On the soft bed of luxury most kingdoms have expired.

On the soft bed of luxury most kingdoms have expired.

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.

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

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

Give us the luxuries of life and we'll dispense with the necessaries.

Give us the luxuries of life and we'll dispense with the 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

War destroys men, but luxury destroys mankind; at once corrupts the body and the mind.

War destroys men, but luxury destroys mankind; at once corrupts the body and the mind.

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.

Falsely luxurious, will not man awake?

Falsely luxurious, will not man awake?

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."