Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/466



sexual intercourse I have expressed my view, as much as I could, in the epilogue to "The Kreutzer Sonata." The whole question is decided briefly: a man must always, under all circumstances,—whether he is married or single,—be as chaste as possible, as Christ said, and Paul after him. If he can be so continent as not to know a woman at all, that is the best he can do. But if he cannot contain himself, he must as rarely as possible submit to this weakness, and by no means look upon the sexual intercourse as upon a "jouissance." I think that any sincere and serious man cannot help but look upon the matter in this way, and that all men of this kind agree upon this.

And there is a letter from the editor of The Adult on free love. If I had time, I should like to write on this subject. No doubt I will write about it. The main thing is to show that the whole question is in securing the greatest amount of pleasure for oneself, without any thought of the consequences. Besides, they preach what already exists and is very bad. Why will the absence of external restraint mend the whole matter? I am, of course, against all regulation and for full liberty, but the ideal is chastity, and not enjoyment.

All the calamities which are begot by the sexual relations, by amorousness, are due to nothing but this, that we mix up the carnal lust with the spiritual life, with,