“Virtue is the nursing-mother of all human pleasures, who, in rendering them just, renders them also pure and permanent; in moderating them, keeps them in breath and appetite; in interdicting those which she herself refuses, whets our desires to those that she allows; and, like a kind and liberal mother, abundantly allows all that nature requires, even to satiety, if not to lassitude.” IfsHumansKindMotherDesirePleasureVirtuePureBreathsRefusePermanentAppetiteNursingRenderingSatiety Author:Socrates
“Human life is fragile: we live in the space between one breath and the next. We often try to maintain an illusion of permanence, through what we do, say, wear, buy, and how we enjoy ourselves and who and how we love. Yet it is an illusion that is constantly being undermined by change and death. We can use diamonds in whatever way we like. They are empty things, pretty as water, yet within them—if we want to see it—there is blood, dust, love, curses, and suffering. There is desire to make someone happy, there is admiration, there is ostentation…and there is a company’s profit curve.” IfsWayWantTryingHumansUseLife IsDesireSufferingNextEnjoyWaterSpaceCompanyBloodIllusionEmptyBreathsProfitDustHuman LifeCurseAdmirationFragileDiamondCurvesPermanenceSpace BetweenOstentationLife Is FragileMake Someone Happy Author:Victoria Finlay
“Not all the subtilties of metaphysics can make me doubt a moment of the immortality of the soul, and of a beneficent Providence. I feel it, I believe it, I desire it, I hope it, and will defend it to my last breath.” FeelsBelieveSoulMomentsLastsDesireI BelieveDoubtBreathsImmortalityProvidenceMetaphysics Author:Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Self-reflection is a desire felt by the body, as well as the soul. As dancers, healers, and saints all know, when you turn your attention toward even the simplest physical process - breath, the small movements of the eyes, the turning of a foot in midair - what might have seemed dull matter suddenly awakens.” KnowsWellsSoulSelfMatterBodyMightEyeDesireTurnsFeltProcessAttentionFeetMovementReflectionBreathsSaintDullDancerSimplestSelf ReflectionHealer Book:The Book of the Courtesans: A Catalogue of Their Virtues Source: The Book of the Courtesans: A Catalogue of Their Virtues
“Realism gives me the impression of a mistake. Violence alone escapes the feeling of poverty of those realistic experiences. Only death and desire have the force that oppresses, that takes one's breath away. Only the extremism of desire and death enable one to attain the truth.” GivingFeelingsDesireForceMistakePovertyViolenceGive MeBreathsImpressionRealisticRealismExtremism Author:Georges Bataille