There is no more lively sensation than that of pain; its impressions are certain and dependable, they never deceive as may those of the pleasure women perpetually feign and almost never experience. -Marquis de Sade Women
The imagination is the spur of delights... all depends upon it, it is the mainspring of everything; now, is it not by means of the imagination one knows joy? Is it not of the imagination that the sharpest pleasures arise? -Marquis de Sade Imagination
Never lose sight of the fact that all human felicity lies in man's imagination, and that he cannot think to attain it unless he heeds all his caprices. The most fortunate of persons is he who has the most means to satisfy his vagaries. -Marquis de Sade Imagination
Happiness lies neither in vice nor in virtue; but in the manner we appreciate the one and the other, and the choice we make pursuant to our individual organization. -Marquis de Sade Happiness
Lust is to the other passions what the nervous fluid is to life; it supports them all, lends strength to them all ambition, cruelty, avarice, revenge, are all founded on lust. -Marquis de Sade Strength
There is no God, Nature sufficeth unto herself; in no wise hath she need of an author. -Marquis de Sade Nature
The more defects a man may have, the older he is, the less lovable, the more resounding his success. -Marquis de Sade Success
No lover, if he be of good faith, and sincere, will deny he would prefer to see his mistress dead than unfaithful. -Marquis de Sade Faith
All, all is theft, all is unceasing and rigorous competition in nature; the desire to make off with the substance of others is the foremost - the most legitimate - passion nature has bred into us and, without doubt, the most agreeable one. -Marquis de Sade Nature