"On the Pleasure of Hating" is an essay by William Hazlitt, published in 1826. The essay discusses the human tendency to experience pleasure from feeling hatred or dislike towards others. Hazlitt argues that this emotion is not just negative, but can also provide satisfaction and enjoyment. He provides examples from everyday life and politics, and reflects on the role of hatred in shaping personal and social relationships. In conclusion, Hazlitt suggests that hatred should be tempered with understanding and compassion, to avoid causing harm to others.

Some representative quotations:

“We grow tired of everything but turning others into ridicule, and congratulating ourselves on their defects.”

“We hate old friends: we hate old books: we hate old opinions; and at last we come to hate ourselves.”

“Have I not the reason to hate and to despise myself? Indeed I do; and chiefly for not having hated and despised the world enough.”

“We cannot read the same works forever. Our honey-moon, even though we wed the Muse, must come to an end; and it is followed by indifference, if not by disgust.”

“Even a highwayman, in the way of trade, may blow out your brains, but if he uses foul language at the same time, I should say he was no gentleman.” “I bear the creature no ill-will, but still I hate the very sight of it.”

“The pleasure of hating, like a poisonous mineral, eats into the heart of religion, and turns it to rankling spleen and bigotry; it makes patriotism an excuse for carrying fire, pestilence, and famine into other lands: it leaves to virtue nothing but the spirit of censoriousness, and a narrow, jealous, inquisitorial watchfulness over the actions and motives of others.”

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