Quotes about pleasure

„If we could survive without a wife, citizens of Rome, all of us would do without that nuisance; but since nature has so decreed that we cannot manage comfortably with them, nor live in any way without them, we must plan for our lasting preservation rather than for our temporary pleasure.“

—  Augustus founder of Julio-Claudian dynasty and first emperor of the Roman Empire -63 - 14 BC

[http://www.unrv.com/government/julianmarri

„Architecture is my first love, if you want to talk about what moves me — the ordering of space, the visual pleasure, architecture's power to construct our days and nights.“

—  Barbara Kruger American artist 1945

Source: Art in America, Vol. 85, Nr. 10-12 (1997), p. 96

„The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books.“

—  Katherine Mansfield New Zealand author 1888 - 1923

Letter to Ottoline Morrell (January 1922)

„I wish to God that you had as much pleasure in following my advice, as I have in giving it to you.“

—  Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield British statesman and man of letters 1694 - 1773

5 February 1750
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)

„As a matter of fact," the other voice went on, "if you do tie her up from time to time, or whip her just a little, and she begins to like it, that’s no good either. You have to get past the pleasure stage, until you reach the stage of tears.“

—  Pauline Réage, book Story of O

Source: Story of O

„In every one of us there are two ruling and directing principles, whose guidance we follow wherever they may lead; the one being an innate desire of pleasure; the other, an acquired judgment which aspires after excellence.“

—  Socrates classical Greek Athenian philosopher -470 - -399 BC

Phaedrus
Plato, Phaedrus

„Sometimes I wish I were a cannibal – less for the pleasure of eating someone than for the pleasure of vomiting him.“

—  Emil M. Cioran Romanian philosopher and essayist 1911 - 1995

Source: The Trouble with Being Born

„If we would regain our freedom, we must shake off the burden of sensation, no longer react to the world by our senses, break our bonds. For all sensation is a bond, pleasure as much as pain, joy as much as misery. The only free mind is the one that, pure of all intimacy with beings or objects, plies its own vacuity.“

—  Emil M. Cioran Romanian philosopher and essayist 1911 - 1995

The Temptation to Exist (1956)

„What's my guilty pleasure? The thing is, I never feel guilty about pleasures.“

—  Tom Hiddleston English actor, producer and musical performer 1981

„The noblest people are those despising wealth, learning, pleasure and life; esteeming above them poverty, ignorance, hardship and death.“

—  Diogenes of Sinope ancient Greek philosopher, one of the founders of the Cynic philosophy -404 - -322 BC

Stobaeus, iv. 29a. 19
Quoted by Stobaeus

„The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.“

—  Leonardo Da Vinci Italian Renaissance polymath 1452 - 1519

„Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.“

—  Bob Marley Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician 1945 - 1981

„Neither pleasure nor pain should enter as motives when one must do what must be done.“

—  Julius Evola Italian philosopher and esotericist 1898 - 1974

Source: Ride the Tiger: A Survival Manual for the Aristocrats of the Soul

„Every single pleasure I can imagine or have experienced is more delightful, more of a pleasure, if you take it in small sips, if you take your time. Reading is not an exception.“

—  Amos Oz Israeli writer, novelist, journalist and intellectual 1939 - 2018

„I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one — and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces.“

—  Henry Ford, book My Life and Work

Source: My Life and Work (1922), p. 73. Chapter IV.

„A good, skillful worker is one who does not consider the reward, but enjoys his work. If, for example, a skillful tailor knows that the clothing fits its owner at every point, it gives him pleasure, more than the money he receives.“

—  Baruch Ashlag Polish rabbi 1907 - 1991

Selected Articles

„You nobles, you sons of my leading men, soft and dandified, trusting in your birth and your wealth, paying no attention to my command and your advancement, you neglected the pursuit of learning and indulged yourselves in the sport of pleasure and idleness and foolish pastimes. By the King of the heavens I think nothing of your nobility and your beauty. Others can admire you. Know this without any doubt; unless you rapidly make up for your idleness by eager effort, you will never receive any benefit from Charlemagne.“

—  Charlemagne King of the Franks, King of Italy, and Holy Roman Emperor 748 - 814

Quoted in Notker's The Deeds of Charlemagne (translated 2008 by David Ganz)

„Seven Steps to Success
1) Make a commitment to grow daily.
2) Value the process more than events.
3) Don't wait for inspiration.
4) Be willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity.
5) Dream big.
6) Plan your priorities.
7) Give up to go up.“

—  John C. Maxwell American author, speaker and pastor 1947

„I think reading is a gift. It was a gift that was given to me as a child by many people, and now as an adult and a writer, I'm trying to give a little of it back to others. It's one of the greatest pleasures I know.“

—  Ann M. Martin American writer of children's literature 1955