Benefits Quote by Samuel Johnson
“Whatever professes to benefit by pleasing must please at once. The pleasures of the mind imply something sudden and unexpected; that which elevates must always surprise.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Spectator, 1760
Pleasures should be immediate and surprising to truly delight the mind.
In simple terms: Surprise enhances enjoyment.
Key Takeaway
Seek unexpected joys.
Themes
pleasure
surprise
mindfulness
Mood
delighted
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- gift giving
- creative brainstorming
- travel experiences
Key Concepts
aesthetic experience
novelty
psychology of joy
Questions to Reflect On
- What surprise have you enjoyed recently?
- How can you add novelty to daily routines?
A Different Perspective
Predictable pleasures may become dull.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
