SELF-DECEPTION
Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.
Demosthenes
The ingenuity of self-deception is inexhaustible.
Hannah More
The greatest magnifying glasses in the world are a man’s own eyes when they look upon his own person.
Alexander Pope
Self-Denial
1. Watch your appetites as to meat and drink, both quantity and quality. Gluttony is a common, unobserved sin: the flesh no way enslaves men more than by the appetite; as we see in drunkards and gluttons, that can no more forbear than one that thirtieth in a burning fever.
2. Take heed of the lust of uncleanness, and all degrees of it, and approaches to it; especially immodest embraces and behavior.
3. Take heed of ribald, filthy talk, and love songs, and of such incensing snares.
4. Take heed of too much sleep and idleness.
5. Take heed of taking too much delight in your riches, and lands, your buildings, and delectable conveniences.
6. Take heed lest honors, or worldly greatness, or men’s applause, become your too great pleasure.
7. And lest you grow to make it your delight, to think on such things when you are alone, or talk idly of them in company with others.
8. And take heed lest the success and prosperity of your affairs do too much please you, as him, Luke xii. 20.
9. Take not up any inordinate pleasure in your children, relations, or nearest friends.
10. Take heed of a delight in vain, unprofitable, sinful company.
11. Or in fineness of apparel, to set you out to the eyes of others.
12. Take heed of a delight in romances, playbooks, feigned stories, useless news, which corrupt the mind, and waste your time.
13. Take heed of a delight in any recreations which are excessive, needless, devouring time, discomposing the mind, enticing to further sin, hindering any duty, especially our delight in God. They are miserable souls that can delight themselves in no more safe or profitable things, than cards, and dice, and stage plays, and immodest dancings.
Richard Baxter
God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up. He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having – life with Himself.
Oswald Chambers
There are plenty to follow our Lord half-way, but not the other half. They will give up possessions, friends and honors, but it touches them too closely to disown themselves.
Meister Eckhart
There is no greater valor or sterner fight than that for self-effacement, self-oblivion.
Meister Eckhart
The great Christian duty is self-denial, which consists in two things: first, in denying worldly inclinations and its enjoyments, and second, in denying self-exultation and renouncing one’s self-significance by being empty of self.
Jonathan Edwards
All the graces of a Christian spring from the death of self.
Madame Guyon
Deny your desires and you will find what your heart longs for. For how do you know if any desire of yours is according to God’s will?
John of the Cross
In the beginning of the spiritual life we ought to be faithful in doing our duty and denying ourselves.
Brother Lawrence
A self-denial that is truly supernatural must aspire to offer God what we have renounced ourselves.
Thomas Merton
One’s own desires are never satisfied when they have all they wish; but they are satisfied as soon as the wish is renounced.
Blaise Pascal
Self-denial is not a virtue; it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.
George Bernard Shaw
Those who determine not to put self to death will never see the will of God fulfilled in their lives.
Sundar Singh