--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sins become more subtle as you grow…" description: "\"Sins become more subtle as you grow older: you commit sins of despair rather than of lust.\" — Piers Paul Read" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg" --- # Sins become more subtle as you grow older: you commit sins… ![“Sins become more subtle as you grow older: you commit sins of despair rather than of lust.” quote by Piers Paul Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg) > “Sins become more subtle as you grow older: you commit sins of despair rather than of lust.” Piers Paul Read ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. As people age, their moral failings shift from overt, impulsive acts to deeper, existential despair, reflecting a subtler, internalized form of wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Moral decline becomes internalized with age. Key Takeaway Despair replaces lust as a sin in later life. Themes morality aging psychology existentialism human nature Mood contemplative somber reflective Type philosophical moral observational When to use this quote - reflecting on personal growth - discussing ethical maturity - examining life-stage challenges - exploring inner conflict Key Concepts sin despair lust moral evolution Practical Applications - ethical counseling - philosophical writing Questions to Reflect On - How does age alter our perception of sin? - Can despair be more damaging than overt wrongdoing? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [There were sins that were too subtle to be explained, and there were others that were too terrible to be clearly mentioned. For example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/there-were-sins-that-were-too-subtle-to-be-explained-and-there-were/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“While injustice is the worst of sins, despair is the most dangerous; because when you are in despair you care neither about yourself nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/while-injustice-is-the-worst-of-sins-despair-is-the-most-dangerous/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [We all unfortunately commit sins. But not refraining and asking forgiveness from God makes you evil. Seek refuge from hell. Cry for it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-unfortunately-commit-sins-but-not-refraining-and-asking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/it-is-true-that-the-blood-of-the-son-of-god-was-shed-for-sins-through/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (sin boldly), but let your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-does-not-save-those-who-are-only-imaginary-sinners-be-a-sinner/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two kinds of people who do not commit any sins: Unborn human beings and dead human beings!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-people-who-do-not-commit-any-sins-unborn/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [All errors are just ordinary, what extraordinary sin can you commit? All the sins have been committed already. You cannot find a new sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-errors-are-just-ordinary-what-extraordinary-sin-can-you-commit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The reason we commit “sins” is because, to some extent at least, we are failing to worship the one true God and are worshipping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-reason-we-commit-sins-is-because-to-some-extent-at-least-we-are/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection, that one is sometimes willing to commit sins for the sake of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-essence-of-being-human-is-that-one-does-not-seek-perfection-that-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Let go of the mistakes and the sins of others. You'll have plenty of time to make your own mistakes, the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/let-go-of-the-mistakes-and-the-sins-of-others-you-ll-have-plenty-of/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [Tis not, to cry God mercy, or to sit And droop, or to confess that thou hast fail'd: 'Tis to bewail the sins thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/tis-not-to-cry-god-mercy-or-to-sit-and-droop-or-to-confess-that-thou/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [There is nothing you can do to assuage your conscience when you commit sins. Crime is a spiritual assault on the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-chatwal/there-is-nothing-you-can-do-to-assuage-your-conscience-when-you/) [Vikram Chatwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-chatwal/) > [“No one is born a sinner, but since a human is a magnet for sin, as we grow, we fill our heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samreen-ahsan/no-one-is-born-a-sinner-but-since-a-human-is-a-magnet-for-sin-as-we/) Samreen Ahsan > [“We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us. The body sins once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-are-punished-for-our-refusals-every-impulse-that-we-strive-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“To shame our sins He blushed in blood; He closed His eyes to show us God; Let all the world fall down and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/to-shame-our-sins-he-blushed-in-blood-he-closed-his-eyes-to-show-us/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) ## More by Piers Paul Read > [Truth is always duller than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/truth-is-always-duller-than-fiction/) Piers Paul Read > [Writing is a vocation and, as in any other calling, a writer should develop his talents for the greater glory of God. Novels should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/writing-is-a-vocation-and-as-in-any-other-calling-a-writer-should/) Piers Paul Read > [Good novels are not written, they are rewritten. Great novels are diamonds mined from layered rewrites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/good-novels-are-not-written-they-are-rewritten-great-novels-are/) Piers Paul Read Explore all 4 Piers Paul Read quotes ## More Commit quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-it/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I like to always wash the slate clean, and reinvigorate my spirit to be connected to the characters that I am doing. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. Only then will his virtue be recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-karnad/a-man-must-commit-a-crime-at-least-once-in-his-life-time-only-then/) Girish Karnad > [“A man, who does not commit an evil act either, has no opportunity or the stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/a-man-who-does-not-commit-an-evil-act-either-has-no-opportunity-or/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [One day I may commit to a city and settle down and do the restaurant thing - when I'm ready and however and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-kish/one-day-i-may-commit-to-a-city-and-settle-down-and-do-the-restaurant/) Kristen Kish > [Love and commit. Not hit and quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhecky/love-and-commit-not-hit-and-quit/) [Jhecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhecky/) Browse all 1,824 Commit quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sins become more subtle as you grow older: you commit sins of despair rather than of lust.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Piers Paul Read" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-older-you-commit-sins-of-despair/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-older-you-commit-sins-of-despair/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/piers-paul-read-68262_commit_sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-olde_60171.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sins become more subtle as you grow older: you commit sins of despair rather than of lust.” — Piers Paul Read", "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": "Piers Paul Read", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-paul-read/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sins become more subtle as you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-older-you-commit-sins-of-despair/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/sins-become-more-subtle-as-you-grow-older-you-commit-sins-of-despair/#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 } } ] } ```