--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not tempted by things I've decided…" description: "\"“I'm not tempted by things I've decided are off-limits, but once I've started something, I have trouble stopping. If I never do something, it requires ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/gretchen-rubin-867_self-control_i-m-not-tempted-by-things-i-ve-decided-a_3183873.jpg" --- # I'm not tempted by things I've decided are off-limits, but… ![“I'm not tempted by things I've decided are off-limits, but once I've started something, I have trouble stopping. If I never do something, it requires no self-control for me; if I do something sometimes, it requires enormous self-control.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/gretchen-rubin-867_self-control_i-m-not-tempted-by-things-i-ve-decided-a_3183873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/gretchen-rubin-867_self-control_i-m-not-tempted-by-things-i-ve-decided-a_3183873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/gretchen-rubin-867_self-control_i-m-not-tempted-by-things-i-ve-decided-a_3183873.jpg) > ““I'm not tempted by things I've decided are off-limits, but once I've started something, I have trouble stopping. If I never do something, it requires no self-control for me; if I do something sometimes, it requires enormous self-control.”” [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑control is easier when you never start a habit; once you begin, stopping becomes the real challenge. **In simple terms:** Avoid starting bad habits; stopping them is hard. Key Takeaway Prevent starting harmful habits. Themes self‑control habits willpower Mood reflective motivational Type advice self‑help When to use this quote - starting a new hobby - dieting - social media use - smoking - procrastination Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What habit could you avoid starting? - How can you design habits that end naturally? A Different Perspective If you never start, you never develop discipline; avoidance isn’t mastery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) ## Related quotes > [And I kno, girl I kno that u really want it bad. I'd be lyin if I said I wasnt tempted. all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/and-i-kno-girl-i-kno-that-u-really-want-it-bad-i-d-be-lyin-if-i-said/) [Ne-yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Don't be tempted by the things your friends have, do, or like...You are not like them. Concentrate on doing what you are capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-tempted-by-the-things-your-friends-have-do-or-like-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To tempt, and to be tempted, are things very nearly allied, and, in spite of the finest maxims of morality impressed upon the mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/to-tempt-and-to-be-tempted-are-things-very-nearly-allied-and-in-spite/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [“For to tempt and to be tempted are things very nearly allied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/for-to-tempt-and-to-be-tempted-are-things-very-nearly-allied/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [For to tempt and to be tempted are things very nearly allied - whenever feeling has anything to do in the matter, no sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/for-to-tempt-and-to-be-tempted-are-things-very-nearly-allied-whenever/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [A 'treat' is different from a 'reward,' which must be justified or earned. A treat is a small pleasure or indulgence that we give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/a-treat-is-different-from-a-reward-which-must-be-justified-or-earned/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There were times when I was tempted to do wrong, and could have went that way. But I knew it wasn't for me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/there-were-times-when-i-was-tempted-to-do-wrong-and-could-have-went/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [The more one is absorbed in fighting evil, the less one is tempted to place the good in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-more-one-is-absorbed-in-fighting-evil-the-less-one-is-tempted-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points just as we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/it-is-a-great-joy-to-believe-that-jesus-has-been-tempted-in-all/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Do not grieve over temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-grieve-over-temptations-you-suffer-when-the-lord-intends-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He's earned all his money himself, with his fists. He didn't steal it like the rest of our politicians. And he'll be less tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/he-s-earned-all-his-money-himself-with-his-fists-he-didn-t-steal-it/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I admit that invective is one of my pleasures. This only brings me problems in life, but that's it. I attack, I insult. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-admit-that-invective-is-one-of-my-pleasures-this-only-brings-me/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) ## More by Gretchen Rubin > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. 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I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) [Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## More Self control quotes > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Although self-control is inheritable and does run in families and has a genetic component, it's more like height than anything else. Height is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrie-moffitt/although-self-control-is-inheritable-and-does-run-in-families-and-has/) Terrie Moffitt > [Early on a difficult climb, especially a solo climb, you’re hyper-aware of the abyss pulling at your back, constantly feeling its call, its immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/early-on-a-difficult-climb-especially-a-solo-climb-you-re-hyper-aware/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [A powerful person is not he who out-wrestles others. A powerful person is he who can control himself when angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prophet-muhammad/a-powerful-person-is-not-he-who-out-wrestles-others-a-powerful-person/) [Prophet Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prophet-muhammad/) > [Just Think About This: There Are Almost 9 Billion People On Earth.. And You Are Going To Let Just ONE Person To Ruin Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/just-think-about-this-there-are-almost-9-billion-people-on-earth-and/) Pacifiersucker > [Perfect health, sincerity, honesty, straightforwardness, courage, disinterestedness, unselfishness, patience, endurance, perseverance, peace, calm, self control are all things that are taught infinitely better by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/perfect-health-sincerity-honesty-straightforwardness-courage/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [A beautiful woman that can go out and then come home alone and lay in bed alone, is a woman with standards and self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-beautiful-woman-that-can-go-out-and-then-come-home-alone-and-lay-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes, humanity surprises me with all its lack of control over the primordial urges. These innate urges are the biological traits that make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sometimes-humanity-surprises-me-with-all-its-lack-of-control-over-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Such power there is in clear-eyed self-restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/such-power-there-is-in-clear-eyed-self-restraint/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hardest thing ever?controlling your laughter at serious times 0\_o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-dreams/hardest-thing-ever-controlling-your-laughter-at-serious-times-0-o/) [Destiny Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny-dreams/) > [People don't have to be physical attractive to acknowledge God in all their ways, or to be unselfish,merciful, And compassionate. It doesn't take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-don-t-have-to-be-physical-attractive-to-acknowledge-god-in-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are NOTHING when you cannot control your MIND!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athirah-khairul/you-are-nothing-when-you-cannot-control-your-mind/) Athirah Khairul > [The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/the-cyclone-derives-its-powers-from-a-calm-center-so-does-a-person/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Cast not yourself away from Evil. Instead, embrace it with open arms, control it and overcome it within your inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cast-not-yourself-away-from-evil-instead-embrace-it-with-open-arms/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrible thing about free soloing difficult routes that are within one's capacity, is the chance that faced with ultimate danger and need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royal-robbins/the-terrible-thing-about-free-soloing-difficult-routes-that-are/) [Royal Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royal-robbins/) [Browse all 812 Self control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm not tempted by things I've decided are off-limits, but once I've started something, I have trouble stopping. 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