--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Desire is not always lessened by disgust…" description: "\"Desire is not always lessened by disgust. Nor can it be bestowed, like a favor, to those most deserving of it. And as my words bind my magic, so you ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/cassandra-clare-9_city-of-ashes_desire-is-not-always-lessened-by-disgust_2402895.jpg" --- # Desire is not always lessened by disgust. Nor can it be… ![“Desire is not always lessened by disgust. Nor can it be bestowed, like a favor, to those most deserving of it. And as my words bind my magic, so you can know the truth. If she doesn’t desire his kiss, she won’t be free.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/cassandra-clare-9_city-of-ashes_desire-is-not-always-lessened-by-disgust_2402895.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/cassandra-clare-9_city-of-ashes_desire-is-not-always-lessened-by-disgust_2402895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/cassandra-clare-9_city-of-ashes_desire-is-not-always-lessened-by-disgust_2402895.jpg) > “Desire is not always lessened by disgust. Nor can it be bestowed, like a favor, to those most deserving of it. And as my words bind my magic, so you can know the truth. If she doesn’t desire his kiss, she won’t be free.” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire persists despite disgust and cannot be granted merely to the worthy; it is tied to personal truth and freedom. **In simple terms:** Desire isn’t reduced by disgust and isn’t a favor for the deserving. Key Takeaway Recognize desire’s complexity and its link to autonomy. Themes desire freedom truth magic autonomy Mood conflicted thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - relationships - personal growth - consent - self‑discovery Key Concepts psychology ethics power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does desire influence personal freedom? - When should desire be restrained? A Different Perspective Desire may be misused or coerced, leading to harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [City of ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-of-ashes/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Faerie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faerie/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Desire is not always lessened by disgust. Nor can it be bestowed, like favor, to those most deserving of it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/desire-is-not-always-lessened-by-disgust-nor-can-it-be-bestowed-like/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Who doesn't desire his fathers death?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/who-doesn-t-desire-his-fathers-death/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“He doesn’t desire me. 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It was a gentle sort of pleasant, like lying in a hammock on a summer day with a book and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/kissing-simon-was-pleasant-it-was-a-gentle-sort-of-pleasant-like/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. 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There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More City of ashes quotes > [Kissing Simon was pleasant. It was a gentle sort of pleasant, like lying in a hammock on a summer day with a book and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/kissing-simon-was-pleasant-it-was-a-gentle-sort-of-pleasant-like/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Something inside Clary cracked and broke, and words came pouring out. 'What do you want me to tell you? The truth? The truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/something-inside-clary-cracked-and-broke-and-words-came-pouring-out/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Unless... " Now he looked at her in surprise. "Unless what?" She jabbed a finger at his shoulder. "When did you get that?" Jace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unless-now-he-looked-at-her-in-surprise-unless-what-she-jabbed-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That you freed a possible criminal by trading away your brother to a warlock who looks like a gay sonic the Hedgehog and dresses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/that-you-freed-a-possible-criminal-by-trading-away-your-brother-to-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Unpleasant?" he finished for her. "Only on the days when my adoptive mother tosses me out of the house with instructions never to darken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unpleasant-he-finished-for-her-only-on-the-days-when-my-adoptive/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [What did Isabelle want?" Jace asked. Alec hesitated. "Isabelle says the Queen of the Seelie Court has requested an audience with us." "Sure," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-did-isabelle-want-jace-asked-alec-hesitated-isabelle-says-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Jace slammed his hand down on the stele. “Clary-“ “She said she doesn’t want it,” said Simon. “Ha-ha.” “Ha-ha?” Jace looked incredulous. “That’s your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-slammed-his-hand-down-on-the-stele-clary-she-said-she-doesn-t/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Watching Jace hug Isabelle, she tried to school her features into a happy and loving expression. "Are you all right?" Simon asked, with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/watching-jace-hug-isabelle-she-tried-to-school-her-features-into-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [There's no need to clarify my finger snap," said Magnus. "The implication was clear in the snap itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-s-no-need-to-clarify-my-finger-snap-said-magnus-the-implication/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“While this is all very amusing, the kiss that will free the girl is the kiss that she most desires,” she said. “Only that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/while-this-is-all-very-amusing-the-kiss-that-will-free-the-girl-is/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Now this is really going to impress Valentine." "I don't know," Clary said. 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