Arches Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Centres, or centre-pieces of wood, are put by builders under an arch of stone while it is in the process of construction till the keystone is put in. Just such is the use Satan makes of pleasures to construct evil habits upon; the pleasure lasts till the habit is fully formed; but that done the habit may stand eternal. The pleasures are sent for firewood, and the hell begins in this life.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Devil’s Pleasure,” 1800
Pleasures build habits, which become eternal evil; firewood fuels hell.
In simple terms: Pleasures form habits that become lasting evil.
Key Takeaway
Guard against fleeting pleasures leading to lasting harm.
Themes
temptation
habit formation
evil
spirituality
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
ethical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- addiction recovery
- ethical decision‑making
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Moral allegory
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate healthy pleasure from harmful habit?
- What safeguards prevent habit formation?
A Different Perspective
Not all pleasures lead to evil; context matters.
