Aesthetic Quote by Julian Young
“In aesthetic consciousness we enter that painless state, prized by Epicurus as the state of the gods; for a moment we are delivered from the miserable pressure of the will. We celebrate the Sabbath from the penal servitude of willing; the wheel of Ixion stands still.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ethics of Pleasure, Julian Young, 1995
A fleeting mental state free from desire mirrors the divine tranquility praised by Epicurus, offering relief from relentless striving.
In simple terms: A brief, desire‑free mind feels like divine peace.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of desire‑free awareness.
Themes
philosophy
pleasure
tranquility
will
Epicurean
Mood
calm
reflective
contemplative
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Meditation
- creative work
- stress relief
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Epicureanism
mindfulness
detachment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance desire‑free peace with purposeful effort?
- What practices sustain this tranquility?
A Different Perspective
Such states are temporary and may lead to avoidance of necessary action.
![“One has freedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their . . . paths [are] diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/28b/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_action_one-has-freedom-as-the-principal-means-o_131610.jpg)
![“The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa. It…” quote by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/454/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya-10803_als_the-heart-becomes-sick-as-the-body-becom_66500.jpg)
