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
The greatest pleasure of life is love.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
In everything, satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
So enjoy present pleasures as to not mar those to come.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms and men in love.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its reward to the man who loves his work. But speaking for myself, I can honestly say this is not so… I continue to find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
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
Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
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
Would you judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure, take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
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
All pleasure in the world is a passing dream.
—Petrarch (1304–74) Italian Scholar, Poet, Humanist
Pleasure only starts once the worm has got into the fruit; to become delightful, happiness must be tainted with poison.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
If we had no failings ourselves we should not take so much pleasure in finding out those of others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
My chief study all my life has been to lighten misfortunes and multiply pleasures, as far as human nature can.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
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
He who can at all times sacrifice pleasure to duty approaches sublimity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Who will in time present pleasure refrain, shall in time to come the more pleasure obtain.
—John Heywood
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
Novelty is the great parent of pleasure.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
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
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Perhaps one has to be very old before one learns how to be amused rather than shocked.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Pleasure is the only thing to live for. Nothing ages like happiness.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Pleasure is Nature.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
We enjoy thoroughly only the pleasure that we give.
—Alexandre Dumas pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
Venture not to the utmost bounds of even lawful pleasures; the limits of good and evil join.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Don’t mistake pleasure for happiness. They are a different breed of dogs.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Whenever you are sincerely pleased you are nourished.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Whenever I meet with anything agreeable in this world it surprises me so much—and pleases me so much (when my passions are not interested in one way or the other) that I go on wondering for a week to come.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Centers, or wooden frames are put under the arches of a bridge, to remain no longer than till the latter are consolidated, and then are thrown away or cast into the fire. Even so, sinful pleasures are the devil’s scaffolding to build a habit upon; and once formed and fixed, the pleasures are sent for firewood, and hell begins in this life.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Pleasures, riches, honor, and joy are sure to have care, disgrace, adversity, and affliction in their train. There is no pleasure without pain, no joy without sorrow. O the folly of expecting lasting felicity in a vale of tears, or a paradise in a ruined world!
—Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–81) German Writer, Philosopher
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
—Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) British Philosopher, Economist
Pleasure is the first good. It is the beginning of every choice and every aversion. It is the absence of pain in the body and of troubles in the soul.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
The purest pleasures lie within the circle of useful occupation.—Mere pleasure, sought outside of usefulness, is fraught with poison.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Pleasure is a necessary reciprocal: no one feels, who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please. What pleases you in others, will in general please them in you.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Men may scoff, and men may pray, but they pay every pleasure with a pain.
—William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) English Poet, Critic, Editor
All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening.
—Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943) American Author, Critic, Actor
He buys honey too dear who licks it from thorns.
—Common Proverb
Put this restriction on your pleasures; be cautious that they injure no being that lives.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
For the rational, psychologically healthy man, the desire for pleasure is the desire to celebrate his control over reality. For the neurotic, the desire for pleasure is the desire to escape from reality.
—Nathaniel Branden (1930–2014) American Psychotherapist
Look upon pleasures not upon that side that is next the sun, or where they look beauteously, that is, as they come toward you to be enjoyed, for then they paint and smile, and dress themselves up in tinsel, and glass gems, and counterfeit imagery.
—Jeremy Taylor
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
The greatest pleasure when I started making money was not buying cars or yachts but finding myself able to have as many freshly typed drafts as possible.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright