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Single Idea 4859
[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / f. Dangers of pleasure
]
Full Idea
Pleasure is only bad in so far as it hinders a man's capability for action.
Gist of Idea
Pleasure is only bad in so far as it hinders a man's capability for action
Source
Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], IV Pr 59)
Book Ref
Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics, Improvement of Understanding, Letters', ed/tr. Elwes,R [Dover 1955], p.227
A Reaction
This seems to be the incipient epicureanism found in enlightenment figures who are drifting towards atheism (of which his contemporaries accused Spinoza). Sadism? Grief is good pain. I'm too happy to be cruel.
The
14 ideas
with the same theme
[how can pleasure be harmful?]:
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5155
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It is hard to fight against emotion, but harder still to fight against pleasure
[Heraclitus]
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442
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Pleasures are like pirates - if you are caught they drown you in a sea of pleasures
[Epicharmus]
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1664
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I would rather go mad than experience pleasure
[Antisthenes (I)]
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4319
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In a fool's mind desire is like a leaky jar, insatiable in its desires, and order and contentment are better
[Plato]
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132
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If happiness is the satisfaction of desires, then a life of scratching itches should be happiness
[Plato]
|
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264
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The conquest of pleasure is the noblest victory of all
[Plato]
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2123
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Excessive pleasure deranges people, making the other virtues impossible
[Plato]
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2158
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Pleasure-seekers desperately seek illusory satisfaction, like filling a leaky vessel
[Plato]
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84
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The greater the pleasure, the greater the hindrance to thought
[Aristotle]
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523
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It is as brave to master pleasure as to overcome the enemy
[Democritus (attr)]
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7899
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Even divine pleasure will not satisfy the wise, as it is insatiable, and leads to pain
[Anon (Dham)]
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20852
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Rapture is a breakdown of virtue
[Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
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13323
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The whole point of pleasure-seeking is novelty, and abandoning established ways
[Seneca]
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4859
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Pleasure is only bad in so far as it hinders a man's capability for action
[Spinoza]
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