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What is lawful is undesirable; what is unlawful is very…

“What is lawful is undesirable; what is unlawful is very attractive. [Lat., Quod licet est ingratum quod non licet acrius urit.]” quote by Ovid
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“What is lawful is undesirable; what is unlawful is very attractive. [Lat., Quod licet est ingratum quod non licet acrius urit.]”

Ovid

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human desire often conflicts with moral law, making the forbidden seem more appealing.

In simple terms: Forbidden things attract us.

Key Takeaway

Question why we crave the prohibited.

Themes

desire morality temptation conflict

Mood

curious analytical

Type

mythological philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal decisions
  • law
  • advertising

Key Concepts

ethics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we label things as lawful?
  • What makes the illegal alluring?
A Different Perspective

Moral judgments can be complex.

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