"Why resist temptation? There will always be more"
About this Quote
Don Herold’s playful suggestion sets a tongue-in-cheek tone on one of humanity’s universal struggles: temptation. Rather than casting the lure of desires, be they chocolate, a forbidden romance, or procrastination, as a dire threat to one’s virtue, Herold shrugs them off as an ever-present fact of life. His words imply that resisting temptation might seem futile, almost like fighting a tide that inevitably rises again. Why struggle so fiercely when succumbing or resisting doesn’t deplete the endless supply of what tempts us next?
On a deeper level, the statement recognizes the cyclical, almost relentless, nature of human wants and impulses. No sooner does one triumph over a craving than another arises; the satisfaction is fleeting, the struggle recurring. Herold’s wit highlights the absurdity of seeking total mastery over desire, suggesting that victory is temporary, perhaps even illusory. The quote pokes fun at the moral seriousness with which society often treats the act of restraint, whittling it down to a Sisyphean routine, forever rolling our stones uphill only for them to tumble down with each new urge.
At the same time, the sentiment captures a certain liberation. If temptation is endless, the pressure to attain perfect self-control may lessen. Recognizing the ubiquity of desire can make one more forgiving toward oneself and others. Instead of seeing temptation as an enemy to be vanquished and giving into it as a failure, Herold’s message allows room for compromise, balance, and humor. It reminds us that imperfection is a part of the human condition, and urges us to be gentle with ourselves amid the ongoing tug-of-war between discipline and indulgence.
Ultimately, Herold’s words invite readers to smile at their own shortcomings, to recognize the pervasiveness of temptation, and maybe to accept that life’s challenges are best approached with perspective and wit rather than with unwavering rigidity.