--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gluttony should be destroyed by…" description: "\"Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/john-of-damascus-18351_and-love_gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-con_96170.jpg" --- # Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity… ![“Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the poor; anger by goodwill and love for all men; worldly dejection by spiritual joy; listlessness by patience, perseverance and offering thanks to God…” quote by John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/john-of-damascus-18351_and-love_gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-con_96170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/john-of-damascus-18351_and-love_gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-con_96170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/john-of-damascus-18351_and-love_gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-con_96170.jpg) > “Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the poor; anger by goodwill and love for all men; worldly dejection by spiritual joy; listlessness by patience, perseverance and offering thanks to God; self-esteem by doing good in secret and by praying constantly with a contrite heart; and pride by not judging or despising anyone in the manner of the boastful Pharisee (cf. Lk. 18:11-12), and by considering oneself the least of all men.” [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Damascus outlines a moral program: each vice is countered by a specific virtue or practice, rooted in Christian spirituality. **In simple terms:** Each sin has a spiritual antidote. Key Takeaway Virtues directly oppose specific vices. Themes ethics spirituality virtue Mood didactic hopeful Type religious teaching moral guide When to use this quote - confessional counseling - religious education - personal spiritual discipline Key Concepts moral psychology theology Practical Applications - match negative habits with positive practices - use prayer to reinforce virtue Questions to Reflect On - How effective are one‑to‑one virtue‑vice pairings? - Can this framework adapt to modern ethical dilemmas? A Different Perspective Prescriptive lists may not address underlying systemic causes of vice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire for god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-for-god/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Gluttony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gluttony/) [Goodwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodwill/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Not judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-judging/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Orthodox christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Pharisees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharisees/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-joy/) ## Related quotes > [May God grant us a desire for God that supersedes all other desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/may-god-grant-us-a-desire-for-god-that-supersedes-all-other-desires/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The fundamental loss of a desire for God is the heart of original sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-fundamental-loss-of-a-desire-for-god-is-the-heart-of-original-sin/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Shattered dreams are never random. They are always a piece in a larger puzzle, a chapter in a larger story. The Holy Spirit uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-crabb/shattered-dreams-are-never-random-they-are-always-a-piece-in-a-larger/) [Larry Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-crabb/) > [I am deeply convince that the necessity of prayer, and to pray unceasingly, is not as much based on our desire for God as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-am-deeply-convince-that-the-necessity-of-prayer-and-to-pray/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Prayer does not mean asking God for all kinds of things we want, it is rather the desire for God Himself, the only Giver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhu-sundar-singh/prayer-does-not-mean-asking-god-for-all-kinds-of-things-we-want-it-is/) [Sadhu Sundar Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhu-sundar-singh/) > [It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-would-seem-that-our-lord-finds-our-desires-not-too-strong-but-too/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-are-half-hearted-creatures-fooling-about-with-drink-and-sex-and-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [You are probably at your sanest when you come to the place where you abandon all else but your desire for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/you-are-probably-at-your-sanest-when-you-come-to-the-place-where-you/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [Desire for God without doctrine is blind; doctrine without desire is empty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-vanhoozer/desire-for-god-without-doctrine-is-blind-doctrine-without-desire-is/) [Kevin Vanhoozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-vanhoozer/) > [Honor your parents by not judging them. Give them the benefit of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/honor-your-parents-by-not-judging-them-give-them-the-benefit-of-doubt/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Before we snap to judge someone who's done a horrible crime, is it possible that all of us in the worst possible circumstances could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/before-we-snap-to-judge-someone-who-s-done-a-horrible-crime-is-it/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [Not judging people is the fastest way to peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/not-judging-people-is-the-fastest-way-to-peace/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any-character-is-not-judging/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I try to get my subconscious to puke out as much stuff as I can because I'm really not judging myself while making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arca/i-try-to-get-my-subconscious-to-puke-out-as-much-stuff-as-i-can/) [Arca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arca/) > [I think closing-off is the most detrimental thing we can do as people. Also, the idea of not judging oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-think-closing-off-is-the-most-detrimental-thing-we-can-do-as-people/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) ## More by John of Damascus > [Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father, but we do not hold that the right hand of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/christ-sits-in-the-body-at-the-right-hand-of-god-the-father-but-we-do/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Think of the Father as a spring of life begetting the Son like a river and the Holy Ghost like a sea, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/think-of-the-father-as-a-spring-of-life-begetting-the-son-like-a/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [All who ask receive, those who seek find, and to those who knock it shall be opened. Therefore, let us knock at the beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/all-who-ask-receive-those-who-seek-find-and-to-those-who-knock-it/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [...we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/we-shall-incur-no-slight-injury-but-rather-great-danger-if-we-rashly/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/the-whole-earth-is-a-living-icon-of-the-face-of-god/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [He who does not believe according to the tradition of the Catholic Church is an unbeliever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/he-who-does-not-believe-according-to-the-tradition-of-the-catholic/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God. ... I do not worship matter. I worship the Creator of matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/the-whole-earth-is-a-living-icon-of-the-face-of-god-i-do-not-worship/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [All we know if an angel is that it is incorporeal, immaterial, and only by comparing it with God-who is incomparable-can we see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/all-we-know-if-an-angel-is-that-it-is-incorporeal-immaterial-and-only/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [“But this is what leads the heretics astray: that they look upon nature and person as the same thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/but-this-is-what-leads-the-heretics-astray-that-they-look-upon-nature/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [And all that is therein; Invisible and visible, Their notes let all things blend, For Christ the Lord is risen. Our joy that hath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/and-all-that-is-therein-invisible-and-visible-their-notes-let-all/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [I do not worship matter, I worship the God of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to inhabit matter, who worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/i-do-not-worship-matter-i-worship-the-god-of-matter-who-became-matter/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [If a pagan asks you to show him your faith, take him into church and place him before the icons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/if-a-pagan-asks-you-to-show-him-your-faith-take-him-into-church-and/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [O Mother of God! If I place my confidence in thee, I shall be saved; if I am under thy protection, I have nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/o-mother-of-god-if-i-place-my-confidence-in-thee-i-shall-be-saved-if/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [The day of the Nativity of the Mother of God is a day of universal joy, because through the Mother of God, the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/the-day-of-the-nativity-of-the-mother-of-god-is-a-day-of-universal/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Christ the Lord is risen. Our joy that hath no end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/christ-the-lord-is-risen-our-joy-that-hath-no-end/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) [Explore all 35 John of Damascus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) ## More And love quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-are-few-husbands-whom-the-wife-cannot-win-in-the-long-run-by/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Anyone who knows me knows that I am really into hair. I'm a real girly girl and love doing my hair and experimenting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/anyone-who-knows-me-knows-that-i-am-really-into-hair-i-m-a-real-girly/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/) James Jeffrey Roche > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) Browse all 2,635 And love quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the poor; anger by goodwill and love for all men; worldly dejection by spiritual joy; listlessness by patience, perseverance and offering thanks to God; self-esteem by doing good in secret and by praying constantly with a contrite heart; and pride by not judging or despising anyone in the manner of the boastful Pharisee (cf. 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