Women believe -- or at least often pretend to believe…
“Women believe -- or at least often pretend to believe -- that all our tenderness for them springs from desire; that we love them when we have not for a time enjoyed them, and dismiss them when we are sated, or to express it more precisely, exhausted. There is no truth in this idea, though it may be made to appear true. When we are rigid with desire, we are apt to pretend a great tenderness in the hope of satisfying that desire; but at no other time are we in fact so liable to treat women brutally, and so unlikely to feel any deep emotion but one.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Desire can masquerade as tenderness, but true affection isn’t driven by selfish cravings.
In simple terms: Love isn’t just about satisfying desire.
Key Takeaway
Seek genuine connection over self‑serving affection.
Themes
love
desire
authenticity
Mood
introspective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- friendships
- artistic expression
- self‑analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
gender studies
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you differentiate between desire and love?
- How can you recognize authentic tenderness?
A Different Perspective
Desire can still lead to manipulation.