--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better shun the bait, than struggle in…" description: "\"“Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare. ”\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg" --- # Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare. ![“Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg) > ““Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare. ”” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid tempting situations that lead to deeper problems; better to stay away than get trapped. **In simple terms:** Stay away from traps. Key Takeaway Resist tempting but harmful offers. Themes caution selfcontrol decisionmaking Mood thoughtful serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - financial decisions - online scams Key Concepts Risk avoidance temptation management Questions to Reflect On - What temptations do you ignore? - How do you recognize a snare? A Different Perspective Even with caution, some traps are unavoidable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bait/) [Bait Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bait-struggle-522971/) [Better Shun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-shun-522974/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Shun Bait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shun-bait-522972/) [Struggle Snare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-snare-522973/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) ## Related quotes > [Better to shun the bait than struggle in the snare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/better-to-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-the-snare/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [We are assailed by the temptation of the love of money. If you wish to acquire riches ? they are the bait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pachomius-the-great/we-are-assailed-by-the-temptation-of-the-love-of-money-if-you-wish-to/) [Pachomius the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pachomius-the-great/) > [The scheme of separate confederacies, which will always multiply the chances of ambition, will be a never failing bait to all such influential characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-scheme-of-separate-confederacies-which-will-always-multiply-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. So with boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baden-powell-de-aquino/a-fisherman-does-not-bait-his-hook-with-food-he-likes-he-uses-food/) [Baden Powell de Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baden-powell-de-aquino/) > [“he remained absolutely convinced that his way of life was no worse than mine, only different, pointing out in the process certain inconsistencies: Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/he-remained-absolutely-convinced-that-his-way-of-life-was-no-worse/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) [Kuki Gallmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kuki-gallmann/) > [Stand in despair anywhere old-growth forest has been clear-felled. All life has been replaced by blackened, poisoned desolation. Animals and birds have either fled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundall/stand-in-despair-anywhere-old-growth-forest-has-been-clear-felled-all/) [Peter Cundall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundall/) > [Pleasure is the bait of sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/pleasure-is-the-bait-of-sin/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The finer the bait, the shorter the wait!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gorshin/the-finer-the-bait-the-shorter-the-wait/) [Frank Gorshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gorshin/) > [When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-you-fish-for-love-bait-with-your-heart-not-your-brain/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [As children, we dug for worms or we used crawdads for bait. We caught catfish, or crappies, a delicous fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/as-children-we-dug-for-worms-or-we-used-crawdads-for-bait-we-caught/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [“Sitting still and wishing Makes no person great; The good Lord sends the fishing, But you must dig the bait!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hoole/sitting-still-and-wishing-makes-no-person-great-the-good-lord-sends/) [Daryl Hoole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hoole/) > [Every man has his price. This is not true. But for every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing. To win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-man-has-his-price-this-is-not-true-but-for-every-man-there/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [So, Diana thought, that was the bait she had to lay out for Jack. Of course. What else? He might lust for Diana, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/so-diana-thought-that-was-the-bait-she-had-to-lay-out-for-jack-of/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Bait quotes > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [So, Diana thought, that was the bait she had to lay out for Jack. Of course. What else? He might lust for Diana, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/so-diana-thought-that-was-the-bait-she-had-to-lay-out-for-jack-of/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [Every man has his price. This is not true. But for every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing. To win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-man-has-his-price-this-is-not-true-but-for-every-man-there/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Sitting still and wishing Makes no person great; The good Lord sends the fishing, But you must dig the bait!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hoole/sitting-still-and-wishing-makes-no-person-great-the-good-lord-sends/) [Daryl Hoole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hoole/) > [As children, we dug for worms or we used crawdads for bait. We caught catfish, or crappies, a delicous fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/as-children-we-dug-for-worms-or-we-used-crawdads-for-bait-we-caught/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-you-fish-for-love-bait-with-your-heart-not-your-brain/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The finer the bait, the shorter the wait!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gorshin/the-finer-the-bait-the-shorter-the-wait/) [Frank Gorshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gorshin/) > [Pleasure is the bait of sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/pleasure-is-the-bait-of-sin/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Stand in despair anywhere old-growth forest has been clear-felled. All life has been replaced by blackened, poisoned desolation. Animals and birds have either fled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundall/stand-in-despair-anywhere-old-growth-forest-has-been-clear-felled-all/) [Peter Cundall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundall/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) [Kuki Gallmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kuki-gallmann/) > [“he remained absolutely convinced that his way of life was no worse than mine, only different, pointing out in the process certain inconsistencies: Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/he-remained-absolutely-convinced-that-his-way-of-life-was-no-worse/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. So with boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baden-powell-de-aquino/a-fisherman-does-not-bait-his-hook-with-food-he-likes-he-uses-food/) [Baden Powell de Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baden-powell-de-aquino/) > [The scheme of separate confederacies, which will always multiply the chances of ambition, will be a never failing bait to all such influential characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-scheme-of-separate-confederacies-which-will-always-multiply-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [We are assailed by the temptation of the love of money. If you wish to acquire riches ? they are the bait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pachomius-the-great/we-are-assailed-by-the-temptation-of-the-love-of-money-if-you-wish-to/) [Pachomius the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pachomius-the-great/) > [“I could be held back just by being needed. Please try not to need me. That's the worst bait of all to a lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-could-be-held-back-just-by-being-needed-please-try-not-to-need-me/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 241 Bait quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bait/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-the-snare/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bait" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-the-snare/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/john-dryden-491_temptation_better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-th_1635665.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare.” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Better shun the bait, than struggle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-the-snare/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-shun-the-bait-than-struggle-in-the-snare/#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 } } ] } ```