“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.”
This quote by Oscar Wilde explores the paradoxical nature of temptation and human desire. Wilde suggests that resisting temptation does not diminish its power; instead, it intensifies longing and creates psychological suffering. By framing the soul as "growing sick with longing," he highlights the internal conflict and emotional toll that comes from denying one's desires.
Wilde also critiques societal or moral "laws" that label certain desires as "monstrous and unlawful," implying that these rules may distort natural impulses, making them seem more forbidden and therefore more enticing. The phrase "the only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it" challenges conventional ideas of self-control and virtue, proposing that fulfillment, rather than repression, may be the path to overcoming temptation.
Overall, Wilde's statement invites reflection on the complexity of desire, the impact of societal norms, and the human struggle between repression and indulgence.
In today's world, where self-discipline and willpower are often championed as pathways to success and happiness, Wilde's perspective offers a provocative counterpoint. His assertion challenges the conventional wisdom around temptation and restraint, encouraging us to reconsider how we approach desires and prohibitions. This idea resonates strongly in modern discussions about mental health, personal authenticity, and the balance between indulgence and control. It reminds us that suppressing our urges without understanding them can lead to psychological distress, while mindful acknowledgment may foster emotional well-being.
“The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of a pleasure, or the luxury of a regret. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.”
“We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us. The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of a pleasure, or the luxury of a regret. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful. It has been said that the great events of the world take place in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brain only, that the great sins of the world take place also.”
“I believe that if one man were to live out his life fully and completely, were to give form to every feeling, expression to every thought, reality to every dream—I believe that the world would gain such a fresh impulse of joy that we would forget all the maladies of mediaevalism, and return to the Hellenic ideal—to something finer, richer, than the Hellenic ideal, it may be. But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself. The mutilation of the savage has its tragic survival in the self denial that mars our lives. We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind, and poisons us. The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of a pleasure, or the luxury of a regret. The only way to get ride of temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it is forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful. It has been said that the great events of the world take place in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brain only, that the great sins of the world take place also.”
“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”
“The only thing I cannot resist is temptation.”
“For Man's grim Justice goes its way, And will not swerve aside: It slays the weak, it slays the strong, It has a deadly stride: With iron heel it slays the strong, The monstrous parricide!”