"Chastity is a virtue in some, but almost a vice in many. They abstain, but the bitch, sensuality, leers enviously out of everything they do. Even to the heights of their virtue and to the cold regions of the spirit this beast follows them with her lack of peace. And how nicely the bitch, sensuality, knows how to beg for a piece of spirit when denied a piece of meat. "-From his semi-satirical and philosphical novel "Thus spoke Zarathustra"
For some reason this reminds me of my long lost aunts and uncles. Of religous hypocrites that adminster sila on every poya day, of monks and priests who are trapped inside organized religions, of Principals of public schools, of sexist men, and sexist women. Generally, to all those people who try to force upon certainty (via a moral doctrine) into their uncertain lives.
Nietzsche's prose is at times tiresome, but he goes on to describing an "overman" or a superman - one who overcome their human nature. And the way he's incorporated Chastity is brilliant. Chastity is in fact an effort to rise above human nature. But in reality chastity itself has become a fitness indicator towards sexuality. And rather than transcending us, it has corrupted us.
