--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Devil endeavours by every means to…" description: "\"The Devil endeavours by every means to keep men in error, in the enticement of the passions, in darkness of mind and heart; in pride, avarice, covetous..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png" --- # The Devil endeavours by every means to keep men in error… ![“The Devil endeavours by every means to keep men in error, in the enticement of the passions, in darkness of mind and heart; in pride, avarice, covetousness, envy, hatred, wicked impatience and irritation; in evil despondence, in the abominations of fornication, adultery, theft, false-witness…” quote by John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png) > “The Devil endeavours by every means to keep men in error, in the enticement of the passions, in darkness of mind and heart; in pride, avarice, covetousness, envy, hatred, wicked impatience and irritation; in evil despondence, in the abominations of fornication, adultery, theft, false-witness, blasphemy, negligence, slothfulness, and sluggishness.” [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Devil uses many vices—pride, envy, sloth—to keep humanity in error and darkness. **In simple terms:** Sinful vices trap humanity. Key Takeaway Guard against pride, envy, and laziness. Themes sin spiritual warfare morality Mood solemn reflective Type spiritual didactic When to use this quote - personal reflection - confessional practice - community teaching - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts theology human nature ethical vigilance Questions to Reflect On - Which vice most challenges you? - How can you strengthen moral resilience? A Different Perspective Human nature can resist vices without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adultery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adultery/) [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/) [Covetousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covetousness/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Endeavour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavour/) [Enticement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enticement/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [False witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-witness/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart and mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-mind/) [Impatience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impatience/) [Irritation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind and heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-heart/) [Negligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negligence/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Slothfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slothfulness/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) ## Related quotes > [Wherefore is this? Because our common enemy, the Devil, endeavours with all his might to oppose the intentions of the God-man, Christ. He endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/wherefore-is-this-because-our-common-enemy-the-devil-endeavours-with/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [So fixed are our spirits in slothfulness and cold indifference that we seldom overcome so much as one evil habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/so-fixed-are-our-spirits-in-slothfulness-and-cold-indifference-that/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [God is ready to give more quickly, and to give more than you ask; yea, he offers his treasures if we only take them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-is-ready-to-give-more-quickly-and-to-give-more-than-you-ask-yea/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/there-shall-be-weeping-and-gnashing-of-teeth/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [As iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh clearly red-hot, so he that wholly turneth himself unto God puts off all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/as-iron-put-into-the-fire-loseth-its-rust-and-becometh-clearly-red/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [In such a world as ours the idle man is not so much a biped as a bivalve; and the wealth which breeds idleness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/in-such-a-world-as-ours-the-idle-man-is-not-so-much-a-biped-as-a/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [“Headaches are for sloths as hangovers for drunks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-mostafa/headaches-are-for-sloths-as-hangovers-for-drunks/) [Ahmed Mostafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-mostafa/) > [Punctuality is closely related to faithfulness and dependability. Being tardy can be linked to uninterest, apathy, slothfulness and procrastination...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/punctuality-is-closely-related-to-faithfulness-and-dependability/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [The condition of the church may be very accurately gauged by its prayer meetings. So is the prayer meeting a grace-ometer, and from it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-condition-of-the-church-may-be-very-accurately-gauged-by-its/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The greatest opportunity of our lives is to wake ourselves up and get going. There is so much to be done and so little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/the-greatest-opportunity-of-our-lives-is-to-wake-ourselves-up-and-get/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [“It may be easier to believe that we remain lean because we're virtuous and we get fat because we're not, but the evidence simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/it-may-be-easier-to-believe-that-we-remain-lean-because-we-re/) [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) > [“Usitegemee malaika ashuke kutoka mbinguni kuja kukutatulia shida zilizokushinda kwa uzembe. Malaika ni wewe mwenyewe. Ukifanya unachoweza kufanya, Mungu atafanya usichoweza kufanya.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/usitegemee-malaika-ashuke-kutoka-mbinguni-kuja-kukutatulia-shida/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [In a corporate context, companies have to try very hard to oppose the enticements of conventional wisdom. They must aim for the leaps, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/in-a-corporate-context-companies-have-to-try-very-hard-to-oppose-the/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [It is not difficult to conceive, however, that for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives. For without entering into refined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-not-difficult-to-conceive-however-that-for-many-reasons-a-man/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There is no allurement or enticement, actual or imaginary, which a well-disciplined mind may not surmount. The wish to resist more than half accomplishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-dacre/there-is-no-allurement-or-enticement-actual-or-imaginary-which-a-well/) Charlotte Dacre ## More by John of Kronstadt > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Do not despise any man, however poor he may be; but behave with full respect and kindness to every well-intentioned man, especially to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/do-not-despise-any-man-however-poor-he-may-be-but-behave-with-full/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Leave all human injustices to the Lord, for God is the Judge, but as to yourself, be diligent in loving everybody with a pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/leave-all-human-injustices-to-the-lord-for-god-is-the-judge-but-as-to/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [If you see the fury and hear the howling of the tempest, or read of shipwrecks, think of the storm of human passions causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/if-you-see-the-fury-and-hear-the-howling-of-the-tempest-or-read-of/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-man-who-is-poor-in-spirit-desires-and-says-with-his-whole-heart/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Everything that breathes, breathes by air and cannot live without air; similarly all reasonable free creatures live by the Holy Spirit, as though by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/everything-that-breathes-breathes-by-air-and-cannot-live-without-air/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [...people mostly pray as if there were no God with them, or as if He did not heed their prayers. Let us ascribe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/people-mostly-pray-as-if-there-were-no-god-with-them-or-as-if-he-did/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Wherefore is this? Because our common enemy, the Devil, endeavours with all his might to oppose the intentions of the God-man, Christ. He endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/wherefore-is-this-because-our-common-enemy-the-devil-endeavours-with/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [How do we receive the highest mystery of Divine love to us ? the mystery of the Christian faith? With our mind, heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/how-do-we-receive-the-highest-mystery-of-divine-love-to-us-the/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [The heart is refined, spiritual, and heavenly by nature - guard it; do not overburden it, do not make it earthly, be temperate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-heart-is-refined-spiritual-and-heavenly-by-nature-guard-it-do-not/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Your Lord is a God of mercy and bountifulness: be a source of mercy and bountifulness to your neighbors. If you will be such,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/your-lord-is-a-god-of-mercy-and-bountifulness-be-a-source-of-mercy/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [When you are in the temple, remember that you are in the living presence of the Lord God, that you stand before His face,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/when-you-are-in-the-temple-remember-that-you-are-in-the-living/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Christ taught us truth; the Devil teaches us falsehood, and strives in every way to contradict every truth; devising various calumnies against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/christ-taught-us-truth-the-devil-teaches-us-falsehood-and-strives-in/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [The Lord is the accomplishment of everything good that I think, feel and do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-lord-is-the-accomplishment-of-everything-good-that-i-think-feel/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Prayer is spiritual breathing; when we pray we breathe in the Holy Spirit; praying in the Holy Spirit (Jd. 1:20). Thus, all church prayers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/prayer-is-spiritual-breathing-when-we-pray-we-breathe-in-the-holy/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) [Explore all 80 John of Kronstadt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) ## More Abomination quotes > [“The fascination of the abomination—you know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-fascination-of-the-abomination-you-know/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [The history of woman is the history of the continued and universal oppression of one sex by the other. The emancipation of woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-celeste-claflin/the-history-of-woman-is-the-history-of-the-continued-and-universal/) [Tennessee Celeste Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-celeste-claflin/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is detestable. And it has a fascination, too, which goes to work upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/he-has-to-live-in-the-midst-of-the-incomprehensible-which-is/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [An unholy church! It is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hells laughter, heavens abhorrence. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/an-unholy-church-it-is-useless-to-the-world-and-of-no-esteem-among/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Tomato and lettuce-especially lettuce-is an abomination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-sheraton/tomato-and-lettuce-especially-lettuce-is-an-abomination/) [Mimi Sheraton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-sheraton/) > [I do nothing I regret, man, because I try to do nothing abominable. As long as there is not an abomination, there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tosh/i-do-nothing-i-regret-man-because-i-try-to-do-nothing-abominable-as/) [Peter Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tosh/) > [DEAL is a most villainous place. It is full of filthy-looking people.Great desolationof abomination has beengoing on here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/deal-is-a-most-villainous-place-it-is-full-of-filthy-looking-people/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Doing abominations is against the law, particularly if the abominations are done while wearing a lobster bib.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/doing-abominations-is-against-the-law-particularly-if-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The Mass is the greatest blasphemy of God, and the highest idolatry upon earth, an abomination the like of which has never been in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-mass-is-the-greatest-blasphemy-of-god-and-the-highest-idolatry/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Social mores change with time, like fashion - who knows where it might all end up? I especially like the idea that waste, impoliteness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/social-mores-change-with-time-like-fashion-who-knows-where-it-might/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The efforts on the parts of Eastern magazine writers to educate the people of the United States, particularly parents, to the doctrine that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-f-richards/the-efforts-on-the-parts-of-eastern-magazine-writers-to-educate-the/) [George F. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-f-richards/) > [“Latin is an abomination!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/latin-is-an-abomination/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [A "just war" is hospitable to every self-deception on the part of those waging it, none more than the certainty of virtue, under whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/a-just-war-is-hospitable-to-every-self-deception-on-the-part-of-those/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [“Don't you call me ‘Dad.’ You are no son of mine. I wouldn't father an abomination. You”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-kozinn/don-t-you-call-me-dad-you-are-no-son-of-mine-i-wouldn-t-father-an/) [Nat Kozinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-kozinn/) Browse all 107 Abomination quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Devil endeavours by every means to keep men in error, in the enticement of the passions, in darkness of mind and heart; in pride, avarice, covetousness, envy, hatred, wicked impatience and irritation; in evil despondence, in the abominations of fornication, adultery, theft, false-witness, blasphemy, negligence, slothfulness, and sluggishness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John of Kronstadt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-keep-men-in-error-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abomination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-keep-men-in-error-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/john-of-kronstadt-8549_abomination_the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-k_2898565.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Devil endeavours by every means to keep men in error, in the enticement of the passions, in darkness of…” — John of Kronstadt", "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 of Kronstadt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Devil endeavours by every means...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-keep-men-in-error-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-devil-endeavours-by-every-means-to-keep-men-in-error-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```