On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and
dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of
pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee
the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to
those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the
same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases are
perfectly simple and easy to distinguish. In a free hour, when our power
of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able to
do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every pain
avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of duty or
the obligations of business it will frequently occur that pleasures
have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man therefore
always holds in these matters to this principle of selection: he rejects
pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he endures pains
to avoid worse pains.On the other hand, we denounce with righteous
indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the
charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot
foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame
belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which
is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases
are perfectly simple and easy to distinguish. In a free hour, when our
power of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able
to do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every
pain avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of
duty or the obligations of business it will frequently occur that
pleasures have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man
therefore always holds in these matters to this principle of selection:
he rejects pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he
endures pains to avoid worse pains