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.

Then there is that glorious Epicurean paradox, uttered by my
friend, the Historian in one of his flashing moments: read more

Then there is that glorious Epicurean paradox, uttered by my
friend, the Historian in one of his flashing moments: "Give us
the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries."

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

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.

Morality is a private and costly luxury

Morality is a private and costly luxury

We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities.

We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities.

It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they read more

It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn't hear the barbarians coming.

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.

Like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.

Like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.