Lyman Abbott Quotes

The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.

There is good and there is bad in every human heart, and it is the struggle of life to conquer the bad with the good.

To say of shame - what is it? Of virtue - we can miss it; Of sin-we can kiss it, And it's no longer sin.

Evil is like water, it abounds, is cheap, soon fouls, but runs itself clear of taint.

A portion of mankind take pride in their vices and pursue their purpose; many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong.

Evil is always possible. Goodness is a difficulty.

Ever notice that the whisper of temptation can be heard farther than the loudest call to duty.

Then I proceeded to Williamsburg, where I found all well. I went to the capitol where I sent for the wench to clean my room and when I came I kissed her and felt her, for which God forgive me.... About 10 o’clock I went to my lodgings. I had good health but wicked thoughts, God forgive me.

To me, evil comes when you have a choice between that and good, and you choose the wrong way.

Well, every little boy thinks he invented sin. Virtue we think we learn, because we are told about it. But sin is our own designing.

Well, but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation, or too little acquainted with vice, or anything connected therewith - It must be, either, that you think she is essentially so vicious, or so feeble-minded that she cannot withstand temptation, - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint, yet, being destitute of real virtue, to teach her how to sin is at once to make her a sinner.

That was my nature - going from temptation after temptation, not to sin, but to be redeemed.

Tomorrow's character is made out of today's thoughts. Temptation may come suddenly, but sin does not.

Saint Augustine! well hast thou said, That of our vices we can frame A ladder, if we will but tread Beneath our feet each deed of shame.

I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.

When I was a child, the temptation to sin was always a romantic option. This romantic option led me to the cinema, a place where sin was welcome.

The eternal conflict of good and the best with bad and the worst is on.

It is not easy to do something good, but it is extremely difficult to do something bad.

The walls of that grand edifice called a good character have to be worked at during life.

In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.

There is the moral spectrum in 'Fargo,' and you see it in other Coen brothers movies, where you have a very good character on one end and a very bad character on the other.

Bad company corrupts good character.

I think at this point in my life, I'd like to play more good guys than bad guys.

Whoever blushes is already guilty; true innocence is ashamed of nothing.

Bad company is as instructive as licentiousness. One makes up for the loss of one's innocence with the loss of one's prejudices.