--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole idea we have for their chastity…" description: "\"The whole idea we have for their chastity is ridiculous. They would have to become numb and invisible to please us. I don't know whether the exploits o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beautiful_the-whole-idea-we-have-for-their-chastit_2039392.jpg" --- # The whole idea we have for their chastity is ridiculous… ![“The whole idea we have for their chastity is ridiculous. They would have to become numb and invisible to please us. I don't know whether the exploits of Alexander and Caesar really surpass the resolution of a beautiful young woman, bred up in the light and commerce of our society, who still keeps…” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beautiful_the-whole-idea-we-have-for-their-chastit_2039392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beautiful_the-whole-idea-we-have-for-their-chastit_2039392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beautiful_the-whole-idea-we-have-for-their-chastit_2039392.jpg) > “The whole idea we have for their chastity is ridiculous. They would have to become numb and invisible to please us. I don't know whether the exploits of Alexander and Caesar really surpass the resolution of a beautiful young woman, bred up in the light and commerce of our society, who still keeps herself whole. There is no doing so hard as not doing.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the absurd expectations placed on women's purity, suggesting that true integrity cannot be forced by external standards. **In simple terms:** Women shouldn't be forced into impossible purity standards. Key Takeaway Respect personal autonomy and reject oppressive expectations. Themes gender autonomy societal pressure integrity Mood reflective critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - relationships - social norms - personal boundaries - self‑respect Key Concepts feminist critique ethical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies honor personal integrity without imposing harmful norms? - What does true chastity mean beyond external expectations? A Different Perspective It ignores the complexity of individual agency within cultural contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alexander Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexander-caesar-2392781/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Chastity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chastity/) [Chastity Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chastity-ridiculous-3787599/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Exploits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploits/) [Exploits Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploits-alexander-3787601/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Idea Chastity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-chastity-3787600/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numb/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-woman/) [Young women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-women/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Napoleon has now\] surpassed...Alexander & Caesar, not to mention the great advantage he has over them in the Cause he fights in. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-james-fox/napoleon-has-now-surpassed-alexander-caesar-not-to-mention-the-great/) [Charles James Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-james-fox/) > [“Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/well-then-i-will-tell-you-alexander-caesar-charlemagne-and-i-myself/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, you all had great moments, but you never tasted the supreme triumph; you were never a farm boy riding in from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-wood/alexander-caesar-napoleon-you-all-had-great-moments-but-you-never/) [Grant Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-wood/) > [“He thought himself a mighty prince, but before the Lord (that is, in God's account) he was but a mighty hunter. Note, Great conquerors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/he-thought-himself-a-mighty-prince-but-before-the-lord-that-is-in-god/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [We ought to love temperance for itself, and in obedience to God who has commanded it and chastity; but what I am forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-ought-to-love-temperance-for-itself-and-in-obedience-to-god-who/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [An untempted woman cannot boast of her chastity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/an-untempted-woman-cannot-boast-of-her-chastity/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-lady-could-not-boast-of-her-chastity-who-was-never-tempted/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Love clamors far more incessantly and passionately at a closed gate than an open one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-corelli/love-clamors-far-more-incessantly-and-passionately-at-a-closed-gate/) [Marie Corelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-corelli/) > [It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-not-always-from-valor-or-from-chastity-that-men-are-brave-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/give-me-chastity-and-continence-but-not-yet/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The soul whose bosom lust did never touch Is God's fair bride; and maiden's souls are such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-soul-whose-bosom-lust-did-never-touch-is-god-s-fair-bride-and/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/chastity-is-a-virtue-with-some-but-with-many-it-is-almost-a-vice/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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