--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing more difficult than…" description: "\"The only thing more difficult than persuading someone else to start having sex with you is persuading yourself to stop.\" — Jacob M. Appel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg" --- # The only thing more difficult than persuading someone else… ![“The only thing more difficult than persuading someone else to start having sex with you is persuading yourself to stop.” quote by Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg) > “The only thing more difficult than persuading someone else to start having sex with you is persuading yourself to stop.” [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Convincing others to engage sexually is hard; convincing oneself to stop is even harder. **In simple terms:** Self‑control in sexual matters is extremely challenging. Key Takeaway Cultivate stronger personal boundaries. Themes sexual ethics self‑control persuasion Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - personal relationships - education programs Key Concepts Psychology of desire behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - Why is self‑persuasion harder than persuading others? - What strategies improve sexual self‑control? A Different Perspective Moral dilemmas can complicate self‑discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Persuading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-persuading-2802964/) [Having sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-sex/) [Persuading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuading/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex Persuading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-persuading-3345897/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) ## Related quotes > [“Steel yourself; the audience will demand to know how it went.” “How on earth did you get your soldiers to help so much with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/steel-yourself-the-audience-will-demand-to-know-how-it-went-how-on/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [Killing became the same thing as having sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lee-lucas/killing-became-the-same-thing-as-having-sex/) [Henry Lee Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lee-lucas/) > [What is the purpose and meaning and nature of sexual intercourse? It seems to me to be quite clear. It's for two things. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/what-is-the-purpose-and-meaning-and-nature-of-sexual-intercourse-it/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) > [If these two are tired of having sex with each other, what hope is there for the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/if-these-two-are-tired-of-having-sex-with-each-other-what-hope-is/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [If you're pop and you don't talk about all the pretty things in life and having sex, then you're not really pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristian-machado/if-you-re-pop-and-you-don-t-talk-about-all-the-pretty-things-in-life/) [Cristian Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristian-machado/) > [“Having sex in new locations can be exciting, like when Neil Armstrong fucked the moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-fraction/having-sex-in-new-locations-can-be-exciting-like-when-neil-armstrong/) [Matt Fraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-fraction/) > [“You don't just decide to have sex because you feel like having sex. You decide to have sex once you realize you're in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mlynowski/you-don-t-just-decide-to-have-sex-because-you-feel-like-having-sex/) [Sarah Mlynowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mlynowski/) > [“It happens that I despise that locution, "having sex," which describes something a good deal more mechanical than making love and a good deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/it-happens-that-i-despise-that-locution-having-sex-which-describes/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Take your time and make sure the person who you do intend to have sex with is someone you deeply love and care about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd/take-your-time-and-make-sure-the-person-who-you-do-intend-to-have-sex/) [Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd/) > [“Finally, Beth said, "I thought you already were a couple." "No. We were having sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-osburn/finally-beth-said-i-thought-you-already-were-a-couple-no-we-were/) [Terri Osburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-osburn/) > [I agree that biphobia is real, but I think it's absolutely worth considering that someone who "despises" having sex with her husband - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-agree-that-biphobia-is-real-but-i-think-it-s-absolutely-worth/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I think that a lot of men, especially once they're married, feel like their girl is just who she is, so don't treat her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dice-clay/i-think-that-a-lot-of-men-especially-once-they-re-married-feel-like/) [Andrew Dice Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dice-clay/) > [For the record, Claire Marsden and I are not having sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mayberry/for-the-record-claire-marsden-and-i-are-not-having-sex/) [Sarah Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mayberry/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Heavy petting, that was fun! That was good. And frankly, you know I wish kids would go back to it. It's very satisfying. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/heavy-petting-that-was-fun-that-was-good-and-frankly-you-know-i-wish/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) ## More by Jacob M. Appel > [Nothing sells tombstones like a Girl Scout in uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/nothing-sells-tombstones-like-a-girl-scout-in-uniform/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Marriage is like a series of opposing reflections, inverse images getting ever smaller like nesting dolls, each one of your trying to squeeze yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/marriage-is-like-a-series-of-opposing-reflections-inverse-images/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Never make enemies of anyone younger or healthier than you are. They write your history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/never-make-enemies-of-anyone-younger-or-healthier-than-you-are-they/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Maybe that is the greatest of wonders: that we can be shaped so much by those we've known closely, and equally by those we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/maybe-that-is-the-greatest-of-wonders-that-we-can-be-shaped-so-much/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [There is a fundamental difference, however, between asking to be permitted to keep a vegetative relative on costly machinery, and asking the taxpayers or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/there-is-a-fundamental-difference-however-between-asking-to-be/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Much as we do not permit convicted pedophiles to teach kindergarten or convicted hijackers to board airplanes, common sense dictates that individuals who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/much-as-we-do-not-permit-convicted-pedophiles-to-teach-kindergarten/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Know your load. That's rule numero uno in this business, which is why I make them count the penguins out in front of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/know-your-load-that-s-rule-numero-uno-in-this-business-which-is-why-i/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [“Battery Park resonates with lust as the sun approaches its zenith. A primal impulse takes hold of the young couples strolling the gravel walkways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/battery-park-resonates-with-lust-as-the-sun-approaches-its-zenith-a/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [“I have vicarious morning sickness. Other people's babies make me nauseous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/i-have-vicarious-morning-sickness-other-people-s-babies-make-me/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Maybe life involves the pairing of unsuitable people, those who wait and those who keep others waiting, and the key to happiness is finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/maybe-life-involves-the-pairing-of-unsuitable-people-those-who-wait/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Choose old people for enemies. They die. You win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/choose-old-people-for-enemies-they-die-you-win/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [I am grateful that I have rights in the proverbial public square - but, as a practical matter, my most cherished rights are those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/i-am-grateful-that-i-have-rights-in-the-proverbial-public-square-but/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [“Nixon’s offences had been so long in the past, so much part of a different era that he now seemed like some lovable but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/nixon-s-offences-had-been-so-long-in-the-past-so-much-part-of-a/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [While the visible victims may draw the headlines and attract indignant protests from so-called "pro-life" organizations, the invisible victims are people like you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/while-the-visible-victims-may-draw-the-headlines-and-attract/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [I used to dream of true love; now I'm open to false, but convincing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/i-used-to-dream-of-true-love-now-i-m-open-to-false-but-convincing/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) [Explore all 50 Jacob M. Appel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) ## More Difficult quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [Consumers can choose organic cotton grown without pesticides, but it uses more water and requires more land than conventional crops. Organic cotton can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/consumers-can-choose-organic-cotton-grown-without-pesticides-but-it/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [It's only a little difficult to say no. You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/it-s-only-a-little-difficult-to-say-no-you-ve-got-to-believe-that-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [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/) > [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [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/) [Browse all 13,132 Difficult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing more difficult than persuading someone else to start having sex with you is persuading yourself to stop.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacob M. Appel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persuading-someone-else-to-start/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Difficult" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persuading-someone-else-to-start/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/jacob-m-appel-13412_difficult_the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persu_1164136.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing more difficult than persuading someone else to start having sex with you is persuading…” — Jacob M. Appel", "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": "Jacob M. Appel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing more difficult than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persuading-someone-else-to-start/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/the-only-thing-more-difficult-than-persuading-someone-else-to-start/#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 } } ] } ```