Adultery Quote by Anthony Burgess
“The aura of the theocratic death penalty for adultery still clings to America, even outside New England, and multiple divorce, which looks to the European like serial polygamy, is the moral solution to the problem of the itch. Love comes into it too, of course, but in Europe we tend to see marital love as an eternity which encompasses hate and also indifference: when we promise to love we really mean that we promise to honor a contract. Americans, seeming to take marriage with not enough seriousness, are really taking love and sex with too much.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The End of the World, Anthony Burgess, 1975
American marriage treats love as a contract, leading to moral shortcuts; Europe sees marriage as an eternal bond encompassing all emotions.
In simple terms: America views marriage contractually; Europe sees it as lifelong.
Key Takeaway
Reflect on how cultural views shape relationships.
Themes
culture
marriage
morality
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- cross‑cultural counseling
- relationship education
- legal reforms
- family therapy
Key Concepts
Contractual love
eternal bond
cultural relativism
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your cultural assumptions affect your relationships?
- Can love be both a contract and an eternal bond?
A Different Perspective
Rigid cultural stereotypes can oversimplify complex personal experiences.
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