--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The temptation was great to muster what…" description: "\"The temptation was great to muster what force we could and put up a fight. It's the easiest way out, and the most satisfactory to self-respect--but, ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg" --- # The temptation was great to muster what force we could and… ![“The temptation was great to muster what force we could and put up a fight. It's the easiest way out, and the most satisfactory to self-respect--but, nearly invariably, the stupidest.” quote by Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg) > “The temptation was great to muster what force we could and put up a fight. It's the easiest way out, and the most satisfactory to self-respect--but, nearly invariably, the stupidest.” [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the easy, self‑preserving route often feels satisfying but can be the most foolish decision. **In simple terms:** Easy choices feel good but can be foolish. Key Takeaway Beware shortcuts that harm long‑term goals. Themes self‑respect decision‑making shortcuts Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career dilemmas - personal conflicts - financial decisions - relationship choices Key Concepts ethics psychology consequences Questions to Reflect On - What easy choice have you rationalized as best? - How could a harder path benefit you? A Different Perspective Shortcuts may lead to regret if not considered carefully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fight Easiest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-easiest-3663492/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Invariably Stupidest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invariably-stupidest-3663494/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) [Stupidest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidest/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Temptation Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation-great-3663493/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Has there not been, sometimes, this temptation to do a great deal for Christ, but not to live a great deal with Christ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/has-there-not-been-sometimes-this-temptation-to-do-a-great-deal-for/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The sport is very hard and you put your body - the fight's the easiest part. Making it through a training camp as uninjured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/the-sport-is-very-hard-and-you-put-your-body-the-fight-s-the-easiest/) [Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/) > [One great remedy against all manner of temptation, great or small, is to open the heart and lay bare its suggestion, likings, and dislikings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/one-great-remedy-against-all-manner-of-temptation-great-or-small-is/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [“The temptation was too great to resist. Heart thundering madly, Teddy closed the distance and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes fell shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-matthews/the-temptation-was-too-great-to-resist-heart-thundering-madly-teddy/) [Mimi Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-matthews/) > [I swear, guys in groups are capable of the stupidest things." "Like war," Kellan says, heaping napkins and ketchup packets onto her tray. "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-swear-guys-in-groups-are-capable-of-the-stupidest-things-like-war/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“Sometimes the stupidest promises are the ones we make to ourselves. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-moore/sometimes-the-stupidest-promises-are-the-ones-we-make-to-ourselves-but/) [Addison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-moore/) > [William strode to her. That’s how it’s done. Drink it in. She surveyed the carnage behind him. “Did you have fun?” He showed her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/william-strode-to-her-that-s-how-it-s-done-drink-it-in-she-surveyed/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“It's the stupidest tea party I ever was at in all my life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/it-s-the-stupidest-tea-party-i-ever-was-at-in-all-my-life/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I just wanted to make the stupidest, funniest thing possible. My version of Mary Todd Lincoln is basically just me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/i-just-wanted-to-make-the-stupidest-funniest-thing-possible-my/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [The stupidest mistake in life is thinking the one who hurt you the most, won't hurt you again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-stupidest-mistake-in-life-is-thinking-the-one-who-hurt-you-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And then I did the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. “They’re not here,” I said. I knew, as the words left my mouth, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-d-randle/and-then-i-did-the-stupidest-thing-i-ve-ever-done-they-re-not-here-i/) [Kristen D. Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-d-randle/) > [I am so tired of rearranging my life around what the stupidest people might do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-am-so-tired-of-rearranging-my-life-around-what-the-stupidest-people/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Drinking and driving is the stupidest and most cares less thing someone can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drinking-and-driving-is-the-stupidest-and-most-cares-less-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [You really can't explain how you do the things you do. I can't, anyway. I love certain actors, but sometimes they say the stupidest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/you-really-can-t-explain-how-you-do-the-things-you-do-i-can-t-anyway/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) ## More by Isaac Asimov > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You'd better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-the-universe-is-not-quite-as-you-thought-it-was-you-d-better/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-in-meeting-the-great-tests-that-mankind-can-most-successfully/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“It might seem to you, Peter, that a truck driver, one step above an ape in your view, can't remember. But truck drivers can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-might-seem-to-you-peter-that-a-truck-driver-one-step-above-an-ape/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [When life is so harsh that a man loses all hope in himself, then he raises his eyes to a shining rock, worshipping it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/when-life-is-so-harsh-that-a-man-loses-all-hope-in-himself-then-he/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“temperatura constante de mais ou menos 21 graus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/temperatura-constante-de-mais-ou-menos-21-graus/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-robot-for-it-doesn-t-matter-how/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. \[The Second Law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-robot-must-obey-the-orders-given-it-by-human-beings-except-where/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) [Explore all 671 Isaac Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More Fighting quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“I bet she thought she was getting into a fight with a vanilla wafer on roller skates but little did she know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-bet-she-thought-she-was-getting-into-a-fight-with-a-vanilla-wafer/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [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/) > [There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/there-comes-a-time-when-you-re-losing-a-fight-that-it-just-doesn-t/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) [Browse all 13,685 Fighting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The temptation was great to muster what force we could and put up a fight. It's the easiest way out, and the most satisfactory to self-respect--but, nearly invariably, the stupidest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaac Asimov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what-force-we-could-and-put-up-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fighting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what-force-we-could-and-put-up-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/isaac-asimov-309_fighting_the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what_2021301.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The temptation was great to muster what force we could and put up a fight. It's the easiest way out, and the…” — Isaac Asimov", "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": "Isaac Asimov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The temptation was great to muster...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what-force-we-could-and-put-up-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-temptation-was-great-to-muster-what-force-we-could-and-put-up-a/#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 } } ] } ```