God how I hate new countries: They are older than the old, more sophisticated, much more conceited, only young in a certain puerile vanity more like senility than anything.
D. H. LawrenceRead
Obscenity only comes in when the mind despises and fears the body, and the body hates and resists the mind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Obscenity arises from the conflict and disdain between the mind and body.
D. H. Lawrence's quote reflects the intricate relationship between the mind and body. It suggests that when the mind harbors negative feelings towards the body and vice versa, it leads to a clash that can manifest in societal views of obscenity. This idea encourages a deeper understanding and acceptance of both physical and mental aspects of human existence, advocating for harmony rather than conflict.
Themes
ObscenityMindBodyConflictFearDespiseResistance
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about body positivity, this quote could illustrate the importance of accepting oneself.
More from D. H. Lawrence
All quotes βA young man is afraid of his demon and puts his hand over the demon's mouth sometimes and speaks for him. And the things the young man says are very rarely poetry.
D. H. LawrenceRead
And besides, look at elder flowers and bluebells-they are a sign that pure creation takes place - even the butterfly. But humanity never gets beyond the caterpillar stage -it rots in the chrysalis, it never will have wings.It is anti-creation, like monkeys and baboons.
D. H. LawrenceRead
The Christian fear of the pagan outlook has damaged the whole consciousness of man.
D. H. LawrenceRead
The cosmos is a vast living body, of which we are still parts. The sun is a great heart whose tremors run through our smallest veins. The moon is a great nerve center from which we quiver forever. Who knows the power that Saturn has over us, or Venus? But it is a vital power, rippling exquisitely through us all the time.
D. H. LawrenceRead
... he preferred his own madness, to the regular sanity. He rejoiced in his own madness, he was free. He did not want that old sanity of the world, which was become so repulsive. He rejoiced in the new-found world of his madness. It was so fresh and delicate and so satisfying.
D. H. LawrenceRead
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