Adam was but human—this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent.
—Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar
We are ever striving after what is forbidden, and coveting what is denied us.
—Ovid, Amores
"When I read the warning label on the gun that read "Please do not shoot at people," I immediately wanted to start shooting at people. Why did I do something that people shouldn't do? That itself explained how primitive and childish I was at the time."
—Keiichi, telling his friends how he got started shooting little girls with his bb gun, Higurashi: When They Cry
Forbidden, pp. Invested with a new and irresistable charm.
— Ambrose Bierce, from his 'Devil's Dictionary'
"I'm not sure that the best way to make a boy love the English poets might not be to forbid him to read them and then give him plenty of time to disobey you."
"The more you want to hide it, the more I want to see it."
—So many parents.
If you really read the fairy tales, you will observe that one idea runs from one end of them to the other—the idea that peace and happiness can only exist on some condition. This idea, which is the core of ethics, is the core of the nursery-tales. The whole happiness of fairyland hangs upon a thread, upon one thread. Cinderella may have a dress woven on supernatural looms and blazing with unearthly brilliance; but she must be back when the clock strikes twelve. The king may invite fairies to the christening, but he must invite all the fairies or frightful results will follow. Bluebeard’s wife may open all doors but one. A promise is broken to a cat, and the whole world goes wrong. A promise is broken to a yellow dwarf, and the whole world goes wrong. A girl may be the bride of the God of Love himself if she never tries to see him; she sees him, and he vanishes away. A girl is given a box on condition she does not open it; she opens it, and all the evils of this world rush out at her. A man and woman are put in a garden on condition that they do not eat one fruit: they eat it, and lose their joy in all the fruits of the earth.
—G. K. Chesterton, "Fairy Tales"
Though the rose is fair
Don't pluck it as you pass
For a fire will consume your hair
And your eyes will turn to glass...
Don't pluck it as you pass
For a fire will consume your hair
And your eyes will turn to glass...
— "The Garden Of Jane Delawney" by Trees
"It's revolting. It's violent. It's everything you love in a game. And your mom is gonna hate it."
— Tagline for Dead Space 2
It sounds dreadful.
But, I can see the glow of their electric lights from here, miles away, and that dreadful curiosity churns inside of me again. For years I've looked towards Zion and wondered, but I've never gone beyond the northern boundary. No one is allowed to cross that line. The foolish seed of rebellion sprouts in my heart, though, and I suddenly find myself hurtling through great fields of barley, not in the direction of my protective forest and my home, but towards that which is forbidden.
I've spent my lifetime wondering. If I don't go tonight, when will I ever?
But, I can see the glow of their electric lights from here, miles away, and that dreadful curiosity churns inside of me again. For years I've looked towards Zion and wondered, but I've never gone beyond the northern boundary. No one is allowed to cross that line. The foolish seed of rebellion sprouts in my heart, though, and I suddenly find myself hurtling through great fields of barley, not in the direction of my protective forest and my home, but towards that which is forbidden.
I've spent my lifetime wondering. If I don't go tonight, when will I ever?
— Outlier
"The more forbid, the sweeter tastes the pie."
— Jamie Lockhart, The Robber Bridegroom
Usopp: Luffy, what are you thinking about? Listen to what she's saying!! We must never go there!! Do you understand what that means?! Luffy?!!
Luffy: Huh. There's a place I can't go? I see. A place I absolutely cannot go to, huh?
Rest of crew, in thought bubble: He's going to go there.
Luffy: Huh. There's a place I can't go? I see. A place I absolutely cannot go to, huh?
Rest of crew, in thought bubble: He's going to go there.
"The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become."
SpongeBob: Well, if you wanna be alone, don't go into the room behind you.
Squidward: Wait, are you two in there already?
SpongeBob: No, silly! That's where the Jellyfishing Convention is!
Squidward: Wait, are you two in there already?
SpongeBob: No, silly! That's where the Jellyfishing Convention is!
— SpongeBob SquarePants, "Jolly Lodgers"
"My name is Avocado, the Forbidden Fruit."
— Sex Trek: The Next Penetration
"The forbidden fruit was less of an apple and more like a banana. A very large banana."
The crow said to the two sisters: "Just watch out, and don't get too curious about things." He took the youngest into another room in the castle. The two sisters tiptoed toward the door and peeked through the keyhole. They saw a handsome young man sitting at a table, having a cozy conversation with their sister.
All at once everything changed: The castle and the carriage disappeared, and the three young women were standing under a fir tree. The crow was up in the branches, scolding them: "Now only the youngest can save me."
All at once everything changed: The castle and the carriage disappeared, and the three young women were standing under a fir tree. The crow was up in the branches, scolding them: "Now only the youngest can save me."
Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.
"A million things to sample, and you have to try one of the only things you're not allowed to..."
— Willy Wonka, Weeb's Wonka Game
Jeremy: All right, let's open this door!
Aunt Grace: There's nothing but pain and suffering behind this door! Don't even think about opening it!
Mallory: (beat) Now see, I'm thinking about it.
Jeremy: Yeah, me too. It's like, impossible not to. It's like if I told you, "Whatever you do, don't think about going to the bathroom".
Mallory: Oh, man! Now I have to go!
Jeremy: See?
Mallory: Where's the bathroom?
Aunt Grace: I just gave you a tour of the whole house and showed you where the bathroom is.
Mallory: Well, I wasn't paying attention because you didn't tell me I couldn't use it.
Aunt Grace: Are you serious?
Mallory: I'm a millennial!
Aunt Grace: There's nothing but pain and suffering behind this door! Don't even think about opening it!
Mallory: (beat) Now see, I'm thinking about it.
Jeremy: Yeah, me too. It's like, impossible not to. It's like if I told you, "Whatever you do, don't think about going to the bathroom".
Mallory: Oh, man! Now I have to go!
Jeremy: See?
Mallory: Where's the bathroom?
Aunt Grace: I just gave you a tour of the whole house and showed you where the bathroom is.
Mallory: Well, I wasn't paying attention because you didn't tell me I couldn't use it.
Aunt Grace: Are you serious?
Mallory: I'm a millennial!
Monahan: Didn't you see the huge doors with the sign that said "do not open?"
(cut to Bang and her troops having done just that)
Monsters: EEYAGHPHBT!
Bang: Uh-oh.
(cut back to Lucrezia and Monahan)
Lucrezia: Well, yes, dear, and being a clever girl, I didn't open them.
Monahan: Oh, Luci! You used to be fun!
(cut to Bang and her troops having done just that)
Monsters: EEYAGHPHBT!
Bang: Uh-oh.
(cut back to Lucrezia and Monahan)
Lucrezia: Well, yes, dear, and being a clever girl, I didn't open them.
Monahan: Oh, Luci! You used to be fun!
Scar: So, your father showed you the whole kingdom, did he?
Simba: Everything.
Scar: He didn't show you what's beyond that rise at the northern border?
Simba: (deflates) Well, no. He said I can't go there.
Scar: And he's absolutely right! It's far too dangerous! Only the bravest lions go there.
Simba: Well, I'm brave! What's out there?
Scar: I'm sorry, Simba. I just can't tell you.
Simba: Why not?
Scar: Simba, Simba, I'm only looking out for the well-being of my favorite nephew.
Simba: Yeah, right. I'm your only nephew.
Scar: All the more reason for me to be protective. An elephant graveyard is no place for a young prince—Oops!
Simba: (excited) An elephant what?! Whoa!
Scar: Oh, dear, I've said too much! Well, I suppose you'd have found out sooner or later, you being so clever and all. Just do me one favor. Promise me you'll never visit that dreadful place.
Simba: ...No problem.
Scar: There's a good lad. You run along now and have fun. And remember, it's our little secret.
