--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two very natural propensities…" description: "\"There are two very natural propensities which we may distinguish in the most virtuous and liberal dispositions, the love of pleasure and the love of ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/edward-gibbon-710_action_there-are-two-very-natural-propensities_327329.jpg" --- # There are two very natural propensities which we may… ![“There are two very natural propensities which we may distinguish in the most virtuous and liberal dispositions, the love of pleasure and the love of action. If the former is refined by art and learning, improved by the charms of social intercourse, and corrected by a just regard to economy, to…” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/edward-gibbon-710_action_there-are-two-very-natural-propensities_327329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/edward-gibbon-710_action_there-are-two-very-natural-propensities_327329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/edward-gibbon-710_action_there-are-two-very-natural-propensities_327329.jpg) > “There are two very natural propensities which we may distinguish in the most virtuous and liberal dispositions, the love of pleasure and the love of action. If the former is refined by art and learning, improved by the charms of social intercourse, and corrected by a just regard to economy, to health, and to reputation, it is productive of the greatest part of the happiness of private life.” [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pleasure and action, refined by culture and restraint, are key to private happiness. **In simple terms:** Balanced pleasure and activity bring joy. Key Takeaway Cultivate refined pleasures and purposeful actions. Themes philosophy ethics happiness Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - daily routines - social gatherings - personal development Key Concepts virtue moderation social interaction Questions to Reflect On - What balance of pleasure and action suits you? - How does culture shape your happiness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on pleasure can lead to excess. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Intercourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intercourse/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-pleasure/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Private life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-life/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [Love not Pleasure; love God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/love-not-pleasure-love-god/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [There exists in human nature a strong propensity to depreciate the advantages, and to magnify the evils, of the present times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/there-exists-in-human-nature-a-strong-propensity-to-depreciate-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [An extensive empire must be supported by a refined system of policy and oppression; in the centre, an absolute power, prompt in action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/an-extensive-empire-must-be-supported-by-a-refined-system-of-policy/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Those who are devoted to amusements; who love the society of those who love pleasure, have an aversion to religious exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/those-who-are-devoted-to-amusements-who-love-the-society-of-those-who/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Life's saving graces are love, pleasure, laughter ... wisdom, it seems, is for the Hereafter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/life-s-saving-graces-are-love-pleasure-laughter-wisdom-it-seems-is/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) > [TO LOVE is to find pleasure in the happiness of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/to-love-is-to-find-pleasure-in-the-happiness-of-others/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Loves is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It dose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/love-is-always-patient-and-kind-it-is-never-jealous-loves-is-never/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [To love pleasure takes little. To love truly takes a hero who can manage his own fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/to-love-pleasure-takes-little-to-love-truly-takes-a-hero-who-can/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Real love...is when you get as much pleasure from giving pleasure as you do from receiving it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/real-love-is-when-you-get-as-much-pleasure-from-giving-pleasure-as/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-valiente/all-acts-of-love-and-pleasure-are-my-rituals/) [Doreen Valiente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-valiente/) > [Love is pleasure accompanied by the idea of an external cause, and hatred pain accompanied by the idea of an external cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/love-is-pleasure-accompanied-by-the-idea-of-an-external-cause-and/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Things can give pleasure to the mind and senses, but only love can give pleasure to the heart. And ultimately, that is what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/things-can-give-pleasure-to-the-mind-and-senses-but-only-love-can/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“Proverbs 21:17-18 17 Those who love pleasure become poor;        those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/proverbs-21-17-18-17-those-who-love-pleasure-become-poor-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/those-who-love-pleasure-become-poor-wine-and-luxury-are-not-the-way/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [“Unfortunately for you love, I take my pleasure with a shot of pain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-lake/unfortunately-for-you-love-i-take-my-pleasure-with-a-shot-of-pain/) [Keri Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-lake/) ## More by Edward Gibbon > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-heart-to-resolve-a-head-to-contrive-and-a-hand-to-execute/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[In\] the national and religious conflict of the \[Byzantine and Saracen\] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-of-the-byzantine-and-saracen/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-progress-of-despotism-tends-to-disappoint-its-own-purpose/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/from-the-paths-of-blood-and-such-is-the-history-of-nations-i-cannot/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Explore all 399 Edward Gibbon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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