Kurt Vonnegut to Shakespeare: I asked him if he had love…
““Kurt Vonnegut to Shakespeare: I asked him if he had love affairs with men as well as women, knowing how eager my WNYC audience was to have this matter settled. His answer, however, celebrated affection between animals of any sort: "We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk in the sun, and bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd was innocence for innocence." By changed he meant exchanged: "What we exchanged was innocence for innocence." That has to be the softest core pornography I ever heard.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He likens intimate exchange to pure, innocent connection, suggesting true intimacy is a mutual sharing of innocence.
In simple terms: Intimacy is sharing pure innocence.
Key Takeaway
Seek genuine, innocent connections.
Themes
intimacy
innocence
human connection
sexuality
humor
Mood
playful
philosophical
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- friendship
- romantic relationships
- artistic collaboration
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary satire
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “innocence for innocence” mean to you?
- Can true intimacy exist without vulnerability?
A Different Perspective
Equating innocence with intimacy may overlook deeper emotional complexities.