Adultery Quote by Aleister Crowley
““This is my real bed-rock objection to the eastern systems. They decry all manly virtue as dangerous and wicked, and they look upon Nature as evil. True enough, everything is evil relatively to Adonai; for all stain is impurity. A bee's swarm is evil — inside one's clothes. "Dirt is matter in the wrong place." It is dirt to connect sex with statuary, morals with art. Only Adonai, who is in a sense the True Meaning of everything, cannot defile any idea. This is a hard saying, though true, for nothing of course is dirtier than to try and use Adonai as a fig-leaf for one's shame. To seduce women under the pretense of religion is unutterable foulness; though both adultery and religion are themselves clean. To mix jam and mustard is a messy mistake.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley, 1904
The quote critiques moral relativism, warning that labeling nature or bodily functions as evil stems from a misguided, overly rigid religious worldview that can be exploited for personal gain.
In simple terms: Moral judgments can be misused and become harmful when tied to rigid religious ideas.
Key Takeaway
Question rigid moral standards and avoid using religion to justify exploitation.
Themes
morality
religion
ethics
power
hypocrisy
Mood
critical
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- religious discourse
- ethical decision making
- self‑reflection
- cultural critique
Key Concepts
Religious absolutism
moral relativism
exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish genuine moral concerns from religious dogma?
- When does religious authority become a tool for manipulation?
A Different Perspective
It assumes a single divine perspective, which may not be universally accepted.
