V. S. Pritchett Quotes

To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.

Virtue is insufficient temptation.

The more I had to act like a saint, the more I felt like being a sinner.

Repentance is but want of power to sin.

I try not to do bad, but sometimes it's irresistible.

I do all the evil I can before I learn to shun it? Is it not enough to know the evil to shun it? If not, we should be sincere enough to admit that we love evil too well to give it up.

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.

The Anglo-Saxon conscience does not prevent the Anglo-Saxon from sinning, it merely prevents him from enjoying his sin.

I have always derived indescribable pleasure from leading a decent woman to the edge of sin and leaving her there to live between the temptation and the fear of that sin.

A lot of us have developed a diet mentality toward lust. We really want to cut back on lust because we know its not healthy and it makes us feel bad. But like some rich, calorie-laden chocolate dessert, lust is just too tasty to resist completely. Surely God will understand if we break our diet and nibble a little lust now and then.

Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart; nor will moderation be utterly exiled from the minds of tyrants.

I really wanted to be nasty and mean and bad. It's so much easier than being the good girl.

Temptation to behave is terrible.

Just because I don't do bad things doesn't mean I don't have bad thoughts.

The whole mystery of temptation is to have sins suggested to us, and to be swept after them by a sudden enthusiasm, which sometimes feels as strong as the Spirit of God ever made in us the enthusiasm for virtue.

I am no longer sure of anything. If I satiate my desires, I sin but I deliver myself from them; if I refuse to satisfy them, they infect the whole soul.

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.

Don't let your sins turn into bad habits.

The better day, the worse deed.

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.

We have a demon, we have an angel inside, within our souls, and you just play with it, and sometimes the evil part of you wins the battle, in a very important decision, or in a bedtime, with your lover. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

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

We may live like saints, but when it comes to our fantasy life, everybody's got a little larceny in their soul.

When our vices leave us, we like to imagine it is we who are leaving them.

I was raised Catholic, so guilt shackles you from acting like a complete fool all the time.