The main sources of the Enemy from which every evil springs are threefold: desire, pleasure, and sadness. These are connected one from another, and one follows another. It is possible to control pleasure to some extent, but impossible to control desire; for the end of pleasure is achieved through the body, but that (of desire) originates from the soul, while sadness is concocted from both. Well then, do not allow desire to become active, and you will dissipate the remaining two. But if you permit the first to emerge, it will develop into the second and they will form with one another “a vicious circle” and in no way will the soul be allowed to escape.’
Amma Syncletica
Oasis of Wisdom by GR Keller, p. 29
