then...

When my daughter Samara was four, I showed her a delicate glass vase and told her it was my mother's. I instructed her to "never, never touch it." Without hesitation she said, "Then you should never, never put it where I can reach it."

Her remark reminded me of an Oscar Wilde quote: "I can resist anything but temptation." Samara understood the power of temptation and shifted the responsibility to me. If I wanted the vase safe, keep it out of her path.

Unfortunately, we can't always count on others to protect us from our weaker selves. In fact, lots of people will find advantage or comfort if we give in to temptation.

One way to protect ourselves is to build our moral willpower, the strength to overcome temptation, however strong. We do this by practice. 

As Emerson said, "We gain the strength of the temptation we resist."

Another is to consciously avoid tempting situations. 

As Mark Twain said, "It's easier to stay out than to get out."

Even people of strong character can succumb to temptation at weak moments. So it's reckless and arrogant to knowingly subject ourselves to avoidable seductive forces.

They say temptation usually comes in through a door that's been deliberately left open, so beware of the tendency to unconsciously invite temptations.

If you're on a diet, don't let them bring out the dessert tray. If you're on a tight budget, don't window-shop, and leave your credit card at home. And if you're committed to celibacy or fidelity, don't get near situations where your resolve could be tested.

-michael josephson