James Branch Cabell Quotes

Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory.

About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you're fighting temptation.

They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.

Every time I say 'no' to a small temptation, I strengthen my will to say 'no' to a greater one.

Temptations come, as a general rule, when they are sought.

The most important lesson I've learned in this business is how to say no. I have said no to a lot of temptations, and I am glad I did.

Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.

Little hearts, little souls give little lusts big power. Big hearts give little lusts little power.

Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself.

We say no to lots of things that would please us. I would like to punch people every now and then, but I don't. I would like to have something for free rather than pay for it. I would like to skip to the front of the line... I don't mean to brush aside the taste of meat, which is a powerful attraction. But its power is not without limit.

What makes resisting temptation difficult for many people is they don't want to discourage it completely.

Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.

The experiments show quite clearly that, as you resist more and more temptation, you're actually more and more likely to fail.

Why resist temptation? There will always be more.

There's no credit in not doing what you don't want to do. There's no virtue in not falling, when you're not tempted.

I never resist temptation, because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.

It's not easy not to play.

My whole life, I've been a Temptation.

No one can ask honestly or hopefully to be delivered from temptation unless he has himself honestly and firmly determined to do the best he can to keep out of it.

There is no point in praying for victory over temptation if we are not willing to make a commitment to say no to it.

Temptations, unlike opportunities, will always give you many second chances.

Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.

I wish I didn't like sweets as much as I do. I wish I didn't get carried away sometimes.

We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.

Protect me from what I want.