“Let us consider what we call vicious luxury. No gratification, however sensual, can of itself be esteemed vicious. A gratification is only vicious when it engrosses all a man's expense, and leaves no ability for such acts of duty and generosity as are required by his situation and fortune. The same care and toil that raise a dish of peas at Christmas would give bread to a whole family during six months.” MenGivingWholeCareAbilitySituationDutyMonthsSixRaisesFortuneBreadLuxurySensualGenerosityExpensesDishesToilViciousSix MonthsGratificationWhole FamilyPeas Book:Selected essays Source: Selected essays
“All ills spring from some vice, either in ourselves or others; and even many of our diseases proceed from the same origin. Remove the vices; and the ills follow. You must only take care to remove all the vices. If you remove part, you may render the matter worse. By banishing vicious luxury, without curing sloth and an indifference to others, you only diminish industry in the state, and add nothing to men's charity or their generosity.” IfsMenMayMatterStatesCareIndustryDiseaseSpringAddCharityVicesTake CareLuxuryGenerosityIndifferenceRemoveDiminishViciousSloth Book:Essays, moral, political, and literary Source: Essays, moral, political, and literary