“In everything, satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.”
- January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
- Roman
- Orator, Philosopher, Statesman, Lawyer, Author
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Quote
“In everything, satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.”
Explanation
Cicero observes that the peak of pleasure is often immediately followed by satiety—a sense of fullness, weariness, or even dissatisfaction. What once brought intense delight soon loses its appeal, revealing the fleeting and unstable nature of pleasure. This insight suggests that overindulgence dulls enjoyment, and that the pursuit of excess leads not to lasting happiness, but to a quick decline in satisfaction.
This view aligns with Cicero’s Stoic and philosophical leanings, which placed higher value on moderation, virtue, and inner stability than on external gratification. He recognized that pleasure, when made the goal of life, tends to consume itself, leaving behind a sense of emptiness. By pointing to the swift arrival of satiety after pleasure, Cicero underscores the importance of restraint and perspective in the pursuit of fulfillment.
In contemporary life, where immediate gratification is often celebrated, Cicero’s warning serves as a timeless reminder: what brings us the greatest excitement may also bring the quickest decline in enjoyment. True contentment, he implies, is found not in chasing pleasure to its limits, but in knowing when to stop, when to savor, and when to choose lasting values over fleeting indulgence.
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