--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sex is something you do. Sexuality is…" description: "\"Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are.\" — Anna Freud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png" --- # Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are. ![“Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are.” quote by Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png) > “Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are.” [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sex is an activity, while sexuality is an inherent identity; the former can change, the latter is a core aspect of self. **In simple terms:** Sex is an act; sexuality is identity. Key Takeaway Respect both behavior and identity. Themes identity sexuality behavior Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - relationship counseling - education - healthcare - social policy Key Concepts psychology gender studies Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate actions from identity? - Why is this distinction important? A Different Perspective Cultural norms may blur the distinction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) ## Related quotes > [My experience of working on this show, even though there is so much about sex and sexuality, and we find out a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/my-experience-of-working-on-this-show-even-though-there-is-so-much/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [A nice thing about being 40 is that you're not a kid about your understanding of sex or sexuality anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-branum/a-nice-thing-about-being-40-is-that-you-re-not-a-kid-about-your/) [Guy Branum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-branum/) > [“A child should never be made to feel that sex and/or his/her sexuality is taboo or a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-don-brown/a-child-should-never-be-made-to-feel-that-sex-and-or-his-her/) [Asa Don Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-don-brown/) > [All religions have something to say about sex, and it rarely coincides with scientific knowledge of sex and sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrel-ray/all-religions-have-something-to-say-about-sex-and-it-rarely-coincides/) [Darrel Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrel-ray/) > [The urge to push the concept of sex and sexuality into the fringes of the human experience is so bizarre to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaboukie-young-white/the-urge-to-push-the-concept-of-sex-and-sexuality-into-the-fringes-of/) [Jaboukie Young-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaboukie-young-white/) > [“I’ve never been with a boy who hasn’t seen me naked. It’s always the squeaky futon, bear-it-all, turn-off-the-lights quickstep. Don’t chalk it up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-rhodes/i-ve-never-been-with-a-boy-who-hasn-t-seen-me-naked-it-s-always-the/) [Taylor Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-rhodes/) > [“I’m not going to deny that I want to fuck you. I can’t promise a future or that I’ll be some sniveling boyfriend who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-hess/i-m-not-going-to-deny-that-i-want-to-fuck-you-i-can-t-promise-a/) [D.L. Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-hess/) > [We are on a sexual binge in this country. ... One consequence of this binge is that while people now get into bed more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/we-are-on-a-sexual-binge-in-this-country-one-consequence-of-this/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [“Sex is one of those things that's complete loss of control. You give yourself up, in your most vulnerable state, to another person, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-m-cameron/sex-is-one-of-those-things-that-s-complete-loss-of-control-you-give/) [Chelsea M. Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-m-cameron/) > [Raves when it was safe to be free & wave your hands in the air, like you didn't even care! Not scared to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/progrezza/raves-when-it-was-safe-to-be-free-wave-your-hands-in-the-air-like-you/) [Progrezza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/progrezza/) > [we are beginning to understand that this instinct of sex which has been so great a cause of suffering and shame and has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-royden/we-are-beginning-to-understand-that-this-instinct-of-sex-which-has/) [Maude Royden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-royden/) > [Killing became the same thing as having sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lee-lucas/killing-became-the-same-thing-as-having-sex/) Henry Lee Lucas > [Sexual activity, and the thoughts and fantasies of sex, use up a great portion of our vital force. When that force is conserved through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/sexual-activity-and-the-thoughts-and-fantasies-of-sex-use-up-a-great/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [“i don't know the ethics, but some times sex is at highest priority in a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-yadav/i-don-t-know-the-ethics-but-some-times-sex-is-at-highest-priority-in/) [Nikhil Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-yadav/) > [Doctrine tied itself into infinite knots over the realities of sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/doctrine-tied-itself-into-infinite-knots-over-the-realities-of-sex/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) ## More by Anna Freud > [Everything becomes so problematic because of basic faults: from a discontent with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/everything-becomes-so-problematic-because-of-basic-faults-from-a/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [If some longing goes unmet, don't be astonished. We call that Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/if-some-longing-goes-unmet-don-t-be-astonished-we-call-that-life/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [The selection of leadership must follow practical considerations. Maybe I look at things too pessimistically?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/the-selection-of-leadership-must-follow-practical-considerations/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all of the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/i-was-always-looking-outside-myself-for-strength-and-confidence-but/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Everyone here says in a surprised manner that I have grown... they are so stupid and do not notice that I am standing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/everyone-here-says-in-a-surprised-manner-that-i-have-grown-they-are/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Why do we go around acting as though everything was friendship and reliability when basically everything everywhere is full of sudden hate and ugliness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/why-do-we-go-around-acting-as-though-everything-was-friendship-and/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Sometimes the most beautiful thing is precisely the one that comes unexpectedly and unearned, hence something given truly as a present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/sometimes-the-most-beautiful-thing-is-precisely-the-one-that-comes/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [What I have always wanted for myself is much more primitive. It is probably nothing more than the affection of the people with whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/what-i-have-always-wanted-for-myself-is-much-more-primitive-it-is/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/creative-minds-have-always-been-known-to-survive-any-kind-of-bad/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Things are not as we would like them to be. There is only one way to deal with it, namely to try and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/things-are-not-as-we-would-like-them-to-be-there-is-only-one-way-to/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [“There are few situations in life which are more difficult to cope with than an adolescent son or daughter during the attempt to liberate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/there-are-few-situations-in-life-which-are-more-difficult-to-cope/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [It is there all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/it-is-there-all-the-time/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Sometimes the most beautiful thing is precisely the one that comes unexpectedly and unearned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/sometimes-the-most-beautiful-thing-is-precisely-the-one-that-comes-2/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It was there all the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/i-was-always-looking-outside-myself-for-strength-and-confidence-but-2/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [Who promised you that only for joy were you brought to this earth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/who-promised-you-that-only-for-joy-were-you-brought-to-this-earth/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) [Explore all 33 Anna Freud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anna Freud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-something-you-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-something-you-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/anna-freud-19196_inspirational_sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-som_2803174.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are.” — Anna Freud", "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": "Anna Freud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sex is something you do. Sexuality...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-something-you-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/sex-is-something-you-do-sexuality-is-something-you-are/#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 } } ] } ```