I love luxury. And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness but in the absence of vulgarity. Vulgarity is the read more

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.

Sofas 'twas half a sin to sit upon,
So costly were they; carpets, every stitch
Of workmanship read more

Sofas 'twas half a sin to sit upon,
So costly were they; carpets, every stitch
Of workmanship so rare, they make you wish
You could glide o'er them like a golden fish.

Luxury and dissipation, soft and gentle as their approaches are,
and silently as they throw their silken chains about read more

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.

Luxury may possibly contribute to give bread to the poor; but if there were no luxury, there would be no read more

Luxury may possibly contribute to give bread to the poor; but if there were no luxury, there would be no poor.

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things

On the soft bed of luxury most kingdoms have expired.

On the soft bed of luxury most kingdoms have expired.

Every luxury must be paid for, and everything is a luxury, starting with being in the world.

Every luxury must be paid for, and everything is a luxury, starting with being in the world.

Blest hour! It was a luxury--to be!

Blest hour! It was a luxury--to be!

Luxury is the first, second and third cause of the ruin of republics. It is the vampire which soothes us read more

Luxury is the first, second and third cause of the ruin of republics. It is the vampire which soothes us into a fatal slumber while it sucks the lifeblood of our veins.