--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I call not that virginity a virtue, which…" description: "\"I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/john-donne-933_body_i-call-not-that-virginity-a-virtue-which_606920.png" --- # I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely… ![“I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then it is a most inhumane vice. - But I call that Virginity a virtue which is willing and desirous to yield it self upon honest and lawfull terms…” quote by John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/john-donne-933_body_i-call-not-that-virginity-a-virtue-which_606920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/john-donne-933_body_i-call-not-that-virginity-a-virtue-which_606920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/john-donne-933_body_i-call-not-that-virginity-a-virtue-which_606920.png) > “I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then it is a most inhumane vice. - But I call that Virginity a virtue which is willing and desirous to yield it self upon honest and lawfull terms, when just reason requireth; and until then, is kept with a modest chastity of body and mind.” [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques treating virginity as a virtue unless it serves a purposeful, consensual, and rational context. **In simple terms:** Virginity is only virtuous when chosen wisely. Key Takeaway Respect autonomy, avoid imposing moral judgments. Themes virtue autonomy morality Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - marriage discussions - ethical debates - personal relationships Key Concepts ethical philosophy human sexuality Questions to Reflect On - What defines a virtue in modern society? - How can we honor personal choices without judgment? A Different Perspective Imposing strict moral codes can ignore individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body And Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-and-mind/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Chastity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chastity/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind and body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-body/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin/) [Virginity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginity/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth only in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/i-call-not-that-virginity-a-virtue-which-resideth-only-in-the-bodies/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [It is one of the superstitions of the human mind to have imagined that virginity could be a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-one-of-the-superstitions-of-the-human-mind-to-have-imagined/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Chastity is the heart of virginity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olalekan-a-adebumiti/chastity-is-the-heart-of-virginity/) Olalekan A Adebumiti > [A clean heart is a free heart. A free heart can love Christ with an undivided love in chastity, convinced that nothing and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/a-clean-heart-is-a-free-heart-a-free-heart-can-love-christ-with-an-2/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“I’ve always found the idea of 'saving' your virginity intriguing: it’s not as if we’re packing our Saran-wrapped hymens away in the freezer, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-ve-always-found-the-idea-of-saving-your-virginity-intriguing-it-s/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“It is preferable to have a virgin mind than a virgin body. Each is good if each be possible; if it be not possible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-ambrose/it-is-preferable-to-have-a-virgin-mind-than-a-virgin-body-each-is/) St. Ambrose > [“Failure to put the relationship on a slower timetable may result in an act that was never intended in the first place. 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