"It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure"

Pleasure and pain are often seen as opposites, but their relationship is more nuanced than simple opposition. The words of Marquis de Sade suggest that the road to true pleasure is not straightforward or free from suffering. Rather, enduring pain, both physical and emotional, can intensify and even make possible the experience of pleasure. Pain becomes a crucible, burning away the superficial and the mundane, revealing a deeper sense of joy that is heightened by what has been overcome.

Human experience is filled with examples that illustrate this dynamic. Athletes push their bodies to exhaustion, enduring pain and discomfort; the triumph of winning, or the satisfaction in personal growth, is sharpened by what it cost to achieve it. Emotional pleasure, too, is made more profound by hardships, love is savored more intensely after loneliness or heartbreak, achievement matters more after failure, peace is precious after chaos. The anticipation and release that follows suffering can be deeply pleasurable, a kind of transformation where pain does not merely end, but is transmuted into joy.

This principle can also be seen philosophically and psychologically. The human mind is drawn to contrasts. Without periods of distress or deprivation, pleasure loses much of its meaning. Contentment and satisfaction exist because we know their absence. De Sade, known for exploring the extremes of human sensation, invites us to consider not just the necessity, but the interconnectedness of pain and pleasure. One is not truly appreciated without the other; the sweetest moments in life often arrive on the heels of the hardest trials.

Far from a simple endorsement of suffering, this idea reflects the complexity of human nature. Struggle, discomfort, and pain underpin resilience and deepen our capacity for enjoyment. Embracing the inevitability of pain opens the door to pleasures that are richer, fuller, and more enduring.