I don't eat with beautiful women alone.

The words of Billy Graham — “I don’t eat with beautiful women alone.” — may sound simple, yet they are a monument to discipline and foresight. In them is found a rule of boundaries, born not of distrust in women, but of humility toward the weakness of men and the judgment of the world. Graham, a man of vast influence, knew that temptation often comes quietly, clothed not in open danger but in moments of secrecy. By setting such a rule, he sought to guard his integrity as fiercely as a soldier guards a fortress.

The meaning of this saying lies in the ancient truth that character is not only what is done in the light, but also what is prevented in the shadow. To avoid even the appearance of impropriety was for Graham an act of devotion — to his God, to his wife, and to his calling. He understood that power and fame make a man vulnerable to both real temptation and false accusation. Thus, the rule was not merely for himself, but for the protection of all that he represented.

History offers us other guardians of such vigilance. Consider Daniel in Babylon, who refused the king’s food and wine, setting himself apart to keep his faith unstained. His abstinence was not because food itself was evil, but because discipline preserves purity in hostile places. So too did Graham’s refusal to dine alone with beautiful women stand as a safeguard, an outward sign of inner resolve, ensuring his ministry would not be weakened by scandal or suspicion.

The origin of this practice became known as the “Billy Graham Rule,” later adopted by many who sought to preserve their marriages, reputations, and missions. Though debated and sometimes criticized, its essence reveals a timeless principle: that wisdom is not only in resisting temptation when it comes, but in preventing the conditions where it may arise. Graham’s simplicity was his shield, his awareness that a man does not rise above human frailty, but must walk carefully to remain whole.

Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, learn this: greatness is not secured by strength alone, but by foresight and restraint. To set limits for oneself is not weakness, but power; to guard one’s heart and name is an act of honor. As Billy Graham’s words remind us, the battle for integrity is often won not in great public victories, but in the quiet choices of everyday life, where discipline defends what is sacred.