Quote by John Ralston Saul

Venereal: From Venus, the goddess of love, this word refers to the reality of desire. With the rise of Protestantism and science, the word disease was tacked on in a revealing combination of categorization and moralizing. Which disease? The disease of love.

Venereal: From Venus, the goddess of love, this word refers

Summary

This quote highlights the origin and evolution of the word "venereal," which stems from the name of the goddess of love, Venus. It suggests that with the emergence of Protestantism and scientific understanding, the word "disease" was appended to "venereal" as a way of both categorizing and moralizing the concept. The quote posits that this labeling refers specifically to the "disease of love," implying that the desire and passion associated with love were considered problematic or even sinful by certain societal belief systems.

Topics

Love Science

By John Ralston Saul

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

If I thought that any of this was pre ordained, then it take

If I thought that any of this was pre ordained, then it takes away any kind of incentive to struggle, or to put up with things, to reach for those impossible dreams, all those dramatic things.

Dreams

A clever person solves a problem; a wise person uses Cosmic

A clever person solves a problem; a wise person uses Cosmic Ordering!

Stephen Richards

Happiness Abundance Creation Cosmic Ordering Focus Goal Setting Goals Law Of Attraction Author Stephen Richards Fearless

It is my contention that civil disobediences are nothing but

It is my contention that civil disobediences are nothing but the latest form of voluntary association, and that they are thus quite in tune with the oldest traditions of the country.

Obedience

This gives force to the strong -- that the multitude have no

This gives force to the strong -- that the multitude have no habit of self-reliance or original action.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Independence

Working on a new idea is kind of like getting married. Then

Working on a new idea is kind of like getting married. Then a new idea comes along and you think, 'Man, I'd really like to go out with her.' But you can't. At least not until the old idea is finished.

Writing

Maybe if the right person floats into your life, you have to

Maybe if the right person floats into your life, you have to jump in with both feet and try to make it work before the tide turns.

Love Relationships Soulmates

Any attempts at humor immediately after September 11th were

Any attempts at humor immediately after September 11th were deemed tasteless.

Humor

To make the most of your money, I recommend sticking with mu

To make the most of your money, I recommend sticking with mutual funds that don't charge a commission when you buy or sell.

Money

In the last 5 years, American employers have lost over $150

In the last 5 years, American employers have lost over $150 billion of productivity to depression alone. That is more than the GDP of 28 different States during the same period.

Patrick J. Kennedy

Alone

But the dollars spent on economic incentives and new investm

But the dollars spent on economic incentives and new investment strategies are wasted unless we seriously address the two most important economic issues in Kansas: education and health care.

Kathleen Sebelius

Health

be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody else's

be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be.

Henry David Thoreau

Expression Be Yourself Ataraxy Yourself

No nice men are good at getting taxis.

No nice men are good at getting taxis.

Katharine Whitehorn

Men