Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cowardice can sometimes prevent us from giving in to our temptations.
In this quote, Mark Twain highlights a paradox where cowardice serves as a protective measure against temptation. He suggests that while there may be many ways to resist temptations, the most reliable way is simply to avoid situations that may lead to them, which is a cowardly, yet effective strategy.
Themes
TemptationCowardiceProtectionWisdomResistance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal integrity, one might reference Twain's quote to emphasize the importance of self-control.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes βThe easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
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To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
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In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
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