---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a long week of penitence and…"
description: "\"“It was a long week of penitence and fasting, during which there were no card games and no music that might lead to lust or abandon; and within the lim..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg"
---

#  It was a long week of penitence and fasting, during which…

![“It was a long week of penitence and fasting, during which there were no card games and no music that might lead to lust or abandon; and within the limits of possibility, the strictest sadness and chastity were observed, even though it was precisely at this time that the forked tail of the devil…” quote by Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg)

> ““It was a long week of penitence and fasting, during which there were no card games and no music that might lead to lust or abandon; and within the limits of possibility, the strictest sadness and chastity were observed, even though it was precisely at this time that the forked tail of the devil pricked most insistently at Catholic flesh.””

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A period of intense religious austerity intensifies inner conflict, as strict chastity and sadness clash with lurking temptation and personal struggle.

**In simple terms:** Strict religious discipline heightens inner turmoil.

Key Takeaway

Recognize hidden temptations during strict practices.

Themes

religion selfcontrol inner conflict temptation spirituality

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- spiritual discipline
- religious observance
- self‑examination

Key Concepts

asceticism psychological tension moral struggle

Questions to Reflect On

- How does strict self‑discipline affect hidden desires?
- Can imposed chastity lead to rebellion?

A Different Perspective

Such austerity can suppress rather than resolve deeper desires.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Long week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-week/) [Penitence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penitence/)

## Related quotes

> [“Alix Bekins &gt; Quotes &gt; Quotable Quote (edit) “For once in his life, Bailey felt like he couldn't keep up. He was blaming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-bekins/alix-bekins-quotes-quotable-quote-edit-for-once-in-his-life-bailey/)

Alix Bekins

> [“He did. He researched her. Someone told him that she had a special interest in John Milton. It did not take long to discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-did-he-researched-her-someone-told-him-that-she-had-a-special/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [Long week. Long month. Long life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/long-week-long-month-long-life/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [There are always times when you don't want to go to the rink, or you don't want to do all the things you're supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/there-are-always-times-when-you-don-t-want-to-go-to-the-rink-or-you/)

[Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/)

> [“He kissed her again, bringing both hands up behind her head to hold her still, and his hot lips slanted sideways across her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-harper/he-kissed-her-again-bringing-both-hands-up-behind-her-head-to-hold/)

[Karen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-harper/)

> [It's so hard in the NFL, man. You spend the course of a long week preparing for one opportunity. And once you get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/it-s-so-hard-in-the-nfl-man-you-spend-the-course-of-a-long-week/)

[Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/)

> [Once, after a long week, I felt so insecure that I decided to make a list of people who thought I was funny even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/once-after-a-long-week-i-felt-so-insecure-that-i-decided-to-make-a/)

[Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/)

> [“For once in his life, Bailey felt like he couldn't keep up. He was blaming the long week and the relaxed interactions with Dan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-bekins/for-once-in-his-life-bailey-felt-like-he-couldn-t-keep-up-he-was/)

Alix Bekins

> [“You’re quiet this evening,” he said. I pasted on a pleasant smile. “It’s been a long week. I’m just trying to relax.” And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/you-re-quiet-this-evening-he-said-i-pasted-on-a-pleasant-smile-it-s/)

[Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/)

> [We played in the Senior Bowl, ... I got MVP out of jamming his (expletive). It basically started there, with a long week of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-smoot/we-played-in-the-senior-bowl-i-got-mvp-out-of-jamming-his-expletive/)

Fred Smoot

> [The End of a long week with Viking Leader AKA DJ Virgo AKA Avicii! So many great songs! #icantwait #revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-end-of-a-long-week-with-viking-leader-aka-dj-virgo-aka-avicii-so/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [The hard part is majors are exhausting on their own. They're a long week. So the hard part is your energy levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-fleetwood/the-hard-part-is-majors-are-exhausting-on-their-own-they-re-a-long/)

[Tommy Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-fleetwood/)

> [An entire wall in my home is covered with framed pictures of my family and friends. It's nice to go home after a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlie-kloss/an-entire-wall-in-my-home-is-covered-with-framed-pictures-of-my/)

[Karlie Kloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlie-kloss/)

> [“When you wake up on Monday morning, don’t accept those negative thoughts that come knocking on your door, saying, It will be a hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-wake-up-on-monday-morning-don-t-accept-those-negative/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [When I get home off a long week, I go to the gym, have a great workout, and then I go home and order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/when-i-get-home-off-a-long-week-i-go-to-the-gym-have-a-great-workout/)

[Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/)

## More by Isabel Allende

> [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Music is a wind that blows away the years, memories, and fear, that crouching animal I carry inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/music-is-a-wind-that-blows-away-the-years-memories-and-fear-that/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Everybody has losses - it's unavoidable in life. Sharing our pain is very healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/everybody-has-losses-it-s-unavoidable-in-life-sharing-our-pain-is/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“The writer and the dreamer have so much in common: They can't control the plot, they are always part of the story or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-writer-and-the-dreamer-have-so-much-in-common-they-can-t-control/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [People think that they will sit down and produce the great American novel in one sitting. It doesn't work that way. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/people-think-that-they-will-sit-down-and-produce-the-great-american/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“He had a principle: if you lend money and never see the person again, that's money well spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/he-had-a-principle-if-you-lend-money-and-never-see-the-person-again/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“Catholics form a majority in Chile, although there are more and more Evangelicals and Pentacostals who irritate everyone because they have a direct understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/catholics-form-a-majority-in-chile-although-there-are-more-and-more/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“At times I feel as if I had lived all this before and that I have already written these very words, but I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-feel-as-if-i-had-lived-all-this-before-and-that-i-have/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-have-lived-with-passion-and-in-a-hurry-trying-to-accomplish-too/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I'm surrounded by the scene of aging. I myself am in my 70s and not getting any younger. Although I'm very healthy, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-surrounded-by-the-scene-of-aging-i-myself-am-in-my-70s-and-not/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I try to write the kind of books I like to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-books-i-like-to-read/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“Intimacy needs time to mature—a shared history, tears shed, obstacles overcome, photographs in an album. It’s a slow-growing plant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/intimacy-needs-time-to-mature-a-shared-history-tears-shed-obstacles/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [ The idea of the book \["The Japanese Lover"\] came in a conversation that I had with a friend walking in the streets of New… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-idea-of-the-book-the-japanese-lover-came-in-a-conversation-that-i/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

[Explore all 552 Isabel Allende quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

## More Long week quotes

> [“Alix Bekins &gt; Quotes &gt; Quotable Quote (edit) “For once in his life, Bailey felt like he couldn't keep up. He was blaming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-bekins/alix-bekins-quotes-quotable-quote-edit-for-once-in-his-life-bailey/)

Alix Bekins

> [“When you wake up on Monday morning, don’t accept those negative thoughts that come knocking on your door, saying, It will be a hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-wake-up-on-monday-morning-don-t-accept-those-negative/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [An entire wall in my home is covered with framed pictures of my family and friends. It's nice to go home after a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlie-kloss/an-entire-wall-in-my-home-is-covered-with-framed-pictures-of-my/)

[Karlie Kloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlie-kloss/)

> [The hard part is majors are exhausting on their own. They're a long week. So the hard part is your energy levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-fleetwood/the-hard-part-is-majors-are-exhausting-on-their-own-they-re-a-long/)

[Tommy Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-fleetwood/)

> [The End of a long week with Viking Leader AKA DJ Virgo AKA Avicii! So many great songs! #icantwait #revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-end-of-a-long-week-with-viking-leader-aka-dj-virgo-aka-avicii-so/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [We played in the Senior Bowl, ... I got MVP out of jamming his (expletive). It basically started there, with a long week of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-smoot/we-played-in-the-senior-bowl-i-got-mvp-out-of-jamming-his-expletive/)

Fred Smoot

> [“You’re quiet this evening,” he said. I pasted on a pleasant smile. “It’s been a long week. I’m just trying to relax.” And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/you-re-quiet-this-evening-he-said-i-pasted-on-a-pleasant-smile-it-s/)

[Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/)

> [“For once in his life, Bailey felt like he couldn't keep up. He was blaming the long week and the relaxed interactions with Dan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-bekins/for-once-in-his-life-bailey-felt-like-he-couldn-t-keep-up-he-was/)

Alix Bekins

> [Once, after a long week, I felt so insecure that I decided to make a list of people who thought I was funny even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/once-after-a-long-week-i-felt-so-insecure-that-i-decided-to-make-a/)

[Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/)

> [It's so hard in the NFL, man. You spend the course of a long week preparing for one opportunity. And once you get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/it-s-so-hard-in-the-nfl-man-you-spend-the-course-of-a-long-week/)

[Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/)

> [“He kissed her again, bringing both hands up behind her head to hold her still, and his hot lips slanted sideways across her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-harper/he-kissed-her-again-bringing-both-hands-up-behind-her-head-to-hold/)

[Karen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-harper/)

> [There are always times when you don't want to go to the rink, or you don't want to do all the things you're supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/there-are-always-times-when-you-don-t-want-to-go-to-the-rink-or-you/)

[Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/)

> [Long week. Long month. Long life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/long-week-long-month-long-life/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“He did. He researched her. Someone told him that she had a special interest in John Milton. It did not take long to discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-did-he-researched-her-someone-told-him-that-she-had-a-special/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [When I get home off a long week, I go to the gym, have a great workout, and then I go home and order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/when-i-get-home-off-a-long-week-i-go-to-the-gym-have-a-great-workout/)

[Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/)

[Browse all 18 Long week quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-week/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It was a long week of penitence and fasting, during which there were no card games and no music that might lead to lust or abandon; and within the limits of possibility, the strictest sadness and chastity were observed, even though it was precisely at this time that the forked tail of the devil pricked most insistently at Catholic flesh.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Isabel Allende"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fasting-during-which-there-were/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Long week"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fasting-during-which-there-were/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/isabel-allende-266_long-week_it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fast_446152.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was a long week of penitence and fasting, during which there were no card games and no music that might…” — Isabel Allende",
                "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": "Isabel Allende",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It was a long week of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fasting-during-which-there-were/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/it-was-a-long-week-of-penitence-and-fasting-during-which-there-were/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
