No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
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
The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
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 some, pleasure is a fever they can’t shake. For others, it’s a disease they cannot seem to catch.
—Nathaniel LeTonnerre
Men may scoff, and men may pray, but they pay every pleasure with a pain.
—William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) British Poet, Literary Critic
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 Writer, Poet, Novelist, Short Story Author
Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Pleasant it is, when over a great sea the winds trouble the waters, to gaze from shore upon another’s great tribulation; not because any man’s troubles are a delectable joy, but because to perceive you are free of them yourself is pleasant.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
Mental pleasures never clog;—unlike those of the body, they are increased by repetition, approved of by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
Pleasure is Nature.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Pleasure is one of those commodities which are sold at a thousand shops, and bought by a thousand customers, but of which nobody ever fairly finds possession. Either they know not well how to use, or the commodity will not keep, for no one has ever yet appeared to be satisfied with his bargain. It is too subtle for transition, though sufficiently solid for sale.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Joy is never in our power and pleasure often is.
—C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) Irish-British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Our pleasures are short, and can only charm at intervals; love is a method of protraction our greatest pleasure.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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
The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; ’tis like spending this year, part of the next year’s revenue.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Pleasure and revenge have ears more deaf than adders to the voice of any true decision.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.
—Tony Benn (1925–2014) British Politician, Cabinet Minister
Pleasure’s a sin, and sometimes sin’s a pleasure.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Better be alone than in bad company.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
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
Give me books, fruit, French wine and fine weather and a little music out of doors, played by someone I do not know. I admire lolling on a lawn by a water-lilied pond to eat white currants and see goldfish: and go to the fair in the evening if I’m good. There is not hope for that—one is sure to get into some mess before evening.
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
The vocabulary of pleasure depends on the imagery of pain.
—Marina Warner (b.1946) English Literary Critic, Feminist Writer
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
No enjoyment is transitory; the impression which it leaves is lasting, and what is done with diligence and toil imparts to the spectator a secret force, of which one cannot say how far the effect may reach.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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