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Quote by AS Byatt

“Pleasure is life,...and most of us don't have it, or not much, or mess it up, and when we see it in those blues, those roses, those oranges, that vermilion, we should fall down and worship - for it is the thing itself.”

Quote by AS Byatt

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AS Byatt

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“The purpose of art is then to reveal a beauty that we like or can be taught to like; the purpose of art is to give pleasure; the work of art as the source of pleasure is its own end; art is for art's sake. We value the work for the pleasure to be derived from the sight, sound, or touch of its aesthetic surfaces; our conception of beauty is literally skin-deep; questions of utility and intelligibility rarely arise, and if they arise are dismissed as irrelevant.”

ArtPurposePleasureBeautyUtilityAesthetics
Book:Christian & Oriental Philosophy of Art Formerly: "Why Exhibit Works of Art?"
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“The recollection of past pleasure may become pain—’ ‘It does,’ interposed the other. ‘Well; it does. To remember happiness which cannot be restored, is pain, but of a softened kind. Our recollections are unfortunately mingled with much that we deplore, and with many actions which we bitterly repent; still in the most chequered life I firmly think there are so many little rays of sunshine to look back upon, that I do not believe any mortal (unless he had put himself without the pale of hope) would deliberately drain a goblet of the waters of Lethe, if he had it in his power.’ ‘Possibly you are correct in that belief,’ said the grey-haired gentleman after a short reflection. ‘I am inclined to think you are.’ ‘Why, then,’ replied the other, ‘the good in this state of existence preponderates over the bad, let miscalled philosophers tell us what they will. If our affections be tried, our affections are our consolation and comfort; and memory, however sad, is the best and purest link between this world and a better.”

JoyPleasureGriefSorrowMemoryNostalgia
Book:Nicholas Nickleby
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“But fear is part of your game, isn't it?" I look at him. "The fear that you might hurt me. That you might actually use that thing on me." I glance at the billy club, lying a few feet away, and I shudder. "Did it not excite you, just a little?" He smiles and I see the gleam of cruelty beneath the surface of those dark eyes. "You wouldn't really use it on me, would you?" "That is the mystery, is it not? How far will I go? Will I use the whip too savagely and tear your beautiful back? You do not know. You cannot predict what I will do next." He slides his fingers down my cheek. "Danger is intoxicating, Ava. So is pain. I give you only as much as you want. As much as you can bear." "I don't know what I can bear." "This we shall learn.”

PainDesirePleasureBdsm
Book:The Shape of Night
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