde

#wild

The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. ↗

— Oscar Wilde

#wild

Loyalty was a great thing, but no lieutenants should be forced to choose between their leader and a circus with elephants ↗

— Neil Gaiman

#loyalty #temptation #temptation

Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence. ↗

— Henri J.M. Nouwen

#christianity #faith #feelings #identity #rejection