Authority Quote by Robert Southey
“Would you who judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure, take this rule; whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short; whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that is sin to you; however innocent it may be in itself.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Moral Reflections, 1805
Any pleasure that weakens reason or moral sensitivity, or that dominates the mind with bodily urges, is considered sinful, regardless of its apparent innocence.
In simple terms: Excessive pleasure can be sinful.
Key Takeaway
Balance desire and reason.
Themes
morality
selfcontrol
spirituality
Mood
cautionary
thoughtful
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- daily habits
- dietary choices
- media consumption
Key Concepts
Ethical philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish healthy enjoyment from harmful excess?
- Can pleasure ever be fully moral?
A Different Perspective
Defining “weakening reason” is subjective.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
