Joseph Butler Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

“Happiness or satisfaction consists only in the enjoyment of those objects which are by nature suited to our several particular appetites, passions, and affections.”

“The principle we call self-love never seeks anything external for the sake of the thing, but only as a means of happiness or good: particular affections rest in the external things themselves.”

“The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and cool self-love alone; therefore the appetites and passions are placed within as a guard and further security, without which it would not be taken due care of.”

“Pain and sorrow and misery have a right to our assistance: compassion puts us in mind of the debt, and that we owe it to ourselves as well as to the distressed.”

“Man may act according to that principle or inclination which for the present happens to be strongest, and yet act in a way disproportionate to, and violate his real proper nature.”

“Every man hath a general desire of his own happiness; and likewise a variety of particular affections, passions, and appetites to particular external objects.”

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

“The final causes, then, of compassion are to prevent and to relieve misery.”

“Every one of our passions and affections hath its natural stint and bound, which may easily be exceeded; whereas our enjoyments can possibly be but in a determinate measure and degree.”

“Consequently it will often happen there will be a desire of particular objects, in cases where they cannot be obtained without manifest injury to others.”