--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is always the temptation in life to…" description: "\"There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all so self conscience..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/annie-dillard-509_cain_there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-t_2831353.jpg" --- # There is always the temptation in life to diddle around… ![“There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all so self conscience, so apparently moral...But I won't have it. The world is wilder than that in all directions, more dangerous...more extravagant and bright. We…” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/annie-dillard-509_cain_there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-t_2831353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/annie-dillard-509_cain_there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-t_2831353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/annie-dillard-509_cain_there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-t_2831353.jpg) > “There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all so self conscience, so apparently moral...But I won't have it. The world is wilder than that in all directions, more dangerous...more extravagant and bright. We are...raising tomatoes when we should be raising Cain, or Lazarus.” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s temptations to stay comfortable clash with the call to embrace risk, adventure, and moral complexity. **In simple terms:** Comfort vs. adventure creates inner conflict. Key Takeaway Choose growth over complacency. Themes risk adventure morality Mood introspective serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career change - travel planning - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you avoiding? - How does comfort limit your potential? A Different Perspective Fear of danger can paralyze progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apparently Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apparently-moral-2768693/) [Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazarus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meals/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Raising Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising-cain-3660867/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-conscience-2677443/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Temptation life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation-life/) [Tomatoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomatoes/) [Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilder/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sjogren/there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-to-diddle-around-making-itsy/) [Steve Sjogren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sjogren/) > [“You ask in awful lot of questions." "When I grow up, I want to be a detective just like you." He looked over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/you-ask-in-awful-lot-of-questions-when-i-grow-up-i-want-to-be-a/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“We are thus led to ask what the writer looks for and how he trains himself to look for it. The answer is: he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/we-are-thus-led-to-ask-what-the-writer-looks-for-and-how-he-trains/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [One who lacks transparency becomes victim of biting of his own self conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/one-who-lacks-transparency-becomes-victim-of-biting-of-his-own-self/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [The world is wider in all directions, more dangerous and bitter, more extravagant and bright. We are making hay when we should be making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-world-is-wider-in-all-directions-more-dangerous-and-bitter-more/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [No one is above temptation. No one is above life in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-jonas/no-one-is-above-temptation-no-one-is-above-life-in-general/) [Kevin Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-jonas/) > [God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil than in many formal prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/god-is-better-served-in-resisting-a-temptation-to-evil-than-in-many/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Temptation rarely comes in working hours. It is in their leisure time that men are made or marred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-taylor/temptation-rarely-comes-in-working-hours-it-is-in-their-leisure-time/) [William Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-taylor/) > [No matter how old you are there's a lot of temptation in life. Whether it's temptation to have sex, do drugs, do things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/no-matter-how-old-you-are-there-s-a-lot-of-temptation-in-life-whether/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [So you tell yourself you are pretty find clay To have tricked temptation and turned it away, But wait, my friend, for a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-vance-cooke/so-you-tell-yourself-you-are-pretty-find-clay-to-have-tricked/) [Edmund Vance Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-vance-cooke/) > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/patience-is-necessary-in-this-life-because-so-much-of-life-is-fraught/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/devils-soonest-tempt-resembling-spirits-of-light/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Temptations hurt not, though they have accesse; Satan o'ercomes none but by willingnesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/temptations-hurt-not-though-they-have-accesse-satan-o-ercomes-none/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [He who cannot resist temptation is not a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/he-who-cannot-resist-temptation-is-not-a-man/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Cain quotes > [“WRITTEN IN PENCIL IN THE SEALED RAILWAY-CAR here in this carload i am eve with abel my son if you see my other son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pagis/written-in-pencil-in-the-sealed-railway-car-here-in-this-carload-i-am/) [Dan Pagis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pagis/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [ “He \[James Cain\] is every kind of writer I detest...a Proust in greasy overalls, a dirty little boy with a piece of chalk and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i-detest-a-proust-in-greasy/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-because-it-was-made-according-to/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [James Cain was saddled with being called the father of hardboiled fiction. Apparently, he didn't like this saddle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/james-cain-was-saddled-with-being-called-the-father-of-hardboiled/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [“Wounds that haven’t healed properly still hurt you. You pretend to allow them faze you, but I see past the mask. Shame, that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-ashby/wounds-that-haven-t-healed-properly-still-hurt-you-you-pretend-to/) [Millicent Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-ashby/) > [Let me know if Cain is able.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mckay/let-me-know-if-cain-is-able/) [John Mckay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mckay/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [This is a very violent place to live, the Earth, and we're a very violent species. Cain is still killing Abel. We see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/this-is-a-very-violent-place-to-live-the-earth-and-we-re-a-very/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“You'll never think of the old Cain and Abel battle the same way. Day's gripping, compelling, and kick-ass Eve of Darkness will have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-mcgee-causey/you-ll-never-think-of-the-old-cain-and-abel-battle-the-same-way-day-s/) [Toni McGee Causey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-mcgee-causey/) > [“We can't chose family," Cain agreed. "But we can chose our friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-folsom/we-can-t-chose-family-cain-agreed-but-we-can-chose-our-friends/) [Tina Folsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-folsom/) > [Livin' is like pourin' water out of a tumbler into a dang Coca-Cola bottle. If'n you skeered you can't do it, you cain't. If'n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-ann-burns/livin-is-like-pourin-water-out-of-a-tumbler-into-a-dang-coca-cola/) [Olive Ann Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-ann-burns/) > [“One part of my brain, soaring on adrenaline, insisted I could take Cain, whatever the size difference. Another part wondered where the hell Nick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/one-part-of-my-brain-soaring-on-adrenaline-insisted-i-could-take-cain/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Don't tell me to leave-you leave. If Obama, if Clinton, if Mittens Romney, if Rick Santorum, if Neutered Gingrich, if Herman '999 666' Cain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-celente/don-t-tell-me-to-leave-you-leave-if-obama-if-clinton-if-mittens/) [Gerald Celente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-celente/) [Browse all 183 Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all so self conscience, so apparently moral...But I won't have it. The world is wilder than that in all directions, more dangerous...more extravagant and bright. 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