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About this quote

What does it mean?
Yielding to a temptation is the only way to eliminate it.
In plain terms
Give in to a temptation to get rid of it.
What can you take from it?
Confront desires directly rather than suppressing them.

Where it applies

  • dieting
  • addiction recovery
  • budgeting

Putting it to work

  • allow controlled indulgence
  • use exposure therapy

Questions to consider

  • When is giving in a better strategy than resistance?
  • Can this approach work for all types of temptation?

Another view

Yielding can reinforce the habit and lead to overindulgence.

More from Oscar Wilde

  1. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.

    Permalink to quote #66
  2. He knew the precise psychological moment when to say nothing.

    Permalink to quote #68
  3. Genius lasts longer than beauty.

    Permalink to quote #65

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