--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many things about our bodies would not…" description: "\"Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so filthy and obscene if we did not have the idea of nobility in our heads.\" — Georg C. Lichtenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_filthy_many-things-about-our-bodies-would-not-s_224619.png" --- # Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so… ![“Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so filthy and obscene if we did not have the idea of nobility in our heads.” quote by Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_filthy_many-things-about-our-bodies-would-not-s_224619.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_filthy_many-things-about-our-bodies-would-not-s_224619.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_filthy_many-things-about-our-bodies-would-not-s_224619.png) > “Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so filthy and obscene if we did not have the idea of nobility in our heads.” [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our sense of bodily disgust stems from cultural ideas of nobility. **In simple terms:** Cultural ideas shape bodily disgust. Key Takeaway Question cultural notions of purity. Themes culture body morality Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - medical ethics - artistic representation - personal hygiene Key Concepts social norms body image Questions to Reflect On - Which bodily taboos serve a purpose? - How can we rethink harmful norms? A Different Perspective Not all bodily taboos are harmful; some protect health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bodies Filthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodies-filthy-2287318/) [Filthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filthy/) [Filthy Obscene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filthy-obscene-2287320/) [Idea Nobility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-nobility-2287317/) [Nobility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobility/) [Nobility Heads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobility-heads-2287319/) [Obscene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscene/) ## Related quotes > [I don't care if you're obscene, filthy, horrendous -- as long as you're honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-don-t-care-if-you-re-obscene-filthy-horrendous-as-long-as-you-re/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in braille. I used to rub the dirty parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-once-stole-a-pornographic-book-that-was-printed-in-braille-i-used/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [War technology is science in the service of obscene anatomical vandalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-goff/war-technology-is-science-in-the-service-of-obscene-anatomical/) [Stan Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-goff/) > [Commercial rock 'n' roll music is a brutalization of the stream of contemporary Negro church music an obscene looting of a cultural expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/commercial-rock-n-roll-music-is-a-brutalization-of-the-stream-of/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [Sex and obscenity are not synonymous. Obscene material is material which deals with sex in a manner appealing to prurient interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sex-and-obscenity-are-not-synonymous-obscene-material-is-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I imagine like most of us that I'd like obscene amounts of money but the people I met and worked with who have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isaacs/i-imagine-like-most-of-us-that-i-d-like-obscene-amounts-of-money-but/) [Jason Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isaacs/) > [Whether my acting was obscene, or whether it was distasteful, well, Judge Rehnquist, who just recently passed away couldn't define pornography. 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