Assassins Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“Marco Polo tells the tale of The Old Man in the Mountains and how he recruits new members to his Band of Assassins by means of drugs, beautiful women, lush gardens, and religious promises. The unfortunate thing about this world is that the good habits are much easier to give up than the bad ones.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Man Who Would Be King” (inspired), 1930s
Recruitment into a dangerous group uses temptations, yet good habits are easier to abandon than bad ones.
In simple terms: Temptation recruits; good habits are fragile.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate resilient good habits.
Themes
temptation
habit formation
morality
Mood
cautionary
analytical
Type
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marketing
- addiction recovery
- team building
Key Concepts
addiction
recruitment tactics
self‑control
Questions to Reflect On
- Why are bad habits harder to break?
- What strategies protect good habits?
A Different Perspective
Bad habits often cling tighter than good ones.
![“We trusted the writers and showrunners [in Westworlds] so much because they're so brilliant and the writing's so incredible. It really was like playing Marco Polo, where you just kind of followed their voice and they would lead you to water.” quote by Evan Rachel Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/344/evan-rachel-wood-6643_brilliant_we-trusted-the-writers-and-showrunners-i_2013568.jpg)
