Full Idea
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
Gist of Idea
Pleasure and pain control all human desires and duties
Source
Jeremy Bentham (Intro to Principles of Morals and Legislation [1789], I.1)
Book Reference
Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.33