Heterosexual Quote by William S. Burroughs
“Admittedly, a homosexual can be conditioned to react sexually to a woman, or to an old boot for that matter. In fact, both homo - and heterosexual experimental subjects have been conditioned to react sexually to an old boot, and you can save a lot of money that way.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1974, "The Burroughs Reader"
Sexual responses can be conditioned to non‑human objects through repeated exposure, showing the plasticity of desire.
In simple terms: Desire can be trained to any stimulus.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how conditioning shapes preferences.
Themes
psychology
sexuality
conditioning
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- therapy
- advertising
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
behaviorism
neuroscience
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the moral limits of conditioning desire?
- Can consent be truly informed in such experiments?
A Different Perspective
Ethical concerns arise when manipulating sexual behavior.
![“[T]here is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if not practices, and what anyone does with a willing partner is of no social or cosmic significance.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebb/gore-vidal-466_quote_t-here-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual_1916419.jpg)
