“Premi�re maxime: il n'est pas dans le c�ur humain, de se mettre � la place des gens, qui sont plus heureux que nous, mais seulement de ceux, qui sont plus � plaindre,” etc.

The reason of this is that pain or suffering, which includes all want, privation, need, indeed every wish, is positive, and works directly on the consciousness. Whereas the nature of satisfaction, of enjoyment, of happiness, and the like, consists solely in the fact that a hardship is done away with, a pain lulled: whence their effect is negative. We thus see why need or desire is the condition of every pleasure. Plato understood this well enough, and only excepted sweet odours, and intellectual enjoyment. (De Rep., IX., p. 264 sq., edit. Bipont.) And Voltaire says: “Il n'est pas de vrais plaisirs, qu'avec de vrais besoins.