--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thought is the greatest of pleasures…" description: "\"Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is only imagination—have you ever enjoyed anything more than your dreams?\" — Gustave Flaubert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg" --- # Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is… ![“Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is only imagination—have you ever enjoyed anything more than your dreams?” quote by Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg) > “Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is only imagination—have you ever enjoyed anything more than your dreams?” [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True pleasure lies in thought; pleasure itself is imagined, so the deepest joy comes from intellectual imagination beyond ordinary dreams. **In simple terms:** Thinking is the highest joy. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep, imaginative thinking. Themes philosophy creativity joy Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - reading - writing - meditation - creative brainstorming Key Concepts imagination pleasure theory intellectual fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What thought has brought you the greatest joy? - How can you turn imagination into daily practice? A Different Perspective Pleasure can be fleeting; intellectual joy may feel abstract or inaccessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Greatest pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-pleasures/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-imagination-1498725/) [Pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasures/) [Pleasures Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasures-pleasure-443483/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest of all pleasures is the pleasure of learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-greatest-of-all-pleasures-is-the-pleasure-of-learning/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“There is no pleasure in Jalebi (dessert); the pleasure is in your imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-no-pleasure-in-jalebi-dessert-the-pleasure-is-in-your/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/everything-that-is-new-or-uncommon-raises-a-pleasure-in-the/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There are many other pleasures - besides the pleasure of physical union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiz-ahmad-faiz/there-are-many-other-pleasures-besides-the-pleasure-of-physical-union/) [Faiz Ahmad Faiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiz-ahmad-faiz/) > [“I don't believe in guilty pleasures. Pleasure is pleasure, enjoy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-wood/i-don-t-believe-in-guilty-pleasures-pleasure-is-pleasure-enjoy/) [Annie Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-wood/) > [Haven't you noticed that we women daydream infinitely less than you men? We can't anticipate pleasure in our imagination or keep suffering out our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/haven-t-you-noticed-that-we-women-daydream-infinitely-less-than-you/) [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) > [There's something so beautiful in coming on one's very inmost thoughts in another. In one way it is one of the greatest pleasures one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/there-s-something-so-beautiful-in-coming-on-one-s-very-inmost/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [“ We derive our greatest pleasures not from novelty but from familiarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/we-derive-our-greatest-pleasures-not-from-novelty-but-from-familiarity/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [Throwing yourself into a job you enjoy is one of the life's greatest pleasures!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/throwing-yourself-into-a-job-you-enjoy-is-one-of-the-life-s-greatest/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Thinking is one of the greatest pleasures of the human race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/thinking-is-one-of-the-greatest-pleasures-of-the-human-race/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [One of my greatest pleasures is writing on my Web site.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/one-of-my-greatest-pleasures-is-writing-on-my-web-site/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [One of my greatest pleasures is falling into a story someone else has written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/one-of-my-greatest-pleasures-is-falling-into-a-story-someone-else-has/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [The greatest pleasures are only narrowly separated from disgust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-greatest-pleasures-are-only-narrowly-separated-from-disgust/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The greatest pleasures are born of conquered repugnancies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/the-greatest-pleasures-are-born-of-conquered-repugnancies/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Creative work is one of life's greatest pleasures, and the only one we will gladly interrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/creative-work-is-one-of-life-s-greatest-pleasures-and-the-only-one-we/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More by Gustave Flaubert > [As for the piano, the faster her fingers flew over it, the more he marveled. She struck the keys with aplomb and ran from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-for-the-piano-the-faster-her-fingers-flew-over-it-the-more-he/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Caught up in life, you see it badly. You suffer from it or enjoy it too much. The artist, in my opinion, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/caught-up-in-life-you-see-it-badly-you-suffer-from-it-or-enjoy-it-too/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“When one does something, one must do it wholly and well. Those bastard existences where you sell suet all day and write poetry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-one-does-something-one-must-do-it-wholly-and-well-those-bastard/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Isn’t ‘not to be bored’ one of the principal goals of life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/isn-t-not-to-be-bored-one-of-the-principal-goals-of-life/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Love is a springtime plant that perfumes everything with its hope, even the ruins to which it clings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/love-is-a-springtime-plant-that-perfumes-everything-with-its-hope/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“But her life was as cold as an attic facing north; and boredom, like a silent spider, was weaving its web in the shadows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/but-her-life-was-as-cold-as-an-attic-facing-north-and-boredom-like-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [When you reduce a woman to writing, she makes you think of a thousand other women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-you-reduce-a-woman-to-writing-she-makes-you-think-of-a-thousand/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/travel-makes-one-modest-you-see-what-a-tiny-place-you-occupy-in-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-must-not-touch-our-idols-the-gilt-sticks-to-our-fingers/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [A superhuman will is needed in order to write, and I am only a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/a-superhuman-will-is-needed-in-order-to-write-and-i-am-only-a-man/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [The writer must wade into life as into the sea, but only up to the navel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/the-writer-must-wade-into-life-as-into-the-sea-but-only-up-to-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [COLD. Healthier than heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/cold-healthier-than-heat/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [And indeed, what is better than to sit by one's fireside in the evening with a book, while the wind beats against the window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/and-indeed-what-is-better-than-to-sit-by-one-s-fireside-in-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [One's existence should be in two parts: one should live like a bourgeois and think like a demigod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/one-s-existence-should-be-in-two-parts-one-should-live-like-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Emma was no asleep, she was pretending to be asleep; and, while he was dozing off at her side, she lay awake, dreaming other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/emma-was-no-asleep-she-was-pretending-to-be-asleep-and-while-he-was/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) [Explore all 526 Gustave Flaubert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. 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A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. 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Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is only imagination—have you ever enjoyed anything more than your dreams?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gustave Flaubert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-pleasure-itself-is-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-pleasure-itself-is-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/gustave-flaubert-354_dream_thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-ple_3127351.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is only imagination—have you ever enjoyed anything…” — Gustave Flaubert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gustave Flaubert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thought is the greatest of pleasures...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-pleasure-itself-is-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/thought-is-the-greatest-of-pleasures-pleasure-itself-is-only/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```