The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Choose such pleasures as recreate much and cost little.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Pleasure is in general, dangerous and pernicious to virtue.—To be able, therefore, to furnish pleasure that is harmless and pure and unalloyed, is as great a power as man can possess.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
We enjoy thoroughly only the pleasure that we give.
—Alexandre Dumas pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
It is sad to think how few our pleasures really are, and for which we risk eternal good.
—Gamaliel Bailey (1807–59) American Journalist
He that is violent in the pursuit of pleasure will not mind turning villain for the purchase.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
No pleasure endures unseasoned by variety.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening.
—Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943) American Author, Critic, Actor
The mind ought sometimes to be diverted, that it may return the better to thinking.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
People should be guarded against temptation to unlawful pleasures by furnishing them the means of innocent ones. In every community there must be pleasures, relaxations, and means of agreeable excitement; and if innocent are not furnished, resort will be had to criminal. Man was made to enjoy as well as labor, and the state of society should be adapted to this principle of human nature.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
The most delicate, the most sensible of all pleasures, consists in promoting the pleasure of others.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
For most men, and most circumstances, pleasure-tangible material prosperity in this world-is the safest test of virtue. Progress has ever been through the pleasures rather than through the extreme sharp virtues, and the most virtuous have leaned to excess rather than to ascetism.
—Samuel Butler
The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Pleasure is Nature’s test, her sign of approval. When man is happy, he is in harmony with himself and with his environment.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Pleasure and revenge have ears more deaf than adders to the voice of any true decision.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
None has more frequent conversations with disagreeable self than the man of pleasure; his enthusiasms are but few and transient; his appetites, like angry creditors, are continually making fruitless demands for what he is unable to pay; and the greater his former pleasures, the more strong his regret, the more impatient his expectations. A life of pleasure is, therefore, the most unpleasing life.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
There is no such thing as pure pleasure; some anxiety always goes with it.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Pleasure of love lasts but a moment, pain of love lasts a lifetime.
—Unknown
We have more days to live through than pleasures. Be slow in enjoyment, quick at work, for men see work ended with pleasure, pleasure ended with regret.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Men may scoff, and men may pray, but they pay every pleasure with a pain.
—William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) English Poet, Critic, Editor
If pleasure was not followed by pain, who would forbear it?
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Pleasure is the flower that fades; remembrance is the lasting perfume.
—Stanislas de Boufflers (1738–1815) French Political leader, Writer
Pleasure is the bait of sin.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
We can rest contentedly in our sins and in our stupidities, and anyone who has watched gluttons shoveling down the most exquisite foods as if they did not know what they were eating will admit that we can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
The best pleasures of this world are not quite true.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Old age is a tyrant, which forbids the pleasures of youth on pain of death.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Perhaps all pleasure is only relief.
—William S. Burroughs (1914–97) American Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Painter
I wasted my substance, I know I did, on riotous living, so I did, but there’s nothing on record to show I did more than my betters have done.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
Love is born with the pleasure of looking at each other, it is fed with the necessity of seeing each other, it is concluded with the impossibility of separation.
—Unknown
Scratching is one of nature’s sweetest gratifications, and the one nearest at hand.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Short lived pleasure is the parent of pain.
—Common Proverb
The great source of pleasure is variety.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Blessed is the man who has some congenial work, some occupation in which he can put his heart, and which affords a complete outlet to all the forces there are in him.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
People have many different kinds of pleasure. The real one is that for which they will forsake the others.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Simple pleasures are always the last refuge of the complex
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Novelty is the great parent of pleasure.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Pleasure therefore, (or Delight,) is the appearance or sense of Good; and Molestation or Displeasure, the appearance or sense of Evil.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
With the catching ends the pleasures of the chase.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Everyone is dragged on by their favorite pleasure.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided if greater pains be the consequence, and pains to be coveted that will terminate in greater pleasures.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
A fool bolts pleasure, then complains of moral indigestion.
—Minna Antrim (1861–1950) American Writer, Epigrammist
Physical pleasure is a sensual experience no different from pure seeing or the pure sensation with which a fine fruit fills the tongue; it is a great unending experience, which is given us, a knowing of the world, the fullness and the glory of all knowing. And not our acceptance of it is bad; the bad thing is that most people misuse and squander this experience and apply it as a stimulant at the tired spots of their lives and as distraction instead of a rallying toward exalted moments.
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
People seem to enjoy things more when they know a lot of other people have been left out on the pleasure.
—Russell Baker (1925–2019) American Journalist, Humorist, Television Host