When the devil looks at a man who sincerely desires not to…
“When the devil looks at a man who sincerely desires not to sin, he is not so unintelligent as to suggest to him (as he would to a hardened sinner) that he go and commit fornication or go and steal. He knows we do not want that and he does not set out to tell us something we do not want to hear; but he finds out that little bit of self-will or self-righteousness and through that, with the appearance of well doing, he will do us harm.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Temptation exploits subtle pride, offering harmless‑looking sins to corrupt the virtuous.
In simple terms: The devil uses pride to lure people into sin.
Key Takeaway
Guard against subtle pride.
Themes
temptation
pride
morality
spiritual warfare
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- spiritual practice
- leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
theology
ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does pride influence your choices?
- What small temptations do you overlook?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on pride may ignore other motives for wrongdoing.