I found this interesting quote, but what does it mean:
There is therefore a necessity for pleasure, for working, as happiness can be defined, toward known goals over not unknowable obstacles. And the necessity for pleasure is such that a great deal of pain can be borne to attain it. Pleasure is the positive commodity. It is enjoyment of work, contemplation of deeds well done; it is a good book or a good friend; it is taking all the skin off one's knees climbing the Matterhorn; it is hearing the kid first say daddy; it is a brawl on the Bund at Shanghai or the whistle of amour from a doorway; it's adventure and hope and enthusiasm and 'someday I'll learn to paint'; it's eating a good meal or kissing a pretty girl or playing a stiff game of bluff on the stock exchange. It's what Man does that he enjoys doing; it's what Man does that he enjoys contemplating; it's what Man does that he enjoys remembering; and it may be just the talk of things he knows he'll never do.
2007-08-15 06:05:49 · 9 answers · asked by , 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I like it.
Reading it made me think that I am reading a letter, it gave a glimpse of a man who is writing from his heart, and it was a joy to read.
He was telling the person he was writing to of simple pleasures he has tasted and have felt. All the joys he has tucked into his heart, and is fully engraved in his psyche-- these are the things I remember, the joyous moments of my life and what gives me pleasure.
Thanks for sharing.
2007-08-15 06:53:06 · answer #1 · answered by QuiteNewHere 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means little to me about pleasure. The author has pleasure mixed up with some other things. The situations he cites are about someone being in the moment; BE HERE NOW. The examples are all actions that many people think of later with pleasure. The moment when the action was taking place the person was there, present and engaged. There was no interest in pleasure. The people were engaged in participating in the moment. Being fully present.Participating fully.
Except for 'someday I'll learn to paint'. That will never happen because it is out in the future standing on an image of hope. There is no hope! There is only now and our degree of presence in it.
What we pay attention to we get. And we miss out on the rest. That is the way it works.
I loved it when I read an interview of Twyla Tharp and in response to a question about if she was happy, she responded, " I work. Happy is like a value judgment. Good, bad, happy. I wouldn't know how to evaluate."
This seems so correct to me. I also work. I also am fairly disinterested in issues like pleasure and happy. My interest is in what I am DOING. If I lack interest I will be doing something else that does interest me.
2007-08-15 06:36:51 · answer #2 · answered by bondioli22 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For the most part, it seems to be a rather convoluted way of stating the obvious: pleasure is pleasant. The one possibly profound statement is here: "And the necessity for pleasure is such that a great deal of pain can be borne to attain it." I think the author could have expanded on that idea and achieved something quite memorable.
2007-08-15 06:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by exgrunt 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It means that you should enjoy the pleasure of ordinary things instead of looking so hard for something that you're not going to do and possibly ever will do.
2007-08-15 06:14:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
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2016-11-12 10:00:08 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think who ever wrote that may have been trying to say, that too look for the meaning of life is to -FIND- meaning, in your life. That maybe this is all that there is, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't enjoy it any less. Rejoice in what surrounds you, let nothing escape you.
Be Well :o)
2007-08-15 06:17:26 · answer #6 · answered by I Ain't Your Momma 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To me, this means to try to enjoy your life in spite of mishaps.
May God bless you.
2007-08-15 06:30:13 · answer #7 · answered by kathleen m 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We ARE what we love - it is our essential identity and purpose. "Follow your bliss."
2007-08-15 09:34:51 · answer #8 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know because it was way too long to keep my attention.
2007-08-15 06:14:11 · answer #9 · answered by memememe 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋