Food Quote by Steven Pinker
““There is nothing inherently irrational about preferring pleasure now to pleasure later. After all, the You on Tuesday is no less worthy of a chocolate bar than the You on Wednesday. On the contrary, the You on Tuesday is more worthy. If the chocolate bar is big enough, it might tide you over, so eating it on Tuesday means that neither You is hungry, whereas saving it for Wednesday consigns you to hunger on Tuesday. Also, if you abstain from chocolate on Tuesday, you might die before you wake, in which case neither the Tuesday You nor the Wednesday You gets to enjoy it. Finally, if you put the chocolate away, it might spoil or be stolen, again depriving both Yous of the pleasure. All things being equal, it pays to enjoy things now.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Better Angels of Our Nature, 2011
Choosing immediate pleasure can be rational when future benefits are uncertain or may never materialize.
In simple terms: Enjoy now if future is uncertain.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize present enjoyment when future is uncertain.
Themes
pleasure
time
uncertainty
decisionmaking
Mood
reflective
pragmatic
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- daily choices
- food decisions
- health planning
- financial spending
- life planning
Key Concepts
discounting
risk
mortality
resourceallocation
Questions to Reflect On
- What present pleasures are worth sacrificing for future gains?
- How do you balance short-term joy with long-term goals?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all present pleasures are equally valuable and ignores long-term consequences.
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