Rhetoric

​The cause of this is that it is also pleasant not to have evil. On the other hand, in the case of things in hope, as many as, when present, appear either to delight or to benefit greatly, and to benefit without pain, are pleasant. And in general, as many things as delight when present, also delight those who hope and remember, for the most part; wherefore also to be angry is pleasant, just as Homer also wrote concerning anger: “which is much sweeter than trickling honey” (for no one grows angry with one who appears incapable of being punished, and with those who are far above them in power they either do not grow angry or less so);

​and in most appetites a certain pleasure follows; for either remembering how they obtained the object or hoping that they will obtain it, they enjoy a certain pleasure, for instance, those who are held by thirsts in fevers, both remembering how they drank and hoping to drink, rejoice; ​and those who love also rejoice when conversing and writing and always doing something concerning the beloved; for in all such activities, by remembering, they think they as it were perceive the beloved. And this becomes the beginning of love for all, when they not only rejoice when he is present, but also when he is absent, to them remembering, pain is added because of his not being present; and in mournings and lamentations likewise a certain pleasure arises;

​for the pain is over his not being there, but the pleasure is in remembering and in a way seeing him and what he used to do and what sort of person he was; wherefore also this has been said with good reason: “Thus he spoke, and in them all he aroused the desire for lamentation.” And to take revenge is pleasant. For that of which the failure to obtain is painful, the obtaining is pleasant; and those who are angry are excessively pained when they are not taking revenge, but in hoping for it they rejoice.

​And to win is pleasant, not only to those who love victory, but to all; for there arises an imagination of superiority, of which all have an appetite, either slightly or greatly.

​And since to win is pleasant, it is necessary that also those games which are competitive and disputatious are pleasant, (for in these winning often occurs), and knuckle-bones, ball-games, dice, and board games. And concerning serious sports likewise; for some become pleasant if one is accustomed to them, while others are pleasant immediately, such as hunting and every kind of chase; for where there is contest, there also is victory; wherefore also forensic and disputatious skills are pleasant to those who are accustomed to them and capable.

​And honor and good reputation are among the most pleasant things, because there arises an imagination in each person that he is such a one as the worthy man, and all the more when they say so whom he thinks to speak the truth. And such are those who are near rather than far, and intimates and fellow citizens rather than those at a distance, and those existing now rather than those to come, and the wise rather than the foolish, and the many rather than the few; for it is more likely that those mentioned speak the truth than their opposites; since of those whom one greatly despises, such as children or beasts, one cares nothing for their honor or their opinion for the sake of the opinion itself, but if at all, for some other reason.

​And a friend is among pleasant things; for both to love is pleasant (for no one is a lover of wine who does not rejoice in wine) and to be loved is pleasant; for here too there is an imagination of his possessing the being good, which all who perceive desire; and to be loved is to be cherished himself for his own sake.

​And to be admired is pleasant for the same reason as to be honored. And to be flattered and the flatterer are pleasant; for the flatterer is an apparent admirer and an apparent friend.