---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In adopting a patently false but…"
description: "\"“In adopting a patently false but stubbornly clung-to mythology of human sexuality that makes demons out of natural drives, we've entered a stage of mo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png"
---

#  In adopting a patently false but stubbornly clung-to…

![“In adopting a patently false but stubbornly clung-to mythology of human sexuality that makes demons out of natural drives, we've entered a stage of moral sickness, not of moral health.” quote by Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png)

> ““In adopting a patently false but stubbornly clung-to mythology of human sexuality that makes demons out of natural drives, we've entered a stage of moral sickness, not of moral health.””

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A harmful myth frames natural sexual drives as demonic, leading to moral distortion and societal illness rather than health.

**In simple terms:** Viewing natural sexuality as evil creates moral problems.

Key Takeaway

Question harmful myths.

Themes

morality sexuality myth health society

Mood

critical concerned

Type

analytical ethical

When to use this quote

- sexual education
- public policy
- media narratives

Key Concepts

psychology culture ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternative frameworks could replace this myth?
- How does this myth affect individual well‑being?

A Different Perspective

Myths may oversimplify complex human behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Demons Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demons-natural-4159341/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Human Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-sexuality-487442/) [Moral Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-sickness-4159340/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Sexuality Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality-makes-407052/) [Sickness Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness-moral-2513544/)

## Related quotes

> [Human sexuality makes farcical our most serious intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/human-sexuality-makes-farcical-our-most-serious-intentions/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [“I had hoped for grace," I said, "not immortality" I wonder why so many people view sickness as a moral test. It has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/i-had-hoped-for-grace-i-said-not-immortality-i-wonder-why-so-many/)

[Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/)

> [It seems to me that physical sickness softens, just as moral sickness hardens, the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-seems-to-me-that-physical-sickness-softens-just-as-moral-sickness/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [Some people do have a very innate sexuality to them. I may or may not have it, but it makes people see you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/some-people-do-have-a-very-innate-sexuality-to-them-i-may-or-may-not/)

[Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/)

> [“Readers acquainted with the recent literature on human sexuality will be familiar with what we call the standard narrative of human sexual evolution, hereafter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cacilda-jeth/readers-acquainted-with-the-recent-literature-on-human-sexuality-will/)

[Cacilda Jethá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cacilda-jeth/)

> [ \[On masturbation:\] I think that it is part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joycelyn-elders/on-masturbation-i-think-that-it-is-part-of-human-sexuality-and/)

[Joycelyn Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joycelyn-elders/)

> [Girls are freer to express their femininity and their sexuality and we're not tamping that down or denying it anymore. But it ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-orenstein/girls-are-freer-to-express-their-femininity-and-their-sexuality-and/)

[Peggy Orenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-orenstein/)

> [With fame, all of a sudden you're seeing yourself through the eyes of a world of men, and that's . . . Look, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/with-fame-all-of-a-sudden-you-re-seeing-yourself-through-the-eyes-of/)

[Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/)

> [I think anything that has to do with sexuality makes people very interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-deneuve/i-think-anything-that-has-to-do-with-sexuality-makes-people-very/)

[Catherine Deneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-deneuve/)

> [“Dallas Willard notes, “The two main errors in the area of human sexuality are these: (1) assuming that all sexual desire is good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryan-smith/dallas-willard-notes-the-two-main-errors-in-the-area-of-human/)

[James Bryan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryan-smith/)

> [There's an assault on human sexuality, as Judge Scalia said, they've taken sides in the culture war and on top of that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/there-s-an-assault-on-human-sexuality-as-judge-scalia-said-they-ve/)

[Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/)

> [I believe "human sexuality" is one of the most ridiculous aspects of being a human, and here I was, facing publications whose prevailing editorial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/i-believe-human-sexuality-is-one-of-the-most-ridiculous-aspects-of/)

[Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/)

> [I think our society is fragmented. Messages regarding human sexuality have always been mixed in America. We are a schizophrenic nation. We were founded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-think-our-society-is-fragmented-messages-regarding-human-sexuality/)

[Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/)

> [“... I was shock aplenty by what the internet reveals about human sexuality...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-stephens-davidowitz/i-was-shock-aplenty-by-what-the-internet-reveals-about-human-sexuality/)

[Seth Stephens-Davidowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-stephens-davidowitz/)

> [There are so many aspects of human sexuality that we're afraid to talk about, because people still don't understand it. It's not just black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-grey/there-are-so-many-aspects-of-human-sexuality-that-we-re-afraid-to/)

[Sasha Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-grey/)

## More by Jesse Bering

> [“The psychologist Charles Moser, for example, pointed out that those inclined to divide the "sane" from the "insane" in terms of frequency of sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/the-psychologist-charles-moser-for-example-pointed-out-that-those/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [Ultimately, of course, you must decide for yourself whether the subjective psychological effects created by your evolved cognitive biases reflect an objective reality, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/ultimately-of-course-you-must-decide-for-yourself-whether-the/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [“Thoughts said aloud are mutant by nature. No matter how expertly one plumbs the depths of subjective understanding, Gorgias realized to his horror, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/thoughts-said-aloud-are-mutant-by-nature-no-matter-how-expertly-one/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [You're going to die soon enough anyway; even if it's a hundred years from now, that's still the blink of a cosmic eye. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/you-re-going-to-die-soon-enough-anyway-even-if-it-s-a-hundred-years/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [“Someone could be paraphilic in both his erotic target and his favorite sex act. I mean, really, any pellismophilic nebulophile (someone whose most passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/someone-could-be-paraphilic-in-both-his-erotic-target-and-his/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [“The public debate plays out in an infinite regress of blame over who’s responsible for those who fail to fit the standard erotic mold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/the-public-debate-plays-out-in-an-infinite-regress-of-blame-over-who/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

[Explore all 7 Jesse Bering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

## More Health quotes

> [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/)

[Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/)

[Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/)

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/)

[John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/)

> [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/)

[Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/)

> [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/)

[Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/)

> [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/)

[Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/)

> [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/)

[Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/)

> [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

[Browse all 17,127 Health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“In adopting a patently false but stubbornly clung-to mythology of human sexuality that makes demons out of natural drives, we've entered a stage of moral sickness, not of moral health.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jesse Bering"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbornly-clung-to-mythology-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Health"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbornly-clung-to-mythology-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/jesse-bering-51668_health_in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbor_2095175.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In adopting a patently false but stubbornly clung-to mythology of human sexuality that makes demons out of…” — Jesse Bering",
                "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": "Jesse Bering",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“In adopting a patently false but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbornly-clung-to-mythology-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/in-adopting-a-patently-false-but-stubbornly-clung-to-mythology-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
