Ethics Quote by Susanna Wesley
““How would you judge the lawfulness or unlawfulness of "pleasure?" Use this rule: Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sight of God, takes from you your thirst for spiritual things or increases the authority of your body over your mind, then that thing to you is evil. By this test you may detect evil no matter how subtly or how plausibly temptation may be presented to you.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Methodist Doctrine, 1730s
Judgment of pleasure is based on whether it weakens reason, dulls conscience, obscures divine perception, or makes the body dominate the mind, indicating evil.
In simple terms: Pleasure is evil if it harms mind, conscience, or spirit.
Key Takeaway
Assess actions against reason and conscience.
Themes
morality
spirituality
self‑control
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
theological
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- religious practice
- temptation resistance
Key Concepts
theology
ethical evaluation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate harmful pleasure from healthy enjoyment?
- Can reason and conscience coexist with bodily desires?
A Different Perspective
This rule may be overly strict, ignoring nuanced pleasures that can uplift.
