For most men, and most circumstances, pleasure --tangible material prosperity in this world --is the safest test of virtue. Progress has ever been through the pleasures rather than through the extreme sharp virtues, and the most virtuous have leaned to…

Quote by Samuel Butler

Topics: Love Quotes, Pleasure Quotes

Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.

Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.

Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.

Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.

The mistakes made by doctors are innumerable. They err habitually on the side of optimism...

The mistakes made by doctors are innumerable. They err habitually on the side of optimism...

He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still.

He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still.

A lawyer's dream of heaven: every man reclaimed his property at the resurrection, and each...

A lawyer's dream of heaven: every man reclaimed his property at the resurrection, and each...

Christ was only crucified once and for a few hours. Think of the hundreds of...

Christ was only crucified once and for a few hours. Think of the hundreds of...

When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will...

When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will...

We all like to forgive, and love best not those who offend us least, nor...

We all like to forgive, and love best not those who offend us least, nor...

There is no such source of error as the pursuit of truth.

There is no such source of error as the pursuit of truth.

Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.

Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.

We are not won by arguments that we can analyze but by the tone and...

We are not won by arguments that we can analyze but by the tone and...

Women can stand a beating except when it is with their own weapons.

Women can stand a beating except when it is with their own weapons.

Genius is no respecter of time, trouble, money or persons, the four things around which...

Genius is no respecter of time, trouble, money or persons, the four things around which...

Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything...

Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything...

The want of money is the root of all evil.

The want of money is the root of all evil.

The most important service rendered by the press and the magazines is that of educating...

The most important service rendered by the press and the magazines is that of educating...

Silence and tact may or may not be the same thing.

Silence and tact may or may not be the same thing.

There are two great rules in life, the one general and the other particular. The...

There are two great rules in life, the one general and the other particular. The...

Be prepared, be sharp, be careful, and use the King's English well. And you can...

Be prepared, be sharp, be careful, and use the King's English well. And you can...

Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from rules.

Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from rules.