O Luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree.

O Luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree.

For thence,--a paradox
Which comforts while it mocks,--
Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail:
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For thence,--a paradox
Which comforts while it mocks,--
Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail:
What I aspired to be,
And was not, comforts me:
A brute I might have been, but would not sink i' the scale.

The mind begins to boggle at unnatural substances as things
paradoxical and incomprehensible.

The mind begins to boggle at unnatural substances as things
paradoxical and incomprehensible.

Morality is a private and costly luxury

Morality is a private and costly luxury

Anger is an expensive luxury in which only men of certain income can indulge.

Anger is an expensive luxury in which only men of certain income can indulge.

Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its
necessities.

Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its
necessities.

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.

Fell luxury! more perilous to youth
Than storms or quicksands, poverty of chains.

Fell luxury! more perilous to youth
Than storms or quicksands, poverty of chains.

Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances read more

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.