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.

Summary

This quote by Jeremy Bentham illustrates his belief that human actions are driven by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, making these two forces the rulers of our lives. According to Bentham, our thoughts, words, and actions are all guided by the influence of pain and pleasure. He claims that any attempt to rebel against this governance only serves to further prove our submission to these masters. Essentially, Bentham argues that our innate desire for pleasure and aversion to pain greatly shape and control our behavior.

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