Does Want Quote by C.S. Lewis
““We use a most unfortunate idiom when we say, of a lustful man prowling the streets, that he "wants a woman". Strictly speaking, a woman is just what he does not want. He wants a pleasure for which a woman happens to be the necessary piece of apparatus. How much he cares about the woman as such may be gauged by his attitude for her five minutes after fruition.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that desire is directed at a specific experience, not at the person fulfilling it; the object of desire is the pleasure, while the person is merely a means.
In simple terms: Desire targets pleasure, not the person.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish between object and means.
Themes
Desire
Objectification
Human relationships
Psychology of attraction
Mood
Reflective
Critical
Type
Philosophical
Observational
When to use this quote
- Romantic pursuit
- Sexual attraction
- Casual encounters
Key Concepts
Pleasure as goal
Instrumentality of people
Practical Applications
- Therapeutic counseling
- Relationship education
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we often mistake the means for the end in our relationships?
- How does recognizing this distinction change our behavior?
![“All to often, however, what she [the woman] does want is the man she hopes she will make out of the man she already has.” quote by Alan Jay Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed9/alan-jay-lerner-16617_doe_all-to-often-however-what-she-the-woman_1860140.jpg)