vulnerable, Machiavellian Temptation

Mike Keefe / The Denver Post / Cagle Cartoons

The Machiavellian Temptation

By DAVID BROOKS

Today's advice culture would like to define us and direct our natural tendencies. But if you really want to change your life, you must commit to some larger global belief.

Capital representing scenes from Genesis: temptation of Adam and Eve, Musée de Cluny.

A temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling guilt), health, economic, etc. Temptation also describes the coaxing or inducing a person into committing such an act, by manipulation or otherwise of curiosity, desire or fear of loss.

vul·ner·a·ble (vŭl'nər-ə-bəl)

adj.

1. 1. Susceptible to physical or emotional injury.
   2. Susceptible to attack: "We are vulnerable both by water and land, without either fleet or army" (Alexander Hamilton).
   3. Open to censure or criticism; assailable.
2. 1. Liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation.
   2. Games. In a position to receive greater penalties or bonuses in a hand of bridge. In a rubber, used of the pair of players who score 100 points toward game.

[Late Latin vulnerābilis, wounding, from Latin vulnerāre, to wound, from vulnus, vulner-, wound.]

vulnerability vul'ner·a·bil'i·ty or vul'ner·a·ble·ness n.
vulnerably vul'ner·a·bly adv.