"Most readers seem to approach him with the vulgar expectation that his distinction between them is going to be a quantitative one; that the vicious loves are going to be warmly painted and the virtuous tepidly—the sacred draped and the profane nude. It must be stated at once that in so far as Spenser’s distinction is quantitative at all, the quantities are the other way round. […] For him, intensity of passion purifies […]"
That is a qualitative difference, not a quantitative difference.
I am enjoying your writing even more now you have found the SHIFT key.
Is being enjoyed actually much harder? Is it harder at all? Like this is TLP's claim (I guess?) but is it true? I feel like it may not be. I mean lying on the sofa and being wanted is passive in the moment that one is lying on the sofa but that often of requires a level of physical fitness and beauty which requires some work to attain or maintain. But also, like, what if a lot of your partner's enjoyment is looking at you, like a living piece of art? That is obviously a very similar case, and seems pretty common. Then there is the sex, etc., which I mean it is something you do and technically work but if it really feels like it why be in a relationship with this person at all.
"Most readers seem to approach him with the vulgar expectation that his distinction between them is going to be a quantitative one; that the vicious loves are going to be warmly painted and the virtuous tepidly—the sacred draped and the profane nude. It must be stated at once that in so far as Spenser’s distinction is quantitative at all, the quantities are the other way round. […] For him, intensity of passion purifies […]"
That is a qualitative difference, not a quantitative difference.
I am enjoying your writing even more now you have found the SHIFT key.
Is being enjoyed actually much harder? Is it harder at all? Like this is TLP's claim (I guess?) but is it true? I feel like it may not be. I mean lying on the sofa and being wanted is passive in the moment that one is lying on the sofa but that often of requires a level of physical fitness and beauty which requires some work to attain or maintain. But also, like, what if a lot of your partner's enjoyment is looking at you, like a living piece of art? That is obviously a very similar case, and seems pretty common. Then there is the sex, etc., which I mean it is something you do and technically work but if it really feels like it why be in a relationship with this person at all.