“We are faithful as long as we love, but youdemand faithfulness of a woman without love, and the giving ofherself without enjoyment. Who is cruel there--woman or man?”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote by Ritter von Leopold Sacher-Masoch
In this quote by Ritter von Leopold Sacher-Masoch, the author questions the expectation of faithfulness from women without love and enjoyment. He implies that it is cruel to demand such loyalty without the presence of genuine feelings. This quote highlights the unequal expectations placed on women in relationships and challenges traditional notions of fidelity.
Modern Relevance
In this quote by Ritter von Leopold Sacher-Masoch, the author questions the societal expectations placed on women to be faithful and loyal in relationships without receiving love and enjoyment in return. This concept of unequal expectations and treatment between men and women continues to be relevant in modern society, where women are often expected to sacrifice their own happiness and desires for the benefit of others.
Example of Usage
Here is a powerful quote from Ritter von Leopold Sacher-Masoch that questions societal expectations of faithfulness and love in relationships.
Reflection Questions:
In this quote by Ritter von Leopold Sacher-Masoch, the topic of faithfulness, love, and enjoyment in relationships is brought up. Reflect on the following questions:
- How do societal expectations and norms play a role in defining faithfulness in relationships?
- In what ways can love and enjoyment be interconnected or separated in a relationship?
- Do you think it is possible to be faithful without love or enjoyment? Why or why not?
- How do power dynamics and gender roles influence the expectations placed on individuals in relationships?
- Can demands for faithfulness without love or enjoyment be considered a form of cruelty in a relationship?
- How can individuals navigate expectations of faithfulness while still prioritizing their own emotional well-being and happiness?
Similar quotes
“Alas, woman is faithful as long as she loves, but you demand that she be faithful without love and give herself without enjoyment. Who is cruel then, woman or man?”
“Why not?" she said, "and take note of what I am about to say to you. Never feel secure with the woman you love, for there are more dangers in woman's nature than you imagine. Women are neither as good as their admirers and defenders maintain, nor as bad as their enemies make them out to be. Woman's character is characterlessness. The best woman will momentarily go down into the mire, and the worst unexpectedly rises to deeds of greatness and goodness and puts to shame those that despise her. No woman is so good or so bad, but that at any moment she is capable of the most diabolical as well as of the most divine, of the filthiest as well as of the purest, thoughts, emotions, and actions. In spite of all the advances of civilization, woman has remained as she came out of the hand of nature. She has the nature of a savage, who is faithful or faithless, magnanimous or cruel, according to the impulse that dominates at the moment. Throughout history it has always been a serious deep culture which has produced moral character. Man even when he is selfish or evil always follows principles, woman never follows anything but impulses. Don't ever forget that, and never feel secure with the woman you love.”
“Yes, I am cruel—since you take so much delight in that word-and am I not entitled to be so? Man is the one who desires, woman the one who is desired. This is woman's entire but decisive advantage. Through his passion nature has given man into woman's hands, and the woman who does not know how to make him her subject, her slave, her toy, and how to betray him with a smile in the end is not wise.”
“Man is the one who desires, woman the one who is desired. This is woman's entire but decisive advantage. Through man's passions, nature has given man into woman's hands, and the woman who does not know how to make him her subject, her slave, her toy, and how to betray him with a smile in the end is not wise.”
“Why become well-versed in science and the arts if not to impress a lovely little woman?”
“Once I no longer exist as I am, out of what consideration then should I forgo anything? Should I belong to a man I don't love simply because I used to love him? No, I forgo nothing, I love any man who appeals to me and I make any man who loves me happy. Is that ugly? No, it is at least far more beautiful than my cruelly delighting in the tortures incited by my charms and my virtuously turning my back on the poor man who pines away for me. I am young, rich, and beautiful, and just as I am, I live cheerfully for pleasure and enjoyment.”