Prohibitions Quote by Lawrence Durrell
““None of the great religions have done more than exclude, throw out a long range of prohibitions. But prohibitions create the desire they are intended to cure. We of this Cabal say: indulge but refine. We are enlisting everything in order to make man's wholeness match the wholeness of the universe--even pleasure, the destructive granulation of the mind in pleasure.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Avignon Quintet, 1970
Prohibitions spark the very cravings they aim to suppress, so embracing and refining desires aligns human wholeness with universal wholeness.
In simple terms: Restrictions create desire; embracing them creates wholeness.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and refine desires for holistic growth.
Themes
desire
wholeness
restriction
refinement
universalism
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal development
- relationship counseling
- creative work
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance indulgence with self‑discipline?
- What practices help refine desire without repression?
A Different Perspective
Excessive indulgence can lead to loss of discipline or moral decay.
![“Laws which can be broken without any wrong to one's neighbor are a laughing-stock; and such laws, instead of restraining the appetites and lusts of mankind, serve rather to heighten them. Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimusque negata [we always resist prohibitions, and yearn for what is denied us].” quote by Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b9/baruch-spinoza-1338_appetite_laws-which-can-be-broken-without-any-wro_1425059.jpg)
