--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time the enemy throws us off our…" description: "\"Every time the enemy throws us off our guard, and we give way to temptation, he gains so much; he weakens us and strengthens himself; when we resist te..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg" --- # Every time the enemy throws us off our guard, and we give… ![“Every time the enemy throws us off our guard, and we give way to temptation, he gains so much; he weakens us and strengthens himself; when we resist temptation, it strengthens the Saints and weakens the enemy.” quote by Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg) > “Every time the enemy throws us off our guard, and we give way to temptation, he gains so much; he weakens us and strengthens himself; when we resist temptation, it strengthens the Saints and weakens the enemy.” [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Temptation weakens believers while empowering the adversary; resisting strengthens the faithful and diminishes the foe **In simple terms:** Resisting temptation empowers the good and weakens evil Key Takeaway Resist temptation to grow spiritually Themes faith spiritual warfare self‑control Mood reflective determined Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - ethical decisions - community support Key Concepts temptation strengthening enemy dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize subtle temptations? - What practices help you stay resilient? A Different Perspective Temptation may be unavoidable and cause doubt ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Resist Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resist-temptation-269616/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Strengthens Saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengthens-saints-768884/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Temptation Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation-gains-768885/) [Temptation Strengthens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation-strengthens-768883/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Temptation gains power by persistent solicitations that beget thoughts that make evil less serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/temptation-gains-power-by-persistent-solicitations-that-beget/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Temptation gains power where we see it prevail in others we know and we express neither shock or hatred of them and their ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/temptation-gains-power-where-we-see-it-prevail-in-others-we-know-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Gently resist the temptation to chase your dreams into the world; pursue them in your heart until they disappear into the Self, and leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/gently-resist-the-temptation-to-chase-your-dreams-into-the-world/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [I have found that people who can successfully resist temptation invariably lead depressingly stunted lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-payne/i-have-found-that-people-who-can-successfully-resist-temptation/) [C.D. Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-payne/) > [The experiments show quite clearly that, as you resist more and more temptation, you're actually more and more likely to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/the-experiments-show-quite-clearly-that-as-you-resist-more-and-more/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [By and large the United States has been able to resist the temptation to close its doors to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/by-and-large-the-united-states-has-been-able-to-resist-the-temptation/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [“I can resist anything except temptation." Ren, main character in Sherrilyn Kenyon's novel Time Untime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-can-resist-anything-except-temptation-ren-main-character-in/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [But often, it's easier to resist temptation with distraction, or to be so inculcated in doing the right thing that it's automatic, outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-often-it-s-easier-to-resist-temptation-with-distraction-or-to-be/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [I never resist temptation, because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-never-resist-temptation-because-i-have-found-that-things-that-are/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Don't tempt me, I can resist anything but temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/don-t-tempt-me-i-can-resist-anything-but-temptation/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Resist the temptation to think what afflicts you is peculiar to you. Have faith that what is in your consciousness can be communicated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/resist-the-temptation-to-think-what-afflicts-you-is-peculiar-to-you/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [We should resist the temptation to identify our religious convictions with the platform of a party or the platitudes of favored politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-e-reed-jr/we-should-resist-the-temptation-to-identify-our-religious-convictions/) [Ralph E. Reed, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-e-reed-jr/) > [Resist the temptation to ascribe motive, because you really don't know - and it gets in the way of being able to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/resist-the-temptation-to-ascribe-motive-because-you-really-don-t-know/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We must resist the temptation of once again turning America into the traditional bogeyman of the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-napolitano/we-must-resist-the-temptation-of-once-again-turning-america-into-the/) [Giorgio Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-napolitano/) > [Wish there was something that I could say or do, I can resist anything but the temptation from you. But I'd rather walk alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/wish-there-was-something-that-i-could-say-or-do-i-can-resist-anything/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) ## More by Brigham Young > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [It is for us to do those things which the Lord requires at our hands, and leave the result with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/it-is-for-us-to-do-those-things-which-the-lord-requires-at-our-hands/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [After men have got their exaltations and their crowns--have become Gods, even the sons of God--are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/after-men-have-got-their-exaltations-and-their-crowns-have-become/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [“If you are ever called upon to chasten a person, never chasten beyond the balm you have within you to bind up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-you-are-ever-called-upon-to-chasten-a-person-never-chasten-beyond/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [We went west willingly--because we had to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/we-went-west-willingly-because-we-had-to/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [It is bad enough to see young fools, but worse to see old fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/it-is-bad-enough-to-see-young-fools-but-worse-to-see-old-fools/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [I expect, if I am faithful with yourselves, that I shall see the time with yourselves that we shall know how to prepare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/i-expect-if-i-am-faithful-with-yourselves-that-i-shall-see-the-time/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [“Parties in our Government have no better idea than to think the Republic stands all the firmer upon opposition; but I say that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/parties-in-our-government-have-no-better-idea-than-to-think-the/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [If I had a choice of educating my daughters or my sons because of opportunity constraints, I would choose to educate my daughters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-i-had-a-choice-of-educating-my-daughters-or-my-sons-because-of/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/we-should-never-permit-ourselves-to-do-anything-that-we-are-not/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [I feel like shouting, hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever I knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/i-feel-like-shouting-hallelujah-all-the-time-when-i-think-that-i-ever/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Our faith is concentrated in the Son of God, and through him in the Father; and the Holy Ghost is their minister to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/our-faith-is-concentrated-in-the-son-of-god-and-through-him-in-the/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [ How shall we know that we obey \[God\]? There is but one method by which we can know it, and that is by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/how-shall-we-know-that-we-obey-god-there-is-but-one-method-by-which/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Infringe upon the rights of no one. Borrow no tool but what you will return according to promise. Take no wood, nor anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/infringe-upon-the-rights-of-no-one-borrow-no-tool-but-what-you-will/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [All I have to do is keep my spirit, feelings and conscience like a sheet of blank paper, and let the Spirit and power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/all-i-have-to-do-is-keep-my-spirit-feelings-and-conscience-like-a/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) [Explore all 297 Brigham Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) [A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every time the enemy throws us off our guard, and we give way to temptation, he gains so much; he weakens us and strengthens himself; when we resist temptation, it strengthens the Saints and weakens the enemy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brigham Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-guard-and-we-give-way-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-guard-and-we-give-way-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/brigham-young-1075_enemy_every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-g_1662042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every time the enemy throws us off our guard, and we give way to temptation, he gains so much; he weakens us…” — Brigham Young", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brigham Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every time the enemy throws us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-guard-and-we-give-way-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/every-time-the-enemy-throws-us-off-our-guard-and-we-give-way-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```