Men are said to desire women, Severian. Why do they despise the women they obtain?
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the contradictory nature of desire and contempt in human relationships.
Gene Wolfe's quote questions the paradox of human desire, particularly regarding men and women. It suggests that while men may pursue women and identify them as objects of desire, they often harbor disdain for those very women they attain, pointing to deeper issues in how relationships are often navigated and the complexity of emotional responses towards love and attraction.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion about gender dynamics in relationships.
That was when I found out that the best way in the world to make yourself feel better when you have hit bottom is to try to get somebody else to feel better. There are certain things in life that are truly worth knowing, and that is one of the big ones.
All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it.
My relationship with cats has saved me from a deadly and pervasive ignorance.
... fighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there-because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change, and that is a lie. The institution of marriage is going to change, and it should change. And again, I don't think it should exist.
By helping others come unto Him, you will find that you have come unto Him yourself
We are a society that treats people with disabilities with condescension and pity, not dignity and respect.
Treat a man like dirt-he produces flowers.
We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
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