--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad…" description: "\"Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad thing. But when it is exalted to a necessity and we become dependent upon it, then we are slaves of our body and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/dallas-willard-819_bad-thing_bodily-pleasure-is-not-in-itself-a-bad-t_1379047.jpg" --- # Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad thing. But when it… ![“Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad thing. But when it is exalted to a necessity and we become dependent upon it, then we are slaves of our body and its feelings. Only misery lies ahead.” quote by Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/dallas-willard-819_bad-thing_bodily-pleasure-is-not-in-itself-a-bad-t_1379047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/dallas-willard-819_bad-thing_bodily-pleasure-is-not-in-itself-a-bad-t_1379047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/dallas-willard-819_bad-thing_bodily-pleasure-is-not-in-itself-a-bad-t_1379047.jpg) > “Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad thing. But when it is exalted to a necessity and we become dependent upon it, then we are slaves of our body and its feelings. Only misery lies ahead.” [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A philosophical warning that excessive reliance on bodily pleasure can enslave one, leading to suffering. **In simple terms:** Overindulgence in pleasure can enslave. Key Takeaway Seek balance, avoid dependency. Themes ethics self‑control spirituality Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - lifestyle choices - addiction recovery - spiritual discipline Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What pleasures do you enjoy responsibly? - How do you maintain balance between desire and restraint? A Different Perspective May neglect legitimate enjoyment of pleasure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Bodily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodily/) [Bodily Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodily-pleasure-2007407/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-feelings-2267354/) [Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent/) [Exalted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exalted/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-bad-473340/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [When you're seeking after bodily pleasure of food and drink for example, this is going to prevent you from doing what you should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-adamson/when-you-re-seeking-after-bodily-pleasure-of-food-and-drink-for/) [Peter Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-adamson/) > [We are certainly in a common class with the beasts; every action of animal life is concerned with seeking bodily pleasure and avoiding pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/we-are-certainly-in-a-common-class-with-the-beasts-every-action-of/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Catholics have more extreme sex lives because they're taught that pleasure is bad for you. Who thinks it's normal to kneel down to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/catholics-have-more-extreme-sex-lives-because-they-re-taught-that/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“One of the truths I had had to accept during my years on the couch was that pleasure was not bad, that it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-juska/one-of-the-truths-i-had-had-to-accept-during-my-years-on-the-couch/) [Jane Juska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-juska/) > [I don't think I ever played any sports recreationally for my own pleasure. I was bad at them from the start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-don-t-think-i-ever-played-any-sports-recreationally-for-my-own/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [No person knows your body better than you. The world's most sophisticated and sensitive diagnostic apparatus is your own body's feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/no-person-knows-your-body-better-than-you-the-world-s-most/) [Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/) > [Feelings do not grow old along with the body. Feelings form part of a world I dont know, but its a world where theres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/feelings-do-not-grow-old-along-with-the-body-feelings-form-part-of-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It has meant getting in touch with my body and feelings in real time, and learning to express them. I am learning to engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-maree-brown/it-has-meant-getting-in-touch-with-my-body-and-feelings-in-real-time/) [Adrienne Maree Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-maree-brown/) > [Feelings do not grow old along with the body. Feelings form part of a world I don’t know, but it’s a world where there’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/feelings-do-not-grow-old-along-with-the-body-feelings-form-part-of-a/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Although skin color is undoubtedly the most salient signal of racial identity in America, other actual or imagined bodily features have also been seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-kennedy/although-skin-color-is-undoubtedly-the-most-salient-signal-of-racial/) [Randall Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-kennedy/) > [I'm careful, controlled, bodily conservative: if someone offered me a pill I'd only ever take a half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-harper/i-m-careful-controlled-bodily-conservative-if-someone-offered-me-a/) [Roy Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-harper/) > [Poetry is language trying to become bodily experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-mccabe/poetry-is-language-trying-to-become-bodily-experience/) [Herbert McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-mccabe/) > [We can't feel the rotation of the planet, but in some ways we can because our bodily systems are reacting to it and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessa-gamble/we-can-t-feel-the-rotation-of-the-planet-but-in-some-ways-we-can/) [Jessa Gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessa-gamble/) > [My work is very bodily. It's not a shell, but a body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-zeisel/my-work-is-very-bodily-it-s-not-a-shell-but-a-body/) [Eva Zeisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-zeisel/) > [Perhaps the most sophisticated and highly evolved system is that originated by Joseph Scogna. I was impressed by the profound insights into the relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-ballentine/perhaps-the-most-sophisticated-and-highly-evolved-system-is-that/) [Rudolph Ballentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-ballentine/) ## More by Dallas Willard > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Sabbath is a way of life (Heb 4:3; 9-11). 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It is as we thus behold the “glory of the Lord”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-spirit-makes-christ-present-to-us-and-draws-us-toward-his/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We are unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God's great universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-are-unceasing-spiritual-beings-with-an-eternal-destiny-in-god-s/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We know we can't be spiritually transformed by just focusing on the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-know-we-can-t-be-spiritually-transformed-by-just-focusing-on-the/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [To allow lust (or strong desires) to govern our life is to exalt our will over God's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/to-allow-lust-or-strong-desires-to-govern-our-life-is-to-exalt-our/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [My central claim is that we become like Christ by doing one thing-by following Him in the overall style of life He chose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/my-central-claim-is-that-we-become-like-christ-by-doing-one-thing-by/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-aim-of-god-in-history-is-the-creation-of-an-all-inclusive/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-greatest-issue-facing-the-world-today-with-all-its-heartbreaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own-unassisted-strength-is-still/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) [Explore all 357 Dallas Willard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. 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I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. 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I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. 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Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) [Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad thing. But when it is exalted to a necessity and we become dependent upon it, then we are slaves of our body and its feelings. 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