Categorization Quote by John Ralston Saul
“Venereal: From Venus, the goddess of love, this word refers to the reality of desire. With the rise of Protestantism and science, the word disease was tacked on in a revealing combination of categorization and moralizing. Which disease? The disease of love.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Cultural criticism, date unknown
The term “venereal” reflects how love was moralized as disease, showing how language can pathologize desire.
In simple terms: Love was labeled a disease to control it.
Key Takeaway
Question moral judgments on desire.
Themes
language
morality
desire
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- public policy
- media analysis
Key Concepts
sociolinguistics
gender studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling desire as disease affect people?
- What alternative narratives can we create?
A Different Perspective
Moralizing desire can suppress healthy expression.
