The Suffering Of Man

With the animal, present suffering, even if repeated countless times,

remains what it was the first time: it cannot sum itself up.

Hence the enviable composure and unconcern which characterizes

the animal. With man, on the other hand, there evolves out of those

elements of pleasure and suffering which he has in common

with the animals an intensification of his sensations of happiness

with the animal an intensification of his sensations of happiness

and misery which can lead to momentary transports which may

sometimes even prove fatal, or to suicidal despair. More closely

considered, what happens is this: he deliberately intensifies

his needs, which are originally scarcely harder to satisfy than those

of the animal, so as to intensify his pleasure: hence luxury,

confectionery, tobacco, opium, alcoholic drinks, finery, and all that pertains

to them. To these is then added, also as a result of reflection