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70 Quotes By Marquis De Sade, The Notorious French Author

Famous As: French Writer Whose Perverse Sexual Preferences and Erotic Writings gave Rise to the Term 'Sadism'
Born On: June 2, 1740
Died On: December 2, 1814
Born In: Paris, France
Died At Age: 74
Donatien Alphonse Francois, Marquis de Sade was a French writer, philosopher, radical politician and aristocrat who was distinguished for his libertine sexuality. Sade was born in an aristocratic family and although he wrote many books during his lifetime, he was infamous for indulging in sexual acts that involved different forms of torture, bondage and bestiality that eventually got him imprisoned in 1778. His sexual deviance eventually gave rise to the word ‘Sadism’ in English which means ‘the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.’ Sade spent around two decades in prison and 12 years in a mental asylum; however it was during his time in prison that he wrote extensively. Most of his work dealt with erotica, sexual fantasies and pornography. Some of the well-known works produced by Sade include ‘Juliette’, ‘The 120 Days of Sodom’, ‘Justine’ and ‘Philosophy in the Bedroom’. Sade was condemned for blasphemy and his written work was also found to be indecent, which earned him another jail sentence. Sade was deeply controversial but remains an interesting character to this day. We have scanned through his works and writings to get Marquis de Sade's quotes. Here is a collection of Marquis de Sade' s quotes that will give you a glimpse into his warped mind.
Either kill me or take me as I am, because I'll be damned if I ever change.

Either kill me or take me as I am, because I'll be damned if I ever change.

Marquis de Sade
My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!

My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!

Marquis de Sade
It is only by way of pain one arrives at pleasure

It is only by way of pain one arrives at pleasure

Marquis de Sade
In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.

In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.

Marquis de Sade
Fuck! Is one expected to be a gentleman when one is stiff?

Fuck! Is one expected to be a gentleman when one is stiff?

Marquis de Sade
We are no guiltier in following the primative impulses that govern us than is the Nile for her floods or the sea for her waves.

We are no guiltier in following the primative impulses that govern us than is the Nile for her floods or the sea for her waves.

Marquis de Sade
Sexual pleasure is, I agree, a passion to which all others are subordinate but in which they all unite.

Sexual pleasure is, I agree, a passion to which all others are subordinate but in which they all unite.

Marquis de Sade
What does one want when one is engaged in the sexual act? That everything around you give you its utter attention, think only of you, care only for you...every man wants to be a tyrant when he fornicates.

What does one want when one is engaged in the sexual act? That everything around you give you its utter attention, think only of you, care only for you...every man wants to be a tyrant when he fornicates.

Marquis de Sade
Certain souls may seem harsh to others, but it is just a way, beknownst only to them, of caring and feeling more deeply.

Certain souls may seem harsh to others, but it is just a way, beknownst only to them, of caring and feeling more deeply.

Marquis de Sade
There is no God, Nature sufficeth unto herself; in no wise hath she need of an author.

There is no God, Nature sufficeth unto herself; in no wise hath she need of an author.

Marquis de Sade
To judge from the notions expounded by theologians, one must conclude that God created most men simply with a view to crowding hell.

To judge from the notions expounded by theologians, one must conclude that God created most men simply with a view to crowding hell.

Marquis de Sade
Lust is to the other passions what the nervous fluid is to life; it supports them all, lends strength to them all ambition, cruelty, avarice, revenge, are all founded on lust.

Lust is to the other passions what the nervous fluid is to life; it supports them all, lends strength to them all ambition, cruelty, avarice, revenge, are all founded on lust.

Marquis de Sade
If it is the dirty element that gives pleasure to the act of lust, then the dirtier it is, the more pleasurable it is bound to be.

If it is the dirty element that gives pleasure to the act of lust, then the dirtier it is, the more pleasurable it is bound to be.

Marquis de Sade
Your body is the church where Nature asks to be reverenced.

Your body is the church where Nature asks to be reverenced.

Marquis de Sade
All universal moral principles are idle fancies.

All universal moral principles are idle fancies.

Marquis de Sade
Sex without pain is like food without taste

Sex without pain is like food without taste

Marquis de Sade
Social order at the expense of liberty is hardly a bargain

Social order at the expense of liberty is hardly a bargain

Marquis de Sade
The man who alters his way of thinking to suit others is a fool.

The man who alters his way of thinking to suit others is a fool.

Marquis de Sade
Sex'' is as important as eating or drinking and we ought to allow the one appetite to be satisfied with as little restraint or false modesty as the other

Sex'' is as important as eating or drinking and we ought to allow the one appetite to be satisfied with as little restraint or false modesty as the other

Marquis de Sade
The only way to a woman's heart is along the path of torment.

The only way to a woman's heart is along the path of torment.

Marquis de Sade
I want to be the victim of his errors.

I want to be the victim of his errors.

Marquis de Sade
What we are doing here is only the image of what we would like to do.

What we are doing here is only the image of what we would like to do.

Marquis de Sade
It is not my mode of thought that has caused my misfortunes, but the mode of thought of others.

It is not my mode of thought that has caused my misfortunes, but the mode of thought of others.

Marquis de Sade
I don't know what the heart is, not I: I only use the word to denote the mind's frailties.

I don't know what the heart is, not I: I only use the word to denote the mind's frailties.

Marquis de Sade
The reasoning man who scorns the prejudices of simpletons necessarily becomes the enemy of simpletons; he must expect as much, and laugh at the inevitable.

The reasoning man who scorns the prejudices of simpletons necessarily becomes the enemy of simpletons; he must expect as much, and laugh at the inevitable.

Marquis de Sade
Religions are the cradles of despotism.

Religions are the cradles of despotism.

Marquis de Sade
My passions, concentrated on a single point, resemble the rays of a sun assembled by a magnifying glass: they immediately set fire to whatever object they find in their way.

My passions, concentrated on a single point, resemble the rays of a sun assembled by a magnifying glass: they immediately set fire to whatever object they find in their way.

Marquis de Sade
One must do violence to the object of one's desire; when it surrenders, the pleasure is greater.

One must do violence to the object of one's desire; when it surrenders, the pleasure is greater.

Marquis de Sade
True happiness lies in the senses, and virtue gratifies none of them.

True happiness lies in the senses, and virtue gratifies none of them.

Marquis de Sade
Can we become other than what we are?

Can we become other than what we are?

Marquis de Sade