The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool.

The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool.

Men may scoff, and men may pray,
But they pay
Every pleasure with a pain.

Men may scoff, and men may pray,
But they pay
Every pleasure with a pain.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has read more

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.

When the idea of any pleasure strikes your imagination, make a just computation between the duration of the pleasure and read more

When the idea of any pleasure strikes your imagination, make a just computation between the duration of the pleasure and that of the repentance that is likely to follow it.

The vocabulary of pleasure depends on the imagery of pain.

The vocabulary of pleasure depends on the imagery of pain.

In a world where change is inevitable and continuous, the need to achieve that change without violence is essential for read more

In a world where change is inevitable and continuous, the need to achieve that change without violence is essential for survival.

The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness, and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.

The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness, and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.

Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.

Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.

I live and reign since I have abandoned those pleasures which you
by your praises extol to the skies.
read more

I live and reign since I have abandoned those pleasures which you
by your praises extol to the skies.
[Lat., Vivo et regno, simul ista reliqui
Quae vos ad coelum effertis rumore secundo.]