--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I grapple with sin in my own strength…" description: "\"If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.\" — Henry Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png" --- # If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows… ![“If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.” quote by Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png) > “If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.” [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on personal effort to resist wrongdoing is futile; the adversary can rest when we think we are battling alone. **In simple terms:** Self-reliance against sin is ineffective. Key Takeaway True strength comes from external aid. Themes spiritual struggle self-reliance illusion of control evil humility faith Mood humble reflective serious Type proverbial theological cautionary When to use this quote - personal moral crisis - temptation - spiritual warfare - inner conflict - seeking redemption Key Concepts sin devil strength sleep Practical Applications - theological counseling - personal reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to depend on others for moral strength? - How does recognizing our limits change our approach to temptation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Going to sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-sleep/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [Look to the cross, and hate your sin, for sin nailed your Well Beloved to the tree. Look up to the cross, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/look-to-the-cross-and-hate-your-sin-for-sin-nailed-your-well-beloved/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Well does he sleep who knows not that his sleep has been broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/well-does-he-sleep-who-knows-not-that-his-sleep-has-been-broken/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [No body knows I cry myself to sleep everyniight o.o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/no-body-knows-i-cry-myself-to-sleep-everyniight-o-o/) Patience > [The devil knows if he can capture your thought life he has won a mighty victory over you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/the-devil-knows-if-he-can-capture-your-thought-life-he-has-won-a/) [Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/) > [“Isn’t it ironic that the perfect moment for them to admit that they need you in their life is when you finally realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alex-jeanty/isn-t-it-ironic-that-the-perfect-moment-for-them-to-admit-that-they/) [Pierre Alex Jeanty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alex-jeanty/) > [You can know the bible backwards, it'l never mean you are holy, if thats the case the devil is too because he knows it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonyg/you-can-know-the-bible-backwards-it-l-never-mean-you-are-holy-if/) [Tonyg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonyg/) > [If you're going through Hell, keep on moving, face that fire. Walk right through it, you might get out before the devil even knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/if-you-re-going-through-hell-keep-on-moving-face-that-fire-walk-right/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [The devil knows more from experience than from being the devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/the-devil-knows-more-from-experience-than-from-being-the-devil/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [No, evidently habit means a lot. The devil knows what habit can do to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-evidently-habit-means-a-lot-the-devil-knows-what-habit-can-do-to-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course we look for our own path and try to hide from everything evil and vicious. But remember one thing: No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-course-we-look-for-our-own-path-and-try-to-hide-from-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“the devil knows he has no power over your future so he has to keep a tight grip on your past, of who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-n-joy/the-devil-knows-he-has-no-power-over-your-future-so-he-has-to-keep-a/) [E.N. Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-n-joy/) > [When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore he opposes us all he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-knows-we-go-to-fetch-strength/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [Knock my soul like we be callin black fool. I mean devil knows you prolly fucked another dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flo-rida/knock-my-soul-like-we-be-callin-black-fool-i-mean-devil-knows-you/) [Flo Rida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flo-rida/) > [The devil knows the Bible like the back of his hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-devil-knows-the-bible-like-the-back-of-his-hand/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [If you're going through hell keep on going don't slow down if you're scared don't show it you might get out before the devil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-going-through-hell-keep-on-going-don-t-slow-down-if-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henry Adams > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“One had heard and read a great deal about death, and even seen a little of it, and knew by heart the thousand commonplaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/one-had-heard-and-read-a-great-deal-about-death-and-even-seen-a/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [No man should be in politics unless he would honestly rather not be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/no-man-should-be-in-politics-unless-he-would-honestly-rather-not-be/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [In the history of the United States, there is no continuity at all. You can cut through it anywhere and nothing on this side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/in-the-history-of-the-united-states-there-is-no-continuity-at-all-you/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-when-wielded-by-abnormal-energy-is-the-most-serious-of-facts/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [All State education is a sort of dynamo machine for polarizing the popular mind; for turning and holding its lines of force in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/all-state-education-is-a-sort-of-dynamo-machine-for-polarizing-the/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [You may cut off the heads of every rich man now living--of every statesman--every literary, and every scientific authority, without in the least changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/you-may-cut-off-the-heads-of-every-rich-man-now-living-of-every/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-the-most-aristocratic-of-all-literary-pursuits-because-it/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The philosopher says--I am, and the church scouts his philosophy. She answers:--No! you are NOT, you have no existence of your own. You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-philosopher-says-i-am-and-the-church-scouts-his-philosophy-she/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [History is only a catalogue of the forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-only-a-catalogue-of-the-forgotten/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Explore all 230 Henry Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. The enemy of the plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-devil-jason-heaved-the-tick-over-his-shoulder-like-a-collier-with/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. 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