PHILOSOPHY IN THE BEDROOM

"[HORSEMAN] . . . We have declared ourselves free. But Frenchmen, a wide chasm separates the declaration of freedom from the realization of freedom, and there can be no greater folly than in believing that we have attained the latter when, in reality, we have accomplished only the former. . ."
My friends, the time has come to realize that morals should be the basis of religion and not religion the basis of morals. . ."
Our children must be made to realize the fundamental principle of civilization: that our own happiness depends upon the happiness of those about us. . ."^1a

"[HORSEMAN] . . . The law, after all, [is] but a contract, and a valid contract involves each party’s foregoing something in return for acquiring something else. But what do the poor acquire in return for foregoing the pleasure of stealing from the rich? Nothing. Thus, illusory rights are exchanged for real rights and the contract is inequitable."^1b

"[HORSEMAN] . . . A republic is not in the business of prescribing morality; its chief duty – indeed, its sole reason for existence is to preserve, by whatever means deemed necessary, the freedom of its citizens."^1c

"[HORSEMAN] . . . we should nullify all marriage laws. These are based on the Christian notion of possessive “love” . . . These laws should be replaced by a State declaration that all women belong to all men – not as property, but as instruments for enjoyment."^1d

"[HORSEMAN] . . . And, Frenchmen: let the laws always serve the people, never the people serve the laws."^1e

JULIETTE, OR VICE AMPLY REWARDED

"[JULIETTE] . . . if it is glorious to refuse the good, it must be divine to do the evil."^1f

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DAYS OF SODOM, OR THE ROMANCE OF THE SCHOOL OF LIBERTINAGE

"[DUKE OF BLANGIS, a monstrous scoundrel] . . . hear me well: you are our prisoners . . . you exist solely for our pleasure . . . a thousand times more subjugated than slaves, you must expect nothing but humiliation. . . in short, we are everything and you are nothing."^1g

DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PRIEST AND A DYING MAN

"DYING MAN [TO PRIEST] . . . Go out into the world and preach not your tired old sophistries but the only law of morality worth observing, the Natural law: “Treat all men as you would have them treat you, and never cause more pain than you yourself would want to suffer.”  This is the only principle worth preaching, preacher."^1h CONFUCIUS