Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey
in her mouth, gall in her heart, and read more

Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey
in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.

Then there is that glorious Epicurean paradox, uttered by my
friend, the Historian in one of his flashing moments: read more

Then there is that glorious Epicurean paradox, uttered by my
friend, the Historian in one of his flashing moments: "Give us
the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries."

Fell luxury! more perilous to youth
Than storms or quicksands, poverty of chains.

Fell luxury! more perilous to youth
Than storms or quicksands, poverty of chains.

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Every luxury must be paid for, and everything is a luxury, starting with being in the world.

Every luxury must be paid for, and everything is a luxury, starting with being in the world.

Luxury and dissipation, soft and gentle as their approaches are,
and silently as they throw their silken chains about read more

Luxury and dissipation, soft and gentle as their approaches are,
and silently as they throw their silken chains about the heart,
enslave it more than the most active and turbulent vices.

Luxury is the first, second and third cause of the ruin of republics. It is the vampire which soothes us read more

Luxury is the first, second and third cause of the ruin of republics. It is the vampire which soothes us into a fatal slumber while it sucks the lifeblood of our veins.

Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances read more

Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind