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Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow; but the…

“Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow; but the misfortune is that in this particular case, the substance belongs to the shadow, the emptiness to its cause.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton
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“Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow; but the misfortune is that in this particular case, the substance belongs to the shadow, the emptiness to its cause.”

Charles Caleb Colton

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Pleasure casts a shadow of pain, and sometimes the pain itself becomes the substance, leaving emptiness as its cause.

In simple terms: Pleasure often leads to pain, which can dominate.

Key Takeaway

Beware of chasing pleasure without considering its costs.

Themes

philosophy psychology balance

Mood

thoughtful cautionary

Type

philosophical advisory

When to use this quote

  • addiction recovery
  • risk assessment
  • emotional regulation

Key Concepts

shadow self dualism cause and effect

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can you identify when pleasure becomes harmful?
  • How do you balance desire and consequence?
A Different Perspective

Pleasure and pain are not always separate.

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