Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Uncompromising thought is the luxury of the closeted recluse.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Luxury and dissipation, soft and gentle as their approaches are, and silently as they throw their silken chains about the heart, enslave it more than the most active and turbulent vices.
—Hannah More
Let us consider what we call vicious luxury. No gratification, however sensual, can of itself be esteemed vicious. A gratification is only vicious when it engrosses all a man’s expense, and leaves no ability for such acts of duty and generosity as are required by his situation and fortune. The same care and toil that raise a dish of peas at Christmas would give bread to a whole family during six months.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Unless we are accustomed to them from early youth, splendid chambers and elegant furniture had best be left to people who neither have nor can have any thoughts.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Morality is a private and costly luxury.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn’t hear the barbarians coming.
—Garrison Keillor (b.1942) American Author, Humorist, Radio Personality
Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Then there is that glorious Epicurean paradox, uttered by my friend, the Historian in one of his flashing moments: Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer
Advertising is the genie which is transforming America into a place of comfort, luxury and ease for millions.
—William Allen White (1868–1944) American Journalist, Author, Editor
Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Avarice and luxury, those pests which have ever been the ruin of every great state.
—Livy (Titus Livius) (59 BCE–17 CE) Roman Historian
One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
On the soft bed of luxury, most kingdoms have expired.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Luxury is a word of uncertain signification, and may be taken in a good as in a bad sense
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
O luxury! Thou curst of heaven’s decree.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Luxury, so far as it reaches the people, will do good to the race of people; it will strengthen and multiply them. Sir, no nation was ever hurt by luxury; for, as I said before; it can reach but a very few.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
War has become a luxury that only small nations can afford.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
Where necessity ends, curiosity begins; and no sooner are we supplied with everything that nature can demand, than we sit down to contrive artificial appetites.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. The very simplicity and nakedness of man’s life in the primitive ages imply this advantage, at least, that they left him still but a sojourner in nature. To be awake is to be alive. Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. Every man is a builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones. Any nobleness begins at once to refine a man’s features, any meanness or sensuality to imbrute them. Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
I love luxury. And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness but in the absence of vulgarity. Vulgarity is the ugliest word in our language. I stay in the game to fight it.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer
I always thought I should be treated like a star.
—Madonna (b.1958) American Pop Singer, Actress
I know it is more agreeable to walk upon carpets than to lie upon dungeon floors, I know it is pleasant to have all the comforts and luxuries of civilization; but he who cares only for these things is worth no more than a butterfly, contented and thoughtless, upon a morning flower; and who ever thought of rearing a tombstone to a last summer’s butterfly?
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
We see the pernicious effects of luxury in the ancient Romans, who immediately found themselves poor as soon as this vice got footing among them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The media is constantly redefining what luxury is. Luxury can be a dirty sock if dressed up in the right way.
—Zac Posen (b.1980) American Fashion Designer
It is impossible to overdo luxury
—French Proverb
What think you, if he were conveyed to bed, Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, A most delicious banquet by his bed, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, Would not the beggar then forget himself?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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