"Temptation is like a knife, that may either cut the meat or the throat of a man; it may be his food or his poison, his exercise or his destruction"
- John Owen
About this Quote
This quote by John Owen is an effective metaphor that speaks to the power of temptation. It suggests that temptation can be a double-edged sword, with the capacity to either benefit or hurt us. On one hand, it can be a source of nourishment and growth, offering us with the chance to discover and grow from our experiences. On the other hand, it can be a source of destruction, leading us down a path of self-destruction and ruin. The option is eventually ours to make. We can pick to utilize temptation as a tool to much better ourselves, or we can catch its power and be destroyed by it. The power of temptation remains in our hands, and it depends on us to choose how we will utilize it.
"Not necessity, not desire - no, the love of power is the demon of men. Let them have everything - health, food, a place to live, entertainment - they are and remain unhappy and low-spirited: for the demon waits and waits and will be satisfied"