Quotes about temptation
A collection of quotes on the topic of temptation, resist, resistance, use.
Quotes about temptation
“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.”
Nahj al-Balagha

“I can resist everything except temptation.”
Lord Darlington, Act I
Variant: I can resist everything except temptation
Source: Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)

http://jazztimes.com/articles/20128-miles-davis-and-bill-evans-miles-and-bill-in-black-white.

On temptation - "'ATTRIBUTING THE SATELLITES SUCCESS TO ME IS BLASPHEMY' – T.B. JOSHUA" http://www.modernghana.com/print/247180/1/attributing-the-satellites-success-to-me-is-blasph.html Modern Ghana (November 4 2009)

A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.
First Part of Narrative

“Temptation requires definite, decisive action.”
Billy Graham in Quotes

“There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice.”

“There can be no faith without doubt. No strength without temptation. (Rafael)”
Source: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding

Extract from the Orderly Book of the army under command of Washington, dated at Head Quarters, in the city of New York (3 August 1770); reported in American Masonic Register and Literary Companion, Volume 1 https://www.thefederalistpapers.org/founders/washington/george-washington-the-foolish-and-wicked-practice-of-profane-cursing-and-swearing (1829), p. 163
1770s

2008, Election victory speech (November 2008)

Erst eine Kindheit, grenzenlos und ohne
Verzicht und Ziel. O unbewußte Lust.
Auf einmal Schrecken, Schranke, Schule, Frohne
und Absturtz in Versuchung und Verlust.</p><p>Trotz. Der Gebogene wird selber Bieger
und rächt an anderen, daß er erlag.
Geliebt, gefürchtet, Retter, Ringer, Sieger
und Überwinder, Schlag auf Schlag.<p>Und dann allein im Weiten, Leichten, Kalten.
Doch tief in der errichteten Gestalt
ein Atemholen nach dem Ersten, Alten...</p><p>Da stürzte Gott aus seinem Hinterhalt.</p>
As translated by Cliff Crego
Imaginärer Lebenslauf (Imaginary Life Journey) (September 13, 1923)

Speech to the National Association of Evangelicals (8 March 1983)
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

1910s, The Progressives, Past and Present (1910)

An Acre of Grass http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/1438/, st. 2
Last Poems (1936-1939)

He Heals the Heavy Laden https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/he-heals-the-heavy-laden, Dallin H. Oaks, October 2006

“Now don't stir. I'll be back in five minutes. And don't fall into any temptations while I am away.”
Miss Mabel Chiltern to Lord Goring, just after accepting his proposal, Act IV
An Ideal Husband (1895)

A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (1535. Translation revised 1953 by Philip S Watson. On Galatians 1:4.)

2000s, Youth Q&A on the U.N. High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda Report (2009)

Source: The Subversion of Christianity (1984), p. 114

Source: Books, Spiritual Warrior, Volume III: Solace for the Heart in Difficult Times (Hari-Nama Press, 2000), Chapter 8 - How To Strengthen Ourselves

Section 99
2010s, 2013, Evangelii Gaudium · The Joy of the Gospel

1900s, Address at the Prize Day Exercises at Groton School (1904)
The Divine Commodity: Discovering A Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity (2009, Zondervan)

Source: Das Ressentiment im Aufbau der Moralen (1912), L. Coser, trans. (1961), pp. 100-101

Source: On the Mystical Body of Christ, p.429

1910s, The Progressives, Past and Present (1910)
“Writing an upbeat aphorism is a temptation, but decorum forbids.”
City Aphorisms, Eighth Selection (1991)

1910s, Citizenship in a Republic (1910)

Presidency (1977–1981), Farewell Address (1981)
Context: We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this century. During the period we may be tempted to abandon some of the time-honored principles and commitments which have been proven during the difficult times of past generations. We must never yield to this temptation. Our American values are not luxuries, but necessities— not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself.

In Most Common Questions Asked by the non-Muslims https://www.amazon.com/Most-Common-Questions-Asked-Muslims/dp/9675699299 p: 46

“I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.”

Quoted in 'You don't want to go to war with a president' https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/03/anthony-fauci-trump-coronavirus-crisis-118961, 3 March 2020, Politico

“Russia ... our natural ally against the fiendish temptation and corruption from the West.”
Rußland ... der uns von Natur gegebene Bundesgenosse gegen die teuflische Versuchung und Korruption des Westens ist. Source: National Socialist Letters (Nationalsozialistische Briefe), “National Socialism or Bolshevism”, (November 15, 1925), quoted in: Ralph Georg Reuth, Goebbels, Piper, 2nd ed., Munich, 1991, p. 96. ISBN 3-492-03183-8.
1920s

“We gain the strength of the temptation we resist.”

“The biggest human temptation is … to settle for too little.”
As quoted in Forbes (4 August 1980).
Source: Dark Horse
“The problem with temptation is that you may not get another chance.”

Source: Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots

Source: How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life
“The temptation of the age is to look good without being good.”
Source: The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out

“When you handle books all day long, every new one is a friend and a temptation.”
Source: The Historian

“ABSTAINER, n. A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.”
The Devil's Dictionary (1911)
Source: The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary
Context: Abstainer, n. A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure. A total abstainer is one who abstains from everything but abstention, and especially from inactivity in the affairs of others.

“Opportunity may knock only once but temptation leans on the door bell”
Source: Oprah Winfrey Speaks: Insights from the World's Most Influential Voice

“Love is the one thing stronger than desire and the only proper reason to resist temptation.”
Source: Written on the Body

“The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”
Variant: The last act is the greatest treason. To do the right deed for the wrong reason.
Source: Murder in the Cathedral

“Yield to temptation… it may not pass your way again!”

“What's the use of a great city having temptations if fellows don't yield to them?”
Source: Carry on, Jeeves
“To know Pritkin was to want to kill him, but so far I'd resisted temptation.”
Source: Embrace the Night
“Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself.”
The Naked Communist (1958)

Oxford Book of English Verse, Introduction

Archetypal Dimensions of the Psyche (1994), The Anima as the Woman within the Man