The principle we call self-love never seeks anything external for the sake of the thing, but only as a means of happiness or good: particular affections rest in the external things themselves. – Joseph Butler
The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and cool self-love alone therefore the appetites and passions are placed within as a guard and further security, without which it would not be taken due care of. – Joseph Butler
Every man hath a general desire of his own happiness and likewise a variety of particular affections, passions, and appetites to particular external objects. – Joseph Butler
Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is a natural call for food. – Joseph Butler
I believe there is a relationship between having an interest in the arts and the behaviour of society as a whole. Some politicians find it difficult that the arts is a weapon of happiness… Politics is often about deprivation rather than the opening up of ideas and nourishing creative endeavour. – Richard Eyre