He who thinks and thinks for himself, will always have a claim to thanks; it is no matter whether it be right or wrong, so as it be explicit. If it is right, it will serve as a guide to direct; if wrong, as a beacon to warn.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human actions are influenced by pain and pleasure, which serve as guides for decision-making.
Jeremy Bentham's quote suggests that our choices and behaviors are largely governed by the experiences of pain and pleasure. He emphasizes that these two sensations are fundamental in determining our actions and motivations, implying that understanding their role can lead to better decision-making in life. In this view, pain acts as a deterrent, while pleasure serves as an incentive, directing mankind towards actions that are deemed appropriate or beneficial.
Themes
PainPleasureDecision-MakingGovernanceHuman Behavior
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about ethics, you could use this quote to illustrate how decisions are often rooted in the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
More from Jeremy Bentham
All quotes →Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, --will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others, --or to diminish something of their pains.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Nature has placed mankind under the government of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure... they govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it.
Jeremy BenthamRead
It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Without publicity, no good is permanent; under the auspices of publicity, no evil can continue.
Jeremy BenthamRead
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