--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is cheaper than lust or of less…" description: "\"What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or aphrodisiacs?\" — Avram Davidson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg" --- # What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or… ![“What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or aphrodisiacs?” quote by Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg) > “What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or aphrodisiacs?” [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He asks a riddle comparing cheap desires to mystical substances. **In simple terms:** Riddle about value and desire. Key Takeaway Consider the true cost of cravings. Themes riddle philosophy desire value alchemy Mood playful thoughtful Type literary enigmatic When to use this quote - ethical decisions - consumer behavior - personal reflection - creative writing Key Concepts materialism spiritual yearning paradoxical questioning Questions to Reflect On - What is truly valuable? - How do desires shape actions? A Different Perspective May be obscure without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alchemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) [Alchemy Aphrodisiacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy-aphrodisiacs-5083176/) [Aphrodisiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aphrodisiac/) [Cheaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheaper/) [Cheaper Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheaper-lust-5083174/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Lust Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust-value-5083175/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“The moral high ground proved to be one hell of an aphrodisiac...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-a-floriste/the-moral-high-ground-proved-to-be-one-hell-of-an-aphrodisiac/) [Eve A. Floriste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-a-floriste/) > [For a women the best aphrodisiac is words. Their G-spot is in the ears. Those who look for it below there are wasting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-clark/for-a-women-the-best-aphrodisiac-is-words-their-g-spot-is-in-the-ears/) [Denise Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-clark/) > [ It \[smoking\] was like an aphrodisiac. Actors would say let's have another cigarette on that great scenes, and they'd blow smoke in each other's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/it-smoking-was-like-an-aphrodisiac-actors-would-say-let-s-have/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“The fear of death was a powerful aphrodisiac.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/the-fear-of-death-was-a-powerful-aphrodisiac/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [One of my books is a hallucinogen, an aphrodisiac, a mood elevator, an intellectual garage door opener, and a metaphysical trash compactor. They'll do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/one-of-my-books-is-a-hallucinogen-an-aphrodisiac-a-mood-elevator-an/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Intelligence is the ultimate aphrodisiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/intelligence-is-the-ultimate-aphrodisiac/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [Fame is a powerful aphrodisiac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/fame-is-a-powerful-aphrodisiac/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [(on asparagus) Europeans of the Renaissance swore by it as an aphrodisiac, and the church banned it from nunneries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/on-asparagus-europeans-of-the-renaissance-swore-by-it-as-an/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The coolest thing is when you don’t care about being cool anymore. Indifference is the greatest aphrodisiac - that’s what really sums up style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-owens/the-coolest-thing-is-when-you-don-t-care-about-being-cool-anymore/) [Rick Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-owens/) > [Power is a great aphrodisiac and I am a very powerful person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/power-is-a-great-aphrodisiac-and-i-am-a-very-powerful-person/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The aim of human life is to know thyself. Think for yourself. Question authority. Think with your friends. Create, create new realities. Philosophy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-aim-of-human-life-is-to-know-thyself-think-for-yourself-question/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [People tend to link "sex and drugs" because both are condemned by society. Nevertheless, throughout the ages human beings have continually searched for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/people-tend-to-link-sex-and-drugs-because-both-are-condemned-by/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [The future is religion and commerce, aphrodisiac and Benzedrine, a mother of mysterious comfort and a mistress of familiar ravishments ever on the verge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/the-future-is-religion-and-commerce-aphrodisiac-and-benzedrine-a/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/power-is-the-ultimate-aphrodisiac/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All a writer has to do to get a woman is to say he's a writer. It's an aphrodisiac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/all-a-writer-has-to-do-to-get-a-woman-is-to-say-he-s-a-writer-it-s-an/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## More by Avram Davidson > [“Where there is no bread, there is no philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/where-there-is-no-bread-there-is-no-philosophy/) [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) > [“Things oughtn’t to be the way they are, altogether. But letting a madman burn down the barn is no way to improve them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/things-oughtn-t-to-be-the-way-they-are-altogether-but-letting-a/) [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) > [Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism, replied in three words, two of which were 'Welsh Nationalism.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-welsh-nationalism-replied-in/) [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) [Explore all 4 Avram Davidson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) ## More Alchemy quotes > [“I went because I was interested in the alchemy of issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-went-because-i-was-interested-in-the-alchemy-of-issues/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“...the world is only the visible aspect of God. And that what alchemy does is to bring spiritual perfection into contact with the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-is-only-the-visible-aspect-of-god-and-that-what-alchemy/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Art is Alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-nicolai/art-is-alchemy/) [ELLE NICOLAI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-nicolai/) > [“You must learn to bend to open windows, my friend. That is why artists and dancers are closest to God. They clench their chests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-must-learn-to-bend-to-open-windows-my-friend-that-is-why-artists/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Every human being has gone through a tragedy of sorts. And the idea is that you have two paths you can take, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/every-human-being-has-gone-through-a-tragedy-of-sorts-and-the-idea-is/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“Introspection does not need to be a still life. It can be an active alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-does-not-need-to-be-a-still-life-it-can-be-an-active/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [“She pushed the book towards them, and Harry and Ron read: The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/she-pushed-the-book-towards-them-and-harry-and-ron-read-the-ancient/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [For I am every dead thing In whom love wrought new alchemy For his art did express A quintessence even from nothingness, From dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/for-i-am-every-dead-thing-in-whom-love-wrought-new-alchemy-for-his/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Arya Maloney updates the basis and practice of transpersonal psychology by using the spiritual principles of India's masters and the transformational alchemy inherent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-mindell/arya-maloney-updates-the-basis-and-practice-of-transpersonal/) [Arnold Mindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-mindell/) > [“To follow our bliss and dive deeply into the mysteries of fragrance, color, and taste; blend with the magnificent diversity of mother nature; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prana-gogia/to-follow-our-bliss-and-dive-deeply-into-the-mysteries-of-fragrance/) [Prana Gogia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prana-gogia/) > [ I want to explain the new alchemy \[in the "From Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to a New Vision of Mind and Time"\], which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/i-want-to-explain-the-new-alchemy-in-the-from-earth-air-fire-and/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [We swung over the hills and over the town and back again, and I saw how a man can be master of a craft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/we-swung-over-the-hills-and-over-the-town-and-back-again-and-i-saw/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We find that alchemy has to do with magicians or magic and may even have roots in the Chaldean people who lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/we-find-that-alchemy-has-to-do-with-magicians-or-magic-and-may-even/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) [Browse all 349 Alchemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or aphrodisiacs?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Avram Davidson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-value-than-alchemy-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alchemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-value-than-alchemy-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/avram-davidson-69034_alchemy_what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-val_630621.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or aphrodisiacs?” — Avram Davidson", "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": "Avram Davidson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is cheaper than lust or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-value-than-alchemy-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-value-than-alchemy-or/#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 } } ] } ```