Inside and Outside: Yoma 72b

Exodus 25:11: "You shall cover [the Holy Ark with gold] on both the inside and the outside." This teaches that any sage who is not the same on the inside as they are on the outside is not a true sage.

Killing Desire: Yoma 69b

This is a justifiably famous story. Some of the fine details make it even stranger than the shorter versions I've heard.

Rav, and some say Rabbi Yochanan, said: 'Woe, woe! It [Rashi: the desire to commit idolatry] destroyed our Temple, caused the surrounding structures to be burnt, and led to the death of our righteous people and Israel's exile. After all of this, we still have the desire. Why do we have this desire? Only to obtain a reward for conquering it. We don't want it, or the reward for conquering it!"

A note fell from Heaven that had the word 'Truth' written on it.

(Rabbi Hannina says, we can learn from this note that Holy One, Praised be G-d's signature is 'Truth.' )

After fasting for three days and three nights, power over this desire was given to the Rabbis. At that moment, fire shaped like a lion left the Holy of Holies in the Temple. A prophet said to Israel, "That lion is the desire for idolatry..." When the Rabbis caught this desire, it's hair became loose and it screamed in a voice that could be heard 400 miles away.

The Rabbis said, 'What should we do? We are scared to hurt it lest Heaven have mercy on it [because of its cries.]" A prophet said, "Put the desire for idolatry in a lead container with a lead cap, for lead will block the noise."

...The Rabbis said, "Since this is a favorable time, let us plead for Divine mercy to rescue us from the desire for sexual sins." The Rabbis pleaded for Divine mercy, and were given authority over the desire for sexual sins. A prophet said, "If you destroy the desire for sexual sins, you will destroy the entire world [for reproduction will cease.] The Rabbis imprisoned the desire for sexual sins for three days. They sought out a freshly laid egg throughout all of the land of Israel, but could not find one. [This confirms what the prophet told them - that eliminating this desire would stop reproduction.]

The Rabbis said, "What should we do? If we destroy it, we will destroy the entire world?" They asked to destroy it half-way [Rashi: That a man should desire his wife but no other women.] However, Heaven does not give halves. They painted its eyes with mascara. [As a result of painting desire's eyes], people no longer had sexual desire for their immediate family.