Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 136
swallows the iron hook, – therefore worldly objects produce misery as
their end.
36. ‘As for the common opinion, "pleasures are enjoyments," none of
them when examined are worthy of being enjoyed; fine garments and
the rest are only the accessories of things, – they are to be regarded as
merely the remedies for pain.
37. ‘Water is desired for allaying thirst; food in the same way for
removing hunger; a house for keeping off the wind, the heat of the
sun, and the rain; and dress for keeping off the cold and to cover
one’s nakedness.
38. ‘So too a bed is for removing drowsiness; a carriage for
remedying the fatigue of a journey; a seat for alleviating the pain of
standing; so bathing as a means for washing, health, and strength.
39. ‘External objects therefore are to human beings means for
remedying pain, not in themselves sources of enjoyment; what wise
man would allow that he enjoys those delights which are only used as
remedial
40. ‘He who, when burned with the heat of bilious fever, maintains
that cold appliances are an enjoyment, when he is only engaged in
alleviating pain, – he indeed might give the name of enjoyment to
pleasures.