Pleasure Quotes | Beyond Motive

top of page

Pleasure Quotes

"The pleasure that is in sorrow is sweeter than the pleasure of pleasure itself."

"The pleasure that is in sorrow is sweeter than the pleasure of pleasure itself."

Percy Bysshe Shelley, English Poet

Pleasure, Sorrow

89

"I just don't want anyone messing around with my pure smoking pleasure."

"I just don't want anyone messing around with my pure smoking pleasure."

Max Cannon, American Artist

Pleasure, Smoking, Want

47

"Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure."

"Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure."

Aldous Huxley, English Novelist

47

"It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver."

"It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver."

Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian Writer

43

"The greatest pleasures are only narrowly separated from disgust."

"The greatest pleasures are only narrowly separated from disgust."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Pleasure, Disgust

38

"A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke."

"A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke."

Groucho Marx, American Comedian

Pleasure, Woman

38

"Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable."

"Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable."

Jane Austen, British Writer

Pleasure, Surprises

34

"There is pleasure when a sore is scratched, But to be without sores is more pleasurable still. Just so, there are pleasures in worldly desires, But to be without desires is more pleasurable still."

"There is pleasure when a sore is scratched, But to be without sores is more pleasurable still. Just so, there are pleasures in worldly desires, But to be without desires is more pleasurable still."

Nagarjuna, Indian Philosopher

32

"Fast cars are my only vice."

"Fast cars are my only vice."

Michael Bay, American Director

32

"Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It's to see my dividends coming in."

"Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It's to see my dividends coming in."

John D. Rockefeller, American Businessman

32

"The greatest pleasure of reading consists in re-reading."

"The greatest pleasure of reading consists in re-reading."

Vernon Lee, British Author

Pleasure, Reading

30

"Draw your pleasure, paint your pleasure, and express your pleasure strongly."

"Draw your pleasure, paint your pleasure, and express your pleasure strongly."

Pierre Bonnard, French Artist

30

"It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver."

"It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver."

Jean de La Fontaine, French Poet

29

"The essence of pleasure is spontaneity."

"The essence of pleasure is spontaneity."

Germaine Greer, Australian Activist

Pleasure, Spontaneity

27

"Some loves are like a vice that has ceased to give pleasure."

"Some loves are like a vice that has ceased to give pleasure."

Mason Cooley, American Writer

27

"This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it."

"This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it."

Voltaire, French Writer

27

"Show me another pleasure like dinner which comes every day and lasts an hour."

"Show me another pleasure like dinner which comes every day and lasts an hour."

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, French Diplomat

27

"I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary notices I have read with pleasure."

"I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary notices I have read with pleasure."

Clarence Darrow, American Lawyer

26

"To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement."

"To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement."

Joseph Addison, English Writer

Pleasure, Amusement, Man

25

"Variety of mere nothings gives more pleasure than uniformity of something."

"Variety of mere nothings gives more pleasure than uniformity of something."

Jean Paul, German Author

Pleasure, Variety

24

"I find pleasure in things that are simple."

"I find pleasure in things that are simple."

Stephan Jenkins, American Musician

24

"The pleasure that I take in writing gets me interested in writing a poem. It's not a statement about what I think anybody else should be doing. For me, it's an interesting tension between interior and exterior."

"The pleasure that I take in writing gets me interested in writing a poem. It's not a statement about what I think anybody else should be doing. For me, it's an interesting tension between interior and exterior."

Marilyn Hacker, American Poet

Pleasure, Tension, Writing

24

"Everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah."

"Everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah."

Cat Stevens, British Musician

24

"When I'm writing a song, it gives me more actual pleasure to hear someone else sing it than do it meself."

"When I'm writing a song, it gives me more actual pleasure to hear someone else sing it than do it meself."

Shane MacGowan, Irish Musician

Pleasure, Song, Writing

24

"The real pleasure in writing this, for me, was discovering how little you need."

"The real pleasure in writing this, for me, was discovering how little you need."

Jonathan Franzen, American Novelist

Pleasure, Writing

24

"The person whose doors I enter with most pleasure, and quit with most regret, never did me the smallest favor."

"The person whose doors I enter with most pleasure, and quit with most regret, never did me the smallest favor."

William Hazlitt, English Critic

Pleasure, Regret

24

"Perhaps all pleasure is only relief."

"Perhaps all pleasure is only relief."

William S. Burroughs, American Writer

24

"Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable."

"Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable."

Lord Chesterfield, British Statesman

23

"My pleasure was to copy, not to create."

"My pleasure was to copy, not to create."

Manuel Puig, Argentinian Author

23

"Sorry, but there is no pleasure in finding new ways of saying the same stuff about projects which tanked."

"Sorry, but there is no pleasure in finding new ways of saying the same stuff about projects which tanked."

Alex Cox, British Director

Pleasure, Projects, Saying

22

"What leads to unhappiness, is making pleasure the chief aim."

"What leads to unhappiness, is making pleasure the chief aim."

William Shenstone, English Poet

Pleasure, Unhappiness

22

"Pleasure is often spoiled by describing it."

"Pleasure is often spoiled by describing it."

Stendhal, French Writer

22

"Ease up, the play is over."

"Ease up, the play is over."

Horace Greeley, American Editor

21

"But I don't read or listen for pleasure. I have too much else to do."

"But I don't read or listen for pleasure. I have too much else to do."

Piers Anthony, English Writer

21

"How delicious is pleasure after torment!"

"How delicious is pleasure after torment!"

Pierre Corneille, French Dramatist

21

"No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water."

"No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water."

Horace, Roman Poet

Pleasure, Water

21

"I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and without regret. I'm very lucky."

"I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and without regret. I'm very lucky."

Jeanne Calment, French Celebrity

Pleasure, Regret

21

"Pleasure is none, if not diversified."

"Pleasure is none, if not diversified."

John Donne, British Poet

20

"I don't believe for one moment you can write well what you wouldn't read for pleasure."

"I don't believe for one moment you can write well what you wouldn't read for pleasure."

Nora Roberts, American Author

20

"During my first few weeks in Italy, all my Protestant synapses were zinging in distress, looking for a task. I wanted to take on pleasure like a homework assignment, or a giant science fair project."

"During my first few weeks in Italy, all my Protestant synapses were zinging in distress, looking for a task. I wanted to take on pleasure like a homework assignment, or a giant science fair project."

Elizabeth Gilbert, American Novelist

Pleasure, Guilt, Culture, Joy

20

"I confess that reading proofs is a pleasure. It stimulates and inspires me."

"I confess that reading proofs is a pleasure. It stimulates and inspires me."

Zane Grey, American Author

Pleasure, Reading

19

"I've got to be honest, there's no pleasure when you're working."

"I've got to be honest, there's no pleasure when you're working."

Dana Plato, American Actress

19

"Give them pleasure - the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare."

"Give them pleasure - the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare."

Alfred Hitchcock, English Director

19

"Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains."

"Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains."

Democritus, Greek Philosopher

Pleasure, Moderation

19

"Child! Do not throw this book about; refrain from the unholy pleasure of cutting all the pictures out."

"Child! Do not throw this book about; refrain from the unholy pleasure of cutting all the pictures out."

Hilaire Belloc, English Poet

18

"Who ever said that pleasure wasn't functional?"

"Who ever said that pleasure wasn't functional?"

Charles Eames, American Designer

18

"Writing is self-pleasure."

"Writing is self-pleasure."

Bangambiki Habyarimana, Rwandan Author

Pleasure, Writing, Self, Expression

18

"I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing."

"I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing."

Francis Quarles, English Poet

Pleasure, Reading, Writing

17

"Tea-shops were to become my favourite haunts in England."

"Tea-shops were to become my favourite haunts in England."

Zola Budd, South African Athlete

Pleasure, England, Tea

17

"Tomorrow is a thief of pleasure."

"Tomorrow is a thief of pleasure."

Rex Harrison, British Actor

Pleasure, Tomorrow

17

bottom of page