--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sexuality is a place where people are…" description: "\"Sexuality is a place where people are very vulnerable and can be experiencing and embodying very raw forces that they don't really understand and there..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/mary-gaitskill-7551_people_sexuality-is-a-place-where-people-are-ve_579829.jpg" --- # Sexuality is a place where people are very vulnerable and… ![“Sexuality is a place where people are very vulnerable and can be experiencing and embodying very raw forces that they don't really understand and there's a question of how much you should control and how much you should play with those and what those forces really are, how you really feel about…” quote by Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/mary-gaitskill-7551_people_sexuality-is-a-place-where-people-are-ve_579829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/mary-gaitskill-7551_people_sexuality-is-a-place-where-people-are-ve_579829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/mary-gaitskill-7551_people_sexuality-is-a-place-where-people-are-ve_579829.jpg) > “Sexuality is a place where people are very vulnerable and can be experiencing and embodying very raw forces that they don't really understand and there's a question of how much you should control and how much you should play with those and what those forces really are, how you really feel about them. That's perennial.” [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sexuality exposes deep vulnerability and forces we often cannot fully grasp, raising questions about control versus surrender. **In simple terms:** Sexuality reveals raw, vulnerable forces. Key Takeaway Recognize and navigate vulnerability in desire. Themes vulnerability desire control Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - relationships - therapy - self‑exploration - artistic expression Key Concepts Psychology human intimacy Questions to Reflect On - What parts of desire feel most unknowable? - How can you honor vulnerability without losing agency? A Different Perspective Too much focus on control can suppress authentic experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing should be an issue when it comes to sexuality in the first place. Music is the one artform where people feel comfortable coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/nothing-should-be-an-issue-when-it-comes-to-sexuality-in-the-first/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [If I can show people how vulnerable and how flawed I am, maybe others will relate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bellion/if-i-can-show-people-how-vulnerable-and-how-flawed-i-am-maybe-others/) [Jon Bellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bellion/) > [Sometimes people are vulnerable. And that's fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-sanders/sometimes-people-are-vulnerable-and-that-s-fine/) [Ashton Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-sanders/) > [We need to make seeing a therapist more accessible; we've got to crack down on this and allow people the opportunity to seek help.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/we-need-to-make-seeing-a-therapist-more-accessible-we-ve-got-to-crack/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [“Garfield's shooting had also revealed to the American people how vulnerable they were. In the little more than a century since its inception, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-millard/garfield-s-shooting-had-also-revealed-to-the-american-people-how/) [Candice Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-millard/) > [People are all vulnerable in so many different ways. We go into survival mode a lot of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/people-are-all-vulnerable-in-so-many-different-ways-we-go-into/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [People are so vulnerable at night. Theyre willing to spill out their souls to anyone willing to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-are-so-vulnerable-at-night-theyre-willing-to-spill-out-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If people continue to feel like Democrats are looking after poor folks and Republicans are looking after rich folks and nobody is looking after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-people-continue-to-feel-like-democrats-are-looking-after-poor/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [People are always vulnerable when they're happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-mcintyre/people-are-always-vulnerable-when-they-re-happy/) [Liam McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-mcintyre/) > [If I didn't like you, I could take any or all of what I found and invent a context that lost you your job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-i-didn-t-like-you-i-could-take-any-or-all-of-what-i-found-and/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Why are we putting people who are already in a vulnerable position through this dreadful, appalling stress?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/why-are-we-putting-people-who-are-already-in-a-vulnerable-position/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Legal reform organizations are usually trying to portray their constituents as "hard workers," as "not criminals," as citizens, as part of normative family arrangements,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/legal-reform-organizations-are-usually-trying-to-portray-their/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [Communication is so much better when people are vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/communication-is-so-much-better-when-people-are-vulnerable/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [This was a theme of Sen. Akaka's career - to advocate for people who did not have power, for people who were vulnerable. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/this-was-a-theme-of-sen-akaka-s-career-to-advocate-for-people-who-did/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [For some reason, which I believe I can guess, the churches/mosques want control of people when or while they are the most vulnerable or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/for-some-reason-which-i-believe-i-can-guess-the-churches-mosques-want/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More by Mary Gaitskill > [“I carry love wrapped in pain. That is my treasure and soon it will be yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-carry-love-wrapped-in-pain-that-is-my-treasure-and-soon-it-will-be/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“God famously doesn't afflict Job because of anything Job has done, but because he wants to prove a point to Satan. Twenty years later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/god-famously-doesn-t-afflict-job-because-of-anything-job-has-done-but/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [When you're writing a story, you're creating something of an artificial ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-you-re-writing-a-story-you-re-creating-something-of-an/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [Partly, I'm worried that no one is saying anything because they are afraid of being seen as politically correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/partly-i-m-worried-that-no-one-is-saying-anything-because-they-are/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [ “...loading your brain with subliminal messages… How loathsome to turn a sadistic murder into entertainment \[in the newspaper\] -- and yet how hard not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/loading-your-brain-with-subliminal-messages-how-loathsome-to-turn-a/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [ “The place Joanne is building inside \[herself\] has rooms for all of this. Not just rooms. Beautiful ones. For Karl and Jerry and Karen… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/the-place-joanne-is-building-inside-herself-has-rooms-for-all-of-this/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“Valiantly, he tried to bring his soul to life in the small thing through which it had to live, and it was crushed, again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/valiantly-he-tried-to-bring-his-soul-to-life-in-the-small-thing/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [The best definition I've heard is that guilt is about what you've done, shame is about who you are. If something's out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/the-best-definition-i-ve-heard-is-that-guilt-is-about-what-you-ve/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [When my first book came out, it was very disorienting. My health went south. I didn't know how to relate to people. I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-my-first-book-came-out-it-was-very-disorienting-my-health-went/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [When he held her that way, she felt so happy that it disturbed her. After he left, it would take her hours to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-he-held-her-that-way-she-felt-so-happy-that-it-disturbed-her/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“But life can give a lot. If you can’t see inside the heart no matter how you look, then why not look? Why not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/but-life-can-give-a-lot-if-you-can-t-see-inside-the-heart-no-matter/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [I focus more on the spiritual or psychic gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-focus-more-on-the-spiritual-or-psychic-gains/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“When boys get angry with each other, they just fight it out and it's all over. But girls are dirty. They pretend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-boys-get-angry-with-each-other-they-just-fight-it-out-and-it-s/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [I think, life is miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-think-life-is-miserable/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [There isn't going to be anyone to tell you what to do most of the time. It has to be your own decision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/there-isn-t-going-to-be-anyone-to-tell-you-what-to-do-most-of-the/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) [Explore all 87 Mary Gaitskill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) ## More People quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) [Browse all 211,607 People quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sexuality is a place where people are very vulnerable and can be experiencing and embodying very raw forces that they don't really understand and there's a question of how much you should control and how much you should play with those and what those forces really are, how you really feel about them. 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