Wretched Slaves Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““You think pleasure is only of the senses; the wretched slaves who manufactured your morality despised a satisfaction which they had small means of enjoying.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1915
Moral systems often suppress natural pleasure, especially when those who enforce them lack the means to enjoy it themselves.
In simple terms: Morality can hide pleasure when enforcers lack it.
Key Takeaway
Question your own moral assumptions.
Themes
morality
pleasure
power dynamics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal ethics
- cultural critique
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What moral rules feel imposed rather than chosen?
- How does power affect what is deemed acceptable pleasure?
