Acceptance Quote by Hester Lynch Piozzi
“What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. "And why should they be denied such sweeteners of their existence (says Johnson)? it is surely very savage to refuse them every possible avenue to pleasure, reckoned too coarse for our own acceptance. Life is a pill which none of us can bear to swallow without gilding.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with Samuel Johnson, 1775
Denial of simple pleasures is cruel; life is a bitter pill without sweetening.
In simple terms: Denying pleasures is harsh; life needs sweetness.
Key Takeaway
Allow small joys to ease hardship.
Themes
pleasure
cruelty
humanity
Mood
critical
empathetic
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- poverty relief
- public policy
- personal well‑being
Key Concepts
ethics
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What “sweeteners” can we ethically provide?
- How to balance comfort and responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Pleasures may be harmful if excess.
![“[Samuel] Johnson's conversation was by much too strong for a person accustomed to obsequiousness and flattery; it was mustard in a young child's mouth!” quote by Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bd9/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_accustomed_samuel-johnson-s-conversation-was-by-muc_568232.jpg)
