A. S. Byatt Quotes

I'm fairly in control and I don't like to flirt particularly. I mean, obviously if I meet someone who I think is hot, of course I'll want to flirt with him, But in general I don't use it in day-to-day life.

Protect me from what I want.

Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.

He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.

From time to time I might push a little bit too hard and I have got to be a bit more careful.

I have to reign myself in a lot.

I learned early in my career, where you get so wrapped up and so excited, that all of a sudden you don't think. So I worked very hard to keep myself suppressed. And that's one of the reasons I wasn't gregarious with the gallery.

It's all right letting yourself go, as long as you can get yourself back.

I need to rein myself in sometimes.

I don't have anyone curbing my instincts, doing anything destructive to my self opinion.

Here's a rule I recommend: Never practice two vices at once.

Human nature is you get carried away, so we have to protect ourselves from ourselves.

All the movements of our body are not merely those dictated by impulse or weariness; they are the correct expression of what we consider decorous. Without impulses, we could take no part in social life; on the other hand, without inhibitions, we could not correct, direct, and utilize our impulses.

I always feel like there's some behaviour that we're all capable - we have our inhibitions protecting from indulging in certain appetites or developing certain appetites.

I used to be a bit of a show-off at school, but I've calmed down now and learnt to censor myself.

I have nothing but regret that I cannot continue to behave the way I behaved all my life, and I can't wait for a chance to behave immoderately again.

The disciplined are free.

I am a believer in discipline; it takes a lot to do well. You need discipline for those little excursions into the chaotic that make life interesting.

I am not allowing myself to get carried away.

Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on.

Fortunate indeed, is the man who takes exactly the right measure of himself, and holds a just balance between what he can acquire and what he can use.

Guilt is the price we pay willingly for doing what we are going to do anyway.

We know there are certain chemicals that are designed to give us a rush of pleasure. But, one of the most amazing things about being human is our capacity to override that pleasure. To either say, 'I don't need that pleasure right now. I'm going to ignore the craving.' Or to find something else that we find a deeper sense of reward from.

I have a very addictive personality, so I'm even careful about wanting more of anything than I need - even chocolate.

Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human nature.