I always do the first line well, but I have trouble doing the others.
True, Heaven prohibits certain pleasures; but one can generally negotiate a compromise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while there are moral limitations on pleasure, individuals often find ways to navigate those boundaries.
Moliere's quote reflects the human tendency to seek pleasure even in the face of moral or societal restrictions. It implies that while certain joys may be deemed inappropriate by higher authorities or ethical standards, a compromise can be reached, allowing individuals to indulge in some form of enjoyment without completely crossing the line. This highlights the conflict between human desires and moral imperatives, showcasing a pragmatic approach to pleasure.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a discussion on the balance between ethics and personal desires in a philosophy class.
More from Moliere
All quotes →Beauty without intelligence is like a hook without bait.
Betrayed and wronged in everything, I’ll flee this bitter world where vice is king, And seek some spot unpeopled and apart Where I’ll be free to have an honest heart. - Molière, The Misanthrope
Long is the road from conception to completion.
Oh, I may be devout, but I am human all the same.
Hypocrisy is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue.
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I have been brought up open-minded. If I didn't know any people from other countries, I'd think everyone was evil based on news stories. But I know a lot of people, and know that there is no such thing as stark good and evil. Isn't it possible there is the same amount of evil everywhere?
It does not do to rely too much on silent majorities, Evey, for silence is a fragile thing, one loud noise, and its gone. But the people are so cowed and disorganised. A few might take the opportunity to protest, but it'll just be a voice crying in the wilderness. Noise is relative to the silence preceding it. The more absolute the hush, the more shocking the thunderclap. Our masters have not heard the people's voice for generations, Evey and it is much, much louder than they care to remember.
I regret, as much as any member, the unavoidable weight and duration of the burdens to be imposed; having never been a proselyte to the doctrine, that public debts are public benefits. I consider them, on the contrary, as evils which ought to be removed as fast as honor and justice will permit.
Reason and Ignorance, the opposites of each other, influence the great bulk of mankind. If either of these can be rendered sufficiently extensive in a country, the machinery of Government goes easily on. Reason obeys itself; and Ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.