--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Puritans thought they could simply…" description: "\"The Puritans thought they could simply repress man's sexual nature, and they reaped a whirlwind as a result. Their code of sexual morality - which beca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/hugh-hefner-2102_america_the-puritans-thought-they-could-simply-r_957146.png" --- # The Puritans thought they could simply repress man's… ![“The Puritans thought they could simply repress man's sexual nature, and they reaped a whirlwind as a result. Their code of sexual morality - which became America's - was nothing more than a set of rules laid down by people who believed that all pleasure was suspect.” quote by Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/hugh-hefner-2102_america_the-puritans-thought-they-could-simply-r_957146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/hugh-hefner-2102_america_the-puritans-thought-they-could-simply-r_957146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/hugh-hefner-2102_america_the-puritans-thought-they-could-simply-r_957146.png) > “The Puritans thought they could simply repress man's sexual nature, and they reaped a whirlwind as a result. Their code of sexual morality - which became America's - was nothing more than a set of rules laid down by people who believed that all pleasure was suspect.” [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repressing natural sexuality creates oppressive rules and societal turmoil. **In simple terms:** Suppressing desire leads to chaos. Key Takeaway Accept healthy sexuality. Themes sexuality morality culture Mood controversial provocative Type philosophical cultural critique When to use this quote - sex education - relationship counseling - legal reform - media analysis Key Concepts sociology history psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance freedom and responsibility? - What role should society play in personal pleasure? A Different Perspective Some argue moral codes protect social order. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Puritan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puritan/) [Puritans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puritans/) ## Related quotes > [“Nature programmed the neurobiological processes of early love to appear as something beyond the primitive sexual cravings of the genitals. So, from an evolutionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/nature-programmed-the-neurobiological-processes-of-early-love-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Talking about sexual morality, I wouldn't agree that it's declining, but it's certainly changing. Young and old, we are very much in the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/talking-about-sexual-morality-i-wouldn-t-agree-that-it-s-declining/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [“When a woman has scholarly inclinations there is generally something wrong with her sexual nature. Barrenness itself conduces to a certain virility of taste;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/when-a-woman-has-scholarly-inclinations-there-is-generally-something/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [My sexual nature is irrelevant. I'm an actor, I play roles, fragments of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/my-sexual-nature-is-irrelevant-i-m-an-actor-i-play-roles-fragments-of/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [They mistake the first manifestations of a developing sexual nature for the voice of God calling them to Himself; and it is precisely when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/they-mistake-the-first-manifestations-of-a-developing-sexual-nature/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Sexual morality - as society in its extreme form, the American, defines it - is contemptible. I advocate an incomparably freer sexual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/sexual-morality-as-society-in-its-extreme-form-the-american-defines/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [In the Catholic view of things, abortion is a justice issue, not an issue of sexual morality... it is a civil rights issue, arguably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/in-the-catholic-view-of-things-abortion-is-a-justice-issue-not-an/) [George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/) > [It's easier to lecture women on sexual morality than it is to explain why all Americans shouldn't have comprehensive, fair, and equal health care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/it-s-easier-to-lecture-women-on-sexual-morality-than-it-is-to-explain/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [Historically the Puritans left England to escape religious persecution, and they promptly turned around and started persecuting the people they didn't agree with -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/historically-the-puritans-left-england-to-escape-religious/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [After all the Puritans came to America to escape from persecution and then turned around and started persecuting other people. So I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/after-all-the-puritans-came-to-america-to-escape-from-persecution-and/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The Puritans' sense of priorities in life was one of their greatest strengths. Putting God first and valuing everything else in relation to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-ryken/the-puritans-sense-of-priorities-in-life-was-one-of-their-greatest/) [Leland Ryken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-ryken/) > [“It was as Hester said, in regard to the unwanted jollity that brightened the faces of the people. Into this festal season of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/it-was-as-hester-said-in-regard-to-the-unwanted-jollity-that/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [We think the Puritans always dressed in black and white, which they didn't. They loved very bright colors. And there were other differences in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/we-think-the-puritans-always-dressed-in-black-and-white-which-they/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [The Puritans came to America to worship in their way and to force everybody else to do the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levenson/the-puritans-came-to-america-to-worship-in-their-way-and-to-force/) [Sam Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levenson/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) ## More by Hugh Hefner > [My life is an open book. With illustrations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/my-life-is-an-open-book-with-illustrations/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The difference between Marilyn Monroe and the early Pamela Anderson is not that great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/the-difference-between-marilyn-monroe-and-the-early-pamela-anderson/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [If I ever try to get married again, shoot me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/if-i-ever-try-to-get-married-again-shoot-me/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The people who had the most impact on me when I was young were Freud and Darwin, but growing up I also had my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/the-people-who-had-the-most-impact-on-me-when-i-was-young-were-freud/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [Part of the sexual revolution is bringing rationality to sexuality - because when you don't embrace sexuality in a normal way, you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/part-of-the-sexual-revolution-is-bringing-rationality-to-sexuality/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [After world war all we got was a lot of conformity, and conservatism and when I was in college at the university of Illinois…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/after-world-war-all-we-got-was-a-lot-of-conformity-and-conservatism/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I was writing and cartooning and writing short stories from grade school on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-was-writing-and-cartooning-and-writing-short-stories-from-grade/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [At a very early age I started a cartoon scrapbook, actually when I was in high school. And it became, in turn, a scrapbook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/at-a-very-early-age-i-started-a-cartoon-scrapbook-actually-when-i-was/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I think age, if you are healthy, I think age is largely a number. My mother lived to be 101. So I'm planning on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-think-age-if-you-are-healthy-i-think-age-is-largely-a-number-my/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The whole 1950s notion was find the right girl, get married, move to the suburbs and then hang out with the guys while she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/the-whole-1950s-notion-was-find-the-right-girl-get-married-move-to/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [You stay in touch with the boy who dreamed impossible dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/you-stay-in-touch-with-the-boy-who-dreamed-impossible-dreams/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I'm bored of the hanky-panky. I'm still active, but it's different, I like to play dominoes with my girlfriends. Having three beautiful women keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-m-bored-of-the-hanky-panky-i-m-still-active-but-it-s-different-i/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The notion that Playboy exploited women, because we showed them in beautiful photographs, sexually oriented, strikes me as rather bizarre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/the-notion-that-playboy-exploited-women-because-we-showed-them-in/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [Living in the moment, thinking about the future, and staying connected to the past: That's what makes me feel whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/living-in-the-moment-thinking-about-the-future-and-staying-connected/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I was very influenced by the musicals and romantic comedies of the 1930s. I admired Gene Harlow and such, which probably explains why, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-was-very-influenced-by-the-musicals-and-romantic-comedies-of-the/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) [Explore all 186 Hugh Hefner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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