Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Utility, Choice, And Use Of Pleasures,
gerous ; r-lt must , therefore , be of singular importance to chuse thera with delicacy , and enjoy , them with moderation , that nothino- of what is due to virtue may be sacrificed to them ; and it is taste tiiat ought to determine the mind in the choice of them , and regulate their use . It is certain , tnat innocent pleasures make the happiness of life ; we cannot long enjoy them without disgust , but we may dispense with them without restraint The
. imagination creates almost all our pleasures and ail our troubles ; and though the wise have this advantage , ' that their pleasures are more durable being under better regulation , and their life more calm and tranquil , being more innocent . > ' ' It is granted , by the severest morality , that pleasure is in some measure necessary and not incompatible vjith real wisdomfor
, men are exposed to such astonishing and unforeseen disasters , to such extravagant prejudices , to such ridiculous pretensions , that the wisest philosophers gen the care is his own feels , in spite of him , all the foundations of ins philosophy shaken , . Prudence always was , and will be the dupe of chance , and such is the weakness of the generality of men , ' that the strongest are the most susceptible of vexation . ' And , indeed , vexation i a subtile poison that kills
, us imperceptibl y , when we have not learned beipre nand to raise ourselves above events ; so that there can-V ° lt * - T ff i" ^ ^ P ^? . - It is even a specific . Pleastue iri the highest affliction , will , no doubt , appear insipid ; but it weakens , by degrees , the sentiment of grief—it blunts the keen edee of the evil and dissipates the loomy that rise from
g vapours time to lime in the soul . Insensibly we agajn Rnd ourseiv . es in our former state of mind ; and tranquillity once returned , restores to us all our sensibility , for the innocent pleasures grief made bitter to us . Nothing remains ' but to make a proper choice and a good use of those bloa ^ s—ir ^
particularly iet us be careful , that what should be only a matter of pleasure and amusement , may not assume over us the authority of fas . n ^ l V ? ^ ^ / , P ™ of heart and mind to suffer TZtZ . I dl ? ll 0 M ^ W a * S Vhich is onl y designed for mere tf _ -iii Uociiicii r _ * I counsel the use of pleasuresbut I would not have this use to To
, pro . ^ eed intoxicatipn . prevent and guard against it , nothing bet-1 'J V Tlr he ^ . > tHan t 0 C * Salt " ^ h prudence as taste in the choice of Pleasures . If this maxim holds good for all pleasures in « - ^• e-shoulcl be wanting to Ourselves , if we suited any of the resources S 0 ? rSt 5 ' '
& abf /;; f 9 eCap - - " T ^ y not onlymitigatepur sensations of pain , dxyert us from anxious thoughts , or revive our appetite by the enjoyment of some charm , but it is also good policy in ' us ' to 4 ow fcowto give into certain amusements . Such ' a ' person , who without £ 3 „ ° n 7 f ° A - ^ £ ™ H >&™* onl y to introduce himself mo > the world , and tq cu ltivate its commerce , often happens to display
procues him applause and powerful friends , he would have ' injured
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Utility, Choice, And Use Of Pleasures,
gerous ; r-lt must , therefore , be of singular importance to chuse thera with delicacy , and enjoy , them with moderation , that nothino- of what is due to virtue may be sacrificed to them ; and it is taste tiiat ought to determine the mind in the choice of them , and regulate their use . It is certain , tnat innocent pleasures make the happiness of life ; we cannot long enjoy them without disgust , but we may dispense with them without restraint The
. imagination creates almost all our pleasures and ail our troubles ; and though the wise have this advantage , ' that their pleasures are more durable being under better regulation , and their life more calm and tranquil , being more innocent . > ' ' It is granted , by the severest morality , that pleasure is in some measure necessary and not incompatible vjith real wisdomfor
, men are exposed to such astonishing and unforeseen disasters , to such extravagant prejudices , to such ridiculous pretensions , that the wisest philosophers gen the care is his own feels , in spite of him , all the foundations of ins philosophy shaken , . Prudence always was , and will be the dupe of chance , and such is the weakness of the generality of men , ' that the strongest are the most susceptible of vexation . ' And , indeed , vexation i a subtile poison that kills
, us imperceptibl y , when we have not learned beipre nand to raise ourselves above events ; so that there can-V ° lt * - T ff i" ^ ^ P ^? . - It is even a specific . Pleastue iri the highest affliction , will , no doubt , appear insipid ; but it weakens , by degrees , the sentiment of grief—it blunts the keen edee of the evil and dissipates the loomy that rise from
g vapours time to lime in the soul . Insensibly we agajn Rnd ourseiv . es in our former state of mind ; and tranquillity once returned , restores to us all our sensibility , for the innocent pleasures grief made bitter to us . Nothing remains ' but to make a proper choice and a good use of those bloa ^ s—ir ^
particularly iet us be careful , that what should be only a matter of pleasure and amusement , may not assume over us the authority of fas . n ^ l V ? ^ ^ / , P ™ of heart and mind to suffer TZtZ . I dl ? ll 0 M ^ W a * S Vhich is onl y designed for mere tf _ -iii Uociiicii r _ * I counsel the use of pleasuresbut I would not have this use to To
, pro . ^ eed intoxicatipn . prevent and guard against it , nothing bet-1 'J V Tlr he ^ . > tHan t 0 C * Salt " ^ h prudence as taste in the choice of Pleasures . If this maxim holds good for all pleasures in « - ^• e-shoulcl be wanting to Ourselves , if we suited any of the resources S 0 ? rSt 5 ' '
& abf /;; f 9 eCap - - " T ^ y not onlymitigatepur sensations of pain , dxyert us from anxious thoughts , or revive our appetite by the enjoyment of some charm , but it is also good policy in ' us ' to 4 ow fcowto give into certain amusements . Such ' a ' person , who without £ 3 „ ° n 7 f ° A - ^ £ ™ H >&™* onl y to introduce himself mo > the world , and tq cu ltivate its commerce , often happens to display
procues him applause and powerful friends , he would have ' injured