Pleasure Quote by Marcel Proust
““Sadists of Mlle Vinteuil's sort are creatures so purely sentimental, so naturally virtuous, that even sensual pleasure appears to them as something bad, the prerogative of the wicked. And when they allow themselves for a moment to enjoy it they endeavour to impersonate, to identify with, the wicked, and to make their partners do likewise, in order to gain the momentary illusion of having escaped beyond the control of their own gentle and scrupulous natures into the inhuman world of pleasure.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, 1913‑1927
Obsessive sentimentalists view pleasure as immoral, yet briefly indulge, mimicking wickedness to escape moral restraint
In simple terms: They see pleasure as bad but sometimes indulge, feeling they become wicked
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reconcile conflicting desires
Themes
morality
pleasure
self‑deception
Mood
introspective
conflicted
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- ethical dilemmas
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
psychology of desire
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance moral standards with enjoyment?
- What does “wickedness” mean in personal growth?
A Different Perspective
Denouncing pleasure can lead to repression and inner conflict
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
