Art Quote by Alan Watts
“The secret of the enjoyment of pleasure is to know when to stop. Man doesn't learn this secret easily, but to shun pleasure altogether is cowardly avoidance of a difficult job. For we have to learn the art of enjoying things BECAUSE they are impermanent.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Wisdom of Insecurity, Alan Watts, 1960
Pleasure is valuable but must be enjoyed in moderation because it is fleeting; avoiding it entirely is cowardly.
In simple terms: Enjoy pleasure wisely because it ends soon.
Key Takeaway
Practice mindful enjoyment.
Themes
moderation
impermanence
pleasure
courage
Mood
reflective
balanced
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- relationships
- food
- entertainment
- travel
- hobbies
Key Concepts
Stoicism
mindfulness
hedonism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when enough is enough?
- What limits do you set for enjoyable activities?
A Different Perspective
Overindulgence can lead to loss of control or addiction.
![“The summum bonum of this [Puritan] ethic is the earning of more and more money combined with the strict avoidance of all enjoyment.” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c4/max-weber-8418_avoidance_the-summum-bonum-of-this-puritan-ethic-i_205628.jpg)
