---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dating is really all about sex. In the…"
description: "\"Dating is really all about sex. In the conventional context, this means that the man invites the woman to go through a social encounter, the ultimate p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png"
---

#  Dating is really all about sex. In the conventional…

![“Dating is really all about sex. In the conventional context, this means that the man invites the woman to go through a social encounter, the ultimate purpose of which is sexual engagement.” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png)

> “Dating is really all about sex. In the conventional context, this means that the man invites the woman to go through a social encounter, the ultimate purpose of which is sexual engagement.”

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

## About This Quote

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

Dating often centers on sexual attraction, framing encounters as a means to sexual fulfillment.

**In simple terms:** Dating is frequently about sex.

Key Takeaway

Recognize deeper emotional connections beyond physical goals.

Themes

relationships sexual dynamics social expectations

Mood

reflective critical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- first dates
- online dating
- long‑term partnerships

Key Concepts

intimacy gender roles communication

Questions to Reflect On

- What non‑sexual values do you seek in a partner?
- How can dating foster genuine connection?

A Different Perspective

Reducing dating to sex can overlook emotional intimacy and mutual respect.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dating/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Engagement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engagement/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/)

## Related quotes

> [I've tried several varieties of sex. The conventional position makes me claustrophobic, and the others either give me a stiff neck or lockjaw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/i-ve-tried-several-varieties-of-sex-the-conventional-position-makes/)

[Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/)

> [“Man often accords the sexual urge a merely biological significance and does not fully realize its true, existential significance - its link with existence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul/man-often-accords-the-sexual-urge-a-merely-biological-significance/)

Pope John Paul

> [Modern dating has become a really complicated thing. Most people are dating online, and of course when you are armed with enhanced photos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-richardson/modern-dating-has-become-a-really-complicated-thing-most-people-are/)

[Anna Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-richardson/)

> [I tried to tell them about the dating process because I'm single now and how horrible it is and how many foolish experiences I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-tried-to-tell-them-about-the-dating-process-because-i-m-single-now/)

[Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/)

> [Dating is really hard because everyone puts on a front. It's really difficult to see who is who, so it is important to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/dating-is-really-hard-because-everyone-puts-on-a-front-it-s-really/)

[Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/)

> [I think dating is all about role playing, and figuring out what you want and don't want. You figure out more about yourself by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiri-appleby/i-think-dating-is-all-about-role-playing-and-figuring-out-what-you/)

[Shiri Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiri-appleby/)

> [“Dating should really be more like furniture store commercials…I would love to' pay no interest for 6 months”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/dating-should-really-be-more-like-furniture-store-commercials-i-would/)

[Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/)

> [I can't wait for my little sisters to start dating, because it will really be fun to pick on their boyfriends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gallagher/i-can-t-wait-for-my-little-sisters-to-start-dating-because-it-will/)

[David Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gallagher/)

> [Whenever you have an ex, and they're like, 'I hope we can still be friends!' and you weren't friends before you started dating, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/whenever-you-have-an-ex-and-they-re-like-i-hope-we-can-still-be/)

[Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/)

> [You're talking to someone who has been married to various people for the last 40 years of her life. dating is not really something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockard-channing/you-re-talking-to-someone-who-has-been-married-to-various-people-for/)

[Stockard Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockard-channing/)

> [Dating can be really fun, so don't be afraid to meet new people. Think of it as a fun activity to do to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/dating-can-be-really-fun-so-don-t-be-afraid-to-meet-new-people-think/)

[Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/)

> [Why would you say I ove you when were not dating??? is this really love???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-nicole-martinez/why-would-you-say-i-ove-you-when-were-not-dating-is-this-really-love/)

[Me Nicole Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-nicole-martinez/)

> [When I first got started in this whole world of online connecting, we were combating this antiquated stereotype of who used online dating, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/when-i-first-got-started-in-this-whole-world-of-online-connecting-we/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [“I’m happy for you, man,” Driftwood said honestly. “Seriously. Dating sucks. Online dating really sucks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/i-m-happy-for-you-man-driftwood-said-honestly-seriously-dating-sucks/)

[Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/)

> [With '44 Scotland Street' I found myself having to work out how a daily novel works, and it is completely different to a conventional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/with-44-scotland-street-i-found-myself-having-to-work-out-how-a-daily/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

## More by Alexander McCall Smith

> [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“She had not made a lot of money, but she had not made a loss, and she had been happy and entertained. That counted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/she-had-not-made-a-lot-of-money-but-she-had-not-made-a-loss-and-she/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“To use strong language, she thought, was a sign of bad temper and lack of concern for others. Such people were not clever or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/to-use-strong-language-she-thought-was-a-sign-of-bad-temper-and-lack/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“Men are very sensitive, Mma Makutsi. You would not always think it to look at them, but they are. They do not like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/men-are-very-sensitive-mma-makutsi-you-would-not-always-think-it-to/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“He is a good man, but even a good man can fall for a glamorous woman. That is well known.” “That is very well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-is-a-good-man-but-even-a-good-man-can-fall-for-a-glamorous-woman/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“And then the second thing you have to do is go and see your son. That is a duty of love, Andrew. It's as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-then-the-second-thing-you-have-to-do-is-go-and-see-your-son-that/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“Because laughs never die away entirely,” said Jamie. “At least, if you believe in Marconi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/because-laughs-never-die-away-entirely-said-jamie-at-least-if-you/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/the-trouble-with-having-a-conscience-she-said-to-herself-is-that-it/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“And if there's bad behaviour," Mma Potokwane went on. "If there's bad behaviour, the quickest way of stopping it is to give more love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-if-there-s-bad-behaviour-mma-potokwane-went-on-if-there-s-bad/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“We never realise how transparent we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/we-never-realise-how-transparent-we-are/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“Has he not got a wife back wherever he comes from? Is there no wife to say, ‘You must not go off and visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/has-he-not-got-a-wife-back-wherever-he-comes-from-is-there-no-wife-to/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“He looked at her in the darkness, at this woman who was everything to him-mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to eat, pumpkins, chicken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-looked-at-her-in-the-darkness-at-this-woman-who-was-everything-to/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“It is because you are generous in spirit; and may I be like that; may I become like you—which unrealistic wish, to become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/it-is-because-you-are-generous-in-spirit-and-may-i-be-like-that-may-i/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [“Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni,” she asked, “do you think that our souls grow as we get older?” He did not answer immediately, but when he did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mr-j-l-b-matekoni-she-asked-do-you-think-that-our-souls-grow-as-we/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

[Explore all 628 Alexander McCall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

## More Conventional quotes

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barber/conventional-agriculture-has-never-succeeded-in-feeding-the-world-and/)

[Dan Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barber/)

> [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/)

[Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/)

> [Because investors are not usually penalized for adhering to conventional practices, doing so is the less professionally risky strategy, even though it virtually guarantees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/because-investors-are-not-usually-penalized-for-adhering-to/)

[Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/)

> [My father was in real estate, banking, and land management. As family life, it was very conventional, happy, and comfortable. We weren't wealthy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/my-father-was-in-real-estate-banking-and-land-management-as-family/)

[Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/)

> [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-think-you-will-learn-to-be-natural-with-me-as-i-find-it-impossible/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/)

[John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/)

> [Some days, I think maybe we should try and be a little more conventional, but every time I try, I fail, so I'm learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seinabo-sey/some-days-i-think-maybe-we-should-try-and-be-a-little-more/)

[Seinabo Sey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seinabo-sey/)

> [The vision of extraordinary achievement is,by definition, a few steps beyond consensus and conventional logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-belsky/the-vision-of-extraordinary-achievement-is-by-definition-a-few-steps/)

[Scott Belsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-belsky/)

> [“Can you make me remember the conventional way?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-ellen-malpas/can-you-make-me-remember-the-conventional-way/)

[Jodi Ellen Malpas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-ellen-malpas/)

> [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [Currency speculation-over a trillion dollars a day-is a tax-free activity. The notion of a tax on "day trades" or other speculative swaps was revived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/currency-speculation-over-a-trillion-dollars-a-day-is-a-tax-free/)

[Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/)

> [Fear is a problem with film music and films; people want to be conventional, and there's more commercialism today. If you are not daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/fear-is-a-problem-with-film-music-and-films-people-want-to-be/)

[Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/)

Browse all 742 Conventional quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Dating is really all about sex. In the conventional context, this means that the man invites the woman to go through a social encounter, the ultimate purpose of which is sexual engagement.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexander McCall Smith"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-conventional-context-this-means/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conventional"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-conventional-context-this-means/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/alexander-mccall-smith-372_conventional_dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-co_1469616.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Dating is really all about sex. In the conventional context, this means that the man invites the woman to go…” — Alexander McCall Smith",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alexander McCall Smith",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Dating is really all about sex....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-conventional-context-this-means/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/dating-is-really-all-about-sex-in-the-conventional-context-this-means/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
