“When the soul has passed through the doctrine of Christ crucified, with true love of virtue and hatred of vice, and has arrived at the house of self-knowledge and entered therein, she remains, with her door barred, in watching and constant prayer, separated entirely from the consolations of the world.” — St. Catherine of Siena

“It is not the possessions but the desires of mankind which require to be equalized.” — Aristotle

“Now how do the concupiscible passions operate? The movements of the human appetite are forces of attraction. The concupiscible passions relate to a good or evil considered absolutely. Any time you feel the desire to eat a pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream, commit adultery, avoid confessing your sins, or hate your boss, your concupiscible passions are stirring.” — Dr. Taylor Marshall

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” — Aristotle

“No man is free who is a slave to the flesh.” — Seneca

“[Joy] is an expression of the soul in considered actions.” — Aristotle

“Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.” — St. Thomas Aquinas

“Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit.” — Aristotle

“Pleasure is the bait of sin.” — Plato

“Goodness is to do good to the deserving and love the good and hate the wicked, and not to be eager to inflict punishment or take vengeance, but to be gracious and kindly and forgiving.” — Aristotle

“In the realm of evil thoughts none induces to sin as much as do thoughts that concern the pleasure of the flesh.” — St. Thomas Aquinas

“Serve God joyfully. Let there be no sadness in your life: the only true sorrow is sin.” — St. Mother Teresa

“Not every love, but only that which has a noble purpose, is noble and worthy of praise.” — Plato