Geoffrey Rush as the Marquis de Sade in the film “Quills (2000)” a fascinating exploration of sex & hypocrisy.
De Sade is considered the ‘sort of” founding father of sadism but his philosophy really concerns the nature of morality and hypocrisy. So, here are some words of wisdom from the Master – the Marquis de Sade…
On Women
To the young maidens of the world, wrest yourselves free from the tyranny of virtue, and taste without shame the pleasures of the flesh. Male power lies in the clench of a fist, but a woman’s power lies elsewhere, in the velvet cavity betwixt her thighs.
I’ve already told you: the only way to a woman’s heart is along the path of torment. I know none other as sure.
Statue of the Marquis de Sade in the town of Lacoste, France. Placed there by Pierre Cardin.
On Vice
In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.
It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure.
No kind of sensation is keener and more active than pain; its impressions are unmistakable.
Sensuality was ever the dearest to me of all my possessions. All my life, I have bowed down before its idols and always wished to end my days in its arms … try to forget, as I do, the vain sophisms of superstition and the stupid errors of hypocrisy.
On Morals
All universal moral principles are idle fancies.
It is not my mode of thought that has caused my misfortunes, but the mode of thought of others.
Social order at the expense of liberty is hardly a bargain.
What is more immoral than war?
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!
Donatien Alphonse François de Sade 2 June 1740 – 2 December 1814
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.
Lust’s passion will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes.
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.
Image by Man Ray ‘Monument à D.A.F. de Sade’. The surrealists movement viewed de Sade as an ideal of freedom.
On Religion
Put aside your prejudices, be a man, be human, have no fear and no hope. Abandon your divinities and your creeds which have never served any purpose save to put a sword into the hand of man. The mere names of horrible gods and hideous faiths have caused more blood to be shed than all other wars and scourges on earth. Give up the idea of another world, for there is none. But do not turn your back on the pleasure in this of being happy yourself and of making others happy. It is the only means Nature affords you of enlarging and extending your capacity for life.
Religions are the cradles of despotism.
On God
There is no God, Nature suffices unto herself; in no way hath she need of an author.
The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.
To judge from the notions expounded by theologians, one must conclude that God created most men simply with a view to crowding hell.
Tomer Hanuka’s cover for the Marquis de Sade’s Philosophy in the Boudoir
Real Femdom 
