--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While many men indulge freely without any…" description: "\"“While many men indulge freely without any notion of restraint, others are repulsed by their response to pornography. The arousal that they experience ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg" --- # While many men indulge freely without any notion of… ![“While many men indulge freely without any notion of restraint, others are repulsed by their response to pornography. The arousal that they experience sexually is accompanied by a conflicting sense of shame, guilt and/ or anxiety. Such men have a sense that something is just not right about what…” quote by William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg) > ““While many men indulge freely without any notion of restraint, others are repulsed by their response to pornography. The arousal that they experience sexually is accompanied by a conflicting sense of shame, guilt and/ or anxiety. Such men have a sense that something is just not right about what they are doing. The nagging voice is repressed while viewing pornography, but afterward there is a gnawing sense that we shouldn't have looked. We intuitively know that what we saw was not meant for us. We have intruded into someone's intimate space. To the properly oriented conscience, viewing pornography elicits a healthy sense of guilt. To the seared conscience, one that has been ground down by abuse, fear, selfishness or repeated exposure to sin, pornography is just something you do. The seared conscience is forced either to turn against itself and plunge into the despair of self-loathing and unhealthy shame or to adopt new standards that allow for the acceptability of pornography. That standard may work for a time, but ultimately it leads to hurt, pain and suffering.”” [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Viewing pornography creates a conflict between sexual arousal and moral conscience, leading to guilt, shame, or anxiety depending on one's psychological conditioning. **In simple terms:** Sexual content can clash with personal values, causing emotional distress. Key Takeaway Recognize and address the inner conflict rather than suppressing it. Themes morality guilt sexuality psychology Mood conflicted reflective Type advice psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal reflection - relationship counseling - educational workshops Key Concepts conscience cognitive dissonance self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal belief system shape your reaction to sexual content? - What steps can you take to align actions with values healthily? A Different Perspective If the underlying beliefs are rigid, guilt may persist despite rational understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Hurt pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-pain/) [Oriented Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oriented-conscience-5468926/) [Pain and suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-and-suffering/) [Pornography Arousal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pornography-arousal-5468925/) [Seared Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seared-conscience-2021540/) [Viewing Pornography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewing-pornography-2770125/) ## Related quotes > [“Pornography causes release of adrenaline from an area in the brain called the locus coeruleus, and this makes the heart race in those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-l-hilton-jr/pornography-causes-release-of-adrenaline-from-an-area-in-the-brain/) [Donald L Hilton Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-l-hilton-jr/) > [Your conscience is like the nerve endings in your fingertips. Its sensitivity to external stimuli can be damaged by the buildup of calluses or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/your-conscience-is-like-the-nerve-endings-in-your-fingertips-its/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [It is better to have a sore than a seared conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/it-is-better-to-have-a-sore-than-a-seared-conscience/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [“When a person denies his conscience for too long, it can become seared. That person becomes susceptible to receiving and accepting all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/when-a-person-denies-his-conscience-for-too-long-it-can-become-seared/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [“If you saw a dog that was hit by a car in the street, lying there, hurt, in pain, broken... would you pick it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/if-you-saw-a-dog-that-was-hit-by-a-car-in-the-street-lying-there-hurt/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“When you're birthing something you might experience hurt, pain and discomfort but don't stop "pushing".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonya-hilson/when-you-re-birthing-something-you-might-experience-hurt-pain-and/) [Tonya Hilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonya-hilson/) > [I wish I could go back to the day I met you and just walk away. Honestly, it wouldve saved me so much hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-i-could-go-back-to-the-day-i-met-you-and-just-walk-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Shine in any season of your life! Head on with confidence in your life’s pilgrim! In deep faith, countless hope and unconditional love blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/shine-in-any-season-of-your-life-head-on-with-confidence-in-your-life/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [When your first love breaks your heart and there isnt no were to go but you know there is some one out there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-raines/when-your-first-love-breaks-your-heart-and-there-isnt-no-were-to-go/) [Shelby Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-raines/) > [My mother understood the importance of taking care of people, especially when they are exposed to hurt or pain. And I was raised to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/my-mother-understood-the-importance-of-taking-care-of-people/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [Don't give anybody a chance to hurt you or give you pain. Your heart is not meant for that. Your heart is a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-give-anybody-a-chance-to-hurt-you-or-give-you-pain-your-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He read it for the same reason an animal tears at a wounded foot: to hurt the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-west/he-read-it-for-the-same-reason-an-animal-tears-at-a-wounded-foot-to/) [Nathanael West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-west/) > [Things will hurt, but pain makes me stronger, wiser and smarter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/things-will-hurt-but-pain-makes-me-stronger-wiser-and-smarter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Let God take your hurt, your pain, and turn it into something miraculous!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayce-o-neal/let-god-take-your-hurt-your-pain-and-turn-it-into-something-miraculous/) [Jayce O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayce-o-neal/) > [“When children are hurt and in pain psychologically, they don't want to be in distress, so when the situation becomes intolerable, they cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-firestone/when-children-are-hurt-and-in-pain-psychologically-they-don-t-want-to/) [Robert W. Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-firestone/) ## More by William M. Struthers > [“Each time that an unhealthy sexual pattern is repeated, a neurological, emotional and spiritual erosion carves out a channel that will eventually develop into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/each-time-that-an-unhealthy-sexual-pattern-is-repeated-a-neurological/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) > [“If I were a transgendered lesbian—a woman trapped in a man’s body (gender identity) with a sexual orientation toward females—would my behavior be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/if-i-were-a-transgendered-lesbian-a-woman-trapped-in-a-man-s-body/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) > [“from our bodies. THE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/from-our-bodies-the/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) > [“It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. (Lewis, 1977, pp. 14-15)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/it-is-immortals-whom-we-joke-with-work-with-marry-snub-and-exploit/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) > [“The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness, a compulsive fixation on Christ and an impulsive pattern of compassion, virtue and love. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addiction-to-holiness-a/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) > [“There is little research being done on the neurological basis of porn addiction. In part this is because it is not seen as necessary.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/there-is-little-research-being-done-on-the-neurological-basis-of-porn/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) > [“I once heard a pastor say, “Everyone in life is a winner because you were once a sperm that won the race to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/i-once-heard-a-pastor-say-everyone-in-life-is-a-winner-because-you/) [William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) [Explore all 8 William M. Struthers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“While many men indulge freely without any notion of restraint, others are repulsed by their response to pornography. The arousal that they experience sexually is accompanied by a conflicting sense of shame, guilt and/ or anxiety. Such men have a sense that something is just not right about what they are doing. The nagging voice is repressed while viewing pornography, but afterward there is a gnawing sense that we shouldn't have looked. We intuitively know that what we saw was not meant for us. We have intruded into someone's intimate space. To the properly oriented conscience, viewing pornography elicits a healthy sense of guilt. To the seared conscience, one that has been ground down by abuse, fear, selfishness or repeated exposure to sin, pornography is just something you do. The seared conscience is forced either to turn against itself and plunge into the despair of self-loathing and unhealthy shame or to adopt new standards that allow for the acceptability of pornography. That standard may work for a time, but ultimately it leads to hurt, pain and suffering.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William M. Struthers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-any-notion-of-restraint-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-any-notion-of-restraint-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/william-m-struthers-46786_hurt-pain_while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-an_1495355.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While many men indulge freely without any notion of restraint, others are repulsed by their response to…” — William M. Struthers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William M. Struthers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“While many men indulge freely without...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-any-notion-of-restraint-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-any-notion-of-restraint-others/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```