The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.

The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.

Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey
in her mouth, gall in her heart, and read more

Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey
in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.

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.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

What think you, if he were conveyed to bed,
Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
read more

What think you, if he were conveyed to bed,
Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?

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.

To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, and fill his
snuff-box, is like giving a pair read more

To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, and fill his
snuff-box, is like giving a pair of laced ruffles to a man that
has never a shirt on his back.

Living in the lap of luxury isn't bad, except that you never know when luxury is going to stand up

Living in the lap of luxury isn't bad, except that you never know when luxury is going to stand up

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.