--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pleasure that isn't paid for is as…" description: "\"Pleasure that isn't paid for is as insipid as everything else that's free.\" — Anita Loos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anita-loos-10892_free_pleasure-that-isn-t-paid-for-is-as-insip_2606401.png" --- # Pleasure that isn't paid for is as insipid as everything… ![“Pleasure that isn't paid for is as insipid as everything else that's free.” quote by Anita Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anita-loos-10892_free_pleasure-that-isn-t-paid-for-is-as-insip_2606401.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anita-loos-10892_free_pleasure-that-isn-t-paid-for-is-as-insip_2606401.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anita-loos-10892_free_pleasure-that-isn-t-paid-for-is-as-insip_2606401.png) > “Pleasure that isn't paid for is as insipid as everything else that's free.” [Anita Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-loos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free pleasures lack depth and become dull without effort. **In simple terms:** Free things can feel empty. Key Takeaway Seek value through effort, not just free offerings. Themes value effort pleasure Mood witty critical Type literary social When to use this quote - marketing - personal finance - relationships Key Concepts consumer culture psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does a free offering add value? - How can effort enhance enjoyment? A Different Perspective Not all free experiences are shallow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [“Pleasure isn't the only thing that can make you float, Daniel." It sounds as though Archer is talking from a long way away. "Pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cari-waites/pleasure-isn-t-the-only-thing-that-can-make-you-float-daniel-it/) [Cari Waites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cari-waites/) > [There are some elements in life - above all, sexual pleasure - about which it isn't necessary to have a position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/there-are-some-elements-in-life-above-all-sexual-pleasure-about-which/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The pleasure isn't in doing the thing, the pleasure is in planning it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-pleasure-isn-t-in-doing-the-thing-the-pleasure-is-in-planning-it/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Reading for pleasure isn’t separate from learning to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-allyn/reading-for-pleasure-isn-t-separate-from-learning-to-read/) [Pam Allyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-allyn/) > [Anyone who is observant, who discovers the person they have always dreamed of, knows that sexual energy comes into play before sex even takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/anyone-who-is-observant-who-discovers-the-person-they-have-always/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The pleasure isn't in owning the person. The pleasure is this. Having another contender in the room with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-pleasure-isn-t-in-owning-the-person-the-pleasure-is-this-having/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [To me history ought to be a source of pleasure. It isn't just part of our civic responsibility. To me it's an enlargement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/to-me-history-ought-to-be-a-source-of-pleasure-it-isn-t-just-part-of-2/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“To me, history ought to be a source of pleasure. It isn't just part of our civic responsibility. 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Water, when simple, is insipid, inodorous, colorless, and smooth; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/water-and-oil-simply-considered-are-capable-of-giving-some-pleasure/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Atheism can benefit no class of people; neither the unfortunate, whom it bereaves of hope, nor the prosperous, whose joys it renders insipid, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/atheism-can-benefit-no-class-of-people-neither-the-unfortunate-whom/) [François-René de Chateaubriand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/) ## More by Anita Loos > [A kiss on the hand may feel very, very good, but a diamond and sapphire bracelet lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-loos/a-kiss-on-the-hand-may-feel-very-very-good-but-a-diamond-and-sapphire/) [Anita Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-loos/) > [Memory is more incredible than ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-loos/memory-is-more-incredible-than-ink/) [Anita Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-loos/) > [“So Dorothy said we might was well go out to Fountainblo with Louie and Robber if Louie would take off his yellow spats which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-loos/so-dorothy-said-we-might-was-well-go-out-to-fountainblo-with-louie/) [Anita Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-loos/) > [The wrong side of the tracks is livelier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-loos/the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks-is-livelier/) [Anita Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-loos/) > [I've had my best times when trailing a Mainbocher evening gown across a sawdust floor. 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We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Music is how I get free. 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