Weakness leads astray, passion allures into dangerous paths, vice becomes habitual, man flounders in the mud and makes no progress towards a better state.
 Honoré de Balzac, Séraphîta (1834). copy citation

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Author Honoré de Balzac
Source Séraphîta
Topic weakness progress
Date 1834
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1432/1432-h/1432-h.htm

Context

“men doubt, they lack faith, and will, and persistence. If some set their feet in the path, they look behind them and presently turn back. Few decide between the two extremes,—to go or stay, heaven or the mire. All hesitate. Weakness leads astray, passion allures into dangerous paths, vice becomes habitual, man flounders in the mud and makes no progress towards a better state. “All human beings go through a previous life in the sphere of Instinct, where they are brought to see the worthlessness of earthly treasures, to amass which they gave themselves such untold pains!” source