Samuel Butler was best known for his satirical work, and I
believe that this quote is an example of him being somewhat satirical. I believe that
he is using this quote to say that people who are excessively virtuous are as much of a
problem as those who indulge in vices to excess.
The quote
that you give is preceded by a sentence saying that virtue, if unchecked, would be
"insufferable." He is saying that a society that is made up of people who are too
serious about being virtuous will be deadly dull and that it would kill itself off just
as much as a society that was dedicated to vice.
I suppose
you could equate this to the saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
Butler is saying that all virtue and no vice makes for a dull and insufferable life or
society.
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