"It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow"
- Benjamin Franklin
About this Quote
This quote by Benjamin Franklin speaks with the trouble of controlling one's desires. He recommends that it is simpler to prevent a desire from arising in the very first location than it is to please the desires that follow. This suggests that once a desire is present, it is hard to withstand it. Franklin's quote can be interpreted as a cautioning to be mindful of our desires and to be familiar with the effects of indulging them. It is a reminder that it is easier to avoid a desire from emerging than it is to satisfy it. This quote motivates us to be mindful of our desires and to think before we act. It is a suggestion that it is much better to prevent a desire from arising than it is to satisfy it. This quote can be seen as a call to practice self-discipline and to be mindful of our desires.
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