Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil: it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Pleasant things are not evil themselves; the problem is when they enslave your moral self.
- In plain terms
- Enjoying pleasant things is fine unless it makes you a slave to them.
- What can you take from it?
- Control enjoyment to avoid enslaving your moral self.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does pleasure become slavery?
- What keeps moral self free?
Another view
Defining when enjoyment becomes slavery can be subjective.
More from Thomas Carlyle
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