Do not be tempted by physical beauty

—St. Jerome

I had been capable of having her, not twice in succession but two hundred times, I should have found myself in the end just as unsatisfied as the first time. In short, the more I had her the less I possessed her,

Boredom
Alberto Moravia

It was an almost irresistible temptation, sweet and reassuring, and it made me think of the temptation to fall asleep which sometimes gets the better of us in spite of ourselves, causing us to dream that we are resisting sleep and are awake, when in reality we are already fast asleep.

Boredom
Alberto Moravia

…you are the image of God. Therefore, be spiritual, despising the flesh, which is only your temporal home; be holy, kind, wise, just, watchful, and courageous, unchangeable in good, and satisfied with everything.

—St. John of Kronstadt

“He who is inclined to lust is merciful and tender-hearted; those who are inclined to purity are not so” (Saint John Climacus). It took a saint, neither more nor less, to denounce so distinctly and so vigorously not the lies but the very essence of Christian morality, and indeed of all morality.

—E. M. Cioran, The Trouble with Being Born

Remember death, so all worldly temptations will disappear and you feel that,” all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” (Eccl 1:14).

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. III

The one who works for his eternity always acts carefully in everything, lest he loses his crown through a mistake or neglect.

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. IV

As one regrets what he does hastily and without consultation, he may also regret giving in to his desires and passions, without putting God before him and without considering his dignity as an image of God.

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. IV

REPEATED FALLING 

Due to man’s weakness, he might fall, as he is not infallible. But he has to repent and learn a lesson from his fall, so he wouldn’t fall again, as said by one of the saints, “I don’t recall the devils making me fall in the same sin twice.” 

This is real repentance, as one does not go back to the sin that he has repented. All the stories of the repentant saints refer to this meaning: that repentance was a line separating between two lives and they never turned back to their old sinful life. 

It is not true repentance when one, every time he repents, keeps on falling repeatedly, as if he has not repented! 

Repeated falling has its danger and its indication. 

It shows the lack of seriousness in one’s life with God. It may also indicate carelessness and lack of interest in the spiritual principles.

It is also an evidence that the heart has not been purified yet and it still has the love of sin, with weakness and attraction to it.

…

Every time one falls, his will gets weaker.

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. IV

his love did not depend on her alone, it was more vast, a love for women, largely ungratified, an unattainable love focused for him in this one wilful, mysterious creature, but not only this one. He had divided his agony; it was cleaved at last.

Light Years
James Salter