Rung By Rung

A man who wants to climb a ladder must first place his feet on the first rung. After his feet are off the ground he can begin to lift up his head. This teaches you in your quest for nearness to G-d you must begin by refining your base instincts and cleansing yourself of your lusts. It is wrong to think that you can begin searching for G-d intellectually while your character traits are still in a decay.

(Rabbi Avraham Weinberg of Slonim)