A woven basket tipped over a red apple, with red light glowing at the gap, on a charcoal background.

Original artwork, not a still

Mae West

I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

A playful paradox about self-control: the speaker claims to steer clear of temptation, then adds the loophole that resistance stops applying whenever it proves impossible. The line amounts to an admission of giving in, delivered with a straight face and a wink at how convenient that exception is.

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