Whenever I meet prostitutes, they never speak of sex. They inquire about the soul, and about God. I also meet many ascetics and monks, and whenever we are alone they ask about nothing but sex. I was surprised to learn that ascetics, who are always preaching against sex, seem to be captivated by it. They are curious about it and disturbed by it; they have this mental complex about it, yet they sermonize about religion and about the animal instincts in man. And sex is so natural.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People obsessed with suppressing desire often focus on it more than those who accept it.
- In plain terms
- Those who preach against sex are often fixated on it.
- What can you take from it?
- Denial can create more obsession than acceptance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you feel guilty about that might just be natural?
- Why do some people obsess over what they forbid?
Another view
Not all religious figures exhibit this specific psychological pattern.
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