The function of the press in society is to inform, but its role in society is to make money.
A. J. LieblingRead
No sane man can afford to dispense with debilitating pleasures. No ascetic can be considered reliably sane.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Pleasures are essential for a balanced and sane life; rejecting them completely can lead to an unstable mindset.
A. J. Liebling emphasizes the importance of pleasures in maintaining mental health and stability. The quote suggests that eschewing pleasures, as an ascetic might, can lead to a form of insanity, indicating that a sane person recognizes the need for enjoyment and fulfillment in life.
Themes
PleasureSanityAsceticismLifeHappiness
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about work-life balance, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for relaxation and enjoyment.
More from A. J. Liebling
All quotes →The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite. Without this, it is impossible to accumulate, within the allotted span, enough experience of eating to have anything worth setting down.
A. J. LieblingRead
A city with one newspaper... is like a man with one eye, and often the eye is glass.
A. J. LieblingRead
I take a grave view of the press. It is the weak slat under the bed of democracy
A. J. LieblingRead
A city with one newspaper, or with a morning and an evening paper under one ownership, is like a man with one eye, and often the eye is glass.
A. J. LieblingRead
Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.
A. J. LieblingRead
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