servility, rueful, The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, obstinate

Chih Lo Lou Collection, Hong Kong

“Pines and Rock” (1634), a hanging scroll by Huang Daozhou, has a rueful, inscription: “Even if I turned into rock, I wouldn't be obstinate.”

The spirit is willing, but the snow is deep
Record storms test worshipers' resourcefulness and resolve -- and churches' finances
(By Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

One would like to undertake something but hasn't the energy or strength to do so. For example, Another set of tennis? The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Today often used as a rueful admission of weariness or other physical weakness, this idiom was first recorded in the New Testament (Matthew 26:41), where Jesus tells his disciples: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." A modern equivalent is I would if I could but I can't.
醒寤祈禱吧! 免陷於誘惑；心神固然切願，但肉體卻軟弱。」




Brutality of Servility
By MAUREEN DOWD

A man who seemed headed for the Oval Office may be headed to jail, raising the eternal question: Why is the flesh always weak?

servile[ser・vile]

• 発音記号[sə'ːrvil | -vail]

[形]

1 奴隷の, 奴隷状態の.

2 奴隷特有の, 奴隷根性の, 卑しい, 卑屈な

a servile bow
こびへつらったおじぎ

servile flattery
卑屈なおべっか.

3 （…に）盲従する((to ...))；（特に芸術・文体において）独創性のない.

4 召使（特有）の.

ser・vile・ly

[副]

ser・vile・ness, ser・víl・i・ty

[名][U]奴隷状態；奴隷根性, 卑屈, 追従；盲従.
rueful,

(rū'fəl)
adj.

1. Inspiring pity or compassion.
2. Causing, feeling, or expressing sorrow or regret.

ruefully rue'ful·ly adv.
ruefulness rue'ful·ness n.



obstinate

• [ɑ'bstənət | ɔ'b-]

[形]

1 がんこな, いこじな, 譲らない. ⇒STUBBORN[類語]

Don't be obstinate.
そう我をはるな.

2 〈抵抗などが〉執拗(しつよう)な, がん強な, ねばり強い

with an obstinate toss of one's head
かたくなに首をふって.

3 ((限定))〈病気・習癖などが〉執拗な, 難治の
an obstinate headache