You must admit there are no definite external causes of…
““You must admit there are no definite external causes of pain nor those of pleasure, for one and the same thing causes pain at one time and pleasure at another. A cause of delight to one person turns out to be that of aversion to another. A dying miser might revive at the sight of gold, yet a Diogenes would pass without noticing it. Cigars and wine are blessed gifts of heaven to the intemperate,[FN#215] but accursed poison to the temperate. Some might enjoy a long life, but others would heartily desire to curtail it. Some might groan under a slight indisposition, while others would whistle away a life of serious disease. An Epicure might be taken prisoner by poverty, yet an Epictetus would fearlessly face and vanquish him. How, then, do you distinguish the real cause of pain from that of pleasure? How do you know the causes of one are more numerous than the causes of the other? [FN#215]””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage argues that pain and pleasure arise from the same sources, differing only by individual perception and temperament, making objective causes elusive.
In simple terms: Pain and pleasure depend on personal view, not fixed causes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize subjectivity in experiences.
Themes
philosophy
perception
subjectivity
ethics
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- psychology
- moral decision making
Key Concepts
Stoicism
Epicureanism
relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you determine which experiences are beneficial for you?
- Can you accept that others may find value where you see harm?
A Different Perspective
Human experience varies; what comforts one may harm another.