Strong habits control us. We're used to wanting and avoiding things that aren't up to us. We need to fight this habit with a different habit. When something looks really tempting, that's when you need to practice the most. Later, when you're ready, you can test yourself at the right moment. You'll enter the arena to see if appearances still overpower you like they used to. But first, stay far away from anything stronger than you are. It's not a fair fight between a beautiful young woman and a beginning philosopher. As the saying goes, the clay pot and the rock don't get along.
And since strong habit leads (prevails), and we are accustomed to employ desire and aversion only to things which are not within the power of our will, we ought to oppose to this habit a contrary habit, and where there is great slipperiness in the appearances, there to oppose the habit of exercise. Then at last, if occasion presents itself, for the purpose of trying yourself at a proper time you will descend into the arena to know if appearances overpower you as they did formerly. But at first fly far from that which is stronger than yourself; the contest is unequal between a charming young girl and a beginner in philosophy. The earthen pitcher, as the saying is, and the rock do not agree.