---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First, human character was varied…"
description: "\"“First, human character was varied. Second, pleasure lay less in feeling things than in doing things, that is in pursuits and activities. Last, certain..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/edmund-fawcett-42600_character_first-human-character-was-varied-second_285646.jpg"
---

#  First, human character was varied. Second, pleasure lay…

![“First, human character was varied. Second, pleasure lay less in feeling things than in doing things, that is in pursuits and activities. Last, certain kinds of pleasure were “higher” than others. It was better to be “a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied…” quote by Edmund Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/edmund-fawcett-42600_character_first-human-character-was-varied-second_285646.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/edmund-fawcett-42600_character_first-human-character-was-varied-second_285646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/edmund-fawcett-42600_character_first-human-character-was-varied-second_285646.jpg)

> ““First, human character was varied. Second, pleasure lay less in feeling things than in doing things, that is in pursuits and activities. Last, certain kinds of pleasure were “higher” than others. It was better to be “a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.””

[Edmund Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-fawcett/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human fulfillment comes from active engagement and higher pursuits, not mere sensory pleasure; striving for intellectual dissatisfaction is preferable to simple contentment.

**In simple terms:** Active, higher pursuits bring deeper satisfaction than passive pleasure.

Key Takeaway

Pursue meaningful activities over easy comforts.

Themes

purpose intellectual growth pleasure human nature

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career choices
- educational goals
- creative projects
- personal development

Key Concepts

higher vs lower pleasure satisfaction theory philosophy of desire human fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- What activities make you feel truly alive?
- Can comfort pleasure ever replace meaningful work?

A Different Perspective

Higher pleasures often require sacrifice and effort.

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[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Varied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-varied-2760776/) [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Human Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-character/) [Kinds Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinds-pleasure-2760777/) [Socrates Dissatisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socrates-dissatisfied-1891140/)

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