Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two…
““Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on the other the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it. In words a man may pretend to abjure their empire: but in reality he will remain subject to it all the while. The principle of utility recognizes this subjection, and assumes it for the foundation of that system, the object of which is to rear the fabric of felicity by the hands of reason and of law. Systems which attempt to question it, deal in sounds instead of sense, in caprice instead of reason, in darkness instead of light.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human actions are driven by pain and pleasure, which dictate moral judgments and consequences; utilitarianism builds on this to maximize overall happiness.
In simple terms: Pain and pleasure guide morality; utilitarianism seeks greatest happiness.
Key Takeaway
Consider consequences when judging actions.
Themes
ethics
philosophy
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- personal decisions
- legal judgments
- social reforms
Key Concepts
utilitarianism
consequentialism
moral psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What role do duty and intention play?
- Can happiness be measured objectively?
A Different Perspective
Complex human motives may not fit simple pleasure‑pain model.