Woman's power lies in man's passion, and she knows how to use it, if man doesn't understand himself.
 Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Venus in Furs (1870). copy citation

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Author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
Source Venus in Furs
Topic passion understanding
Date 1870
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Fernanada Savage
Weblink https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Venus_in_Furs

Context

“"Well, if you like it, live like a pasha in your harem, but don't lay down theories for me--" "Why not," he said animatedly. "Goethe's 'you must be hammer or anvil' is absolutely appropriate to the relation between man and woman. Didn't Lady Venus in your dream prove that to you? Woman's power lies in man's passion, and she knows how to use it, if man doesn't understand himself. He has only one choice: to be the tyrant over or the slave of woman. As soon as he gives in, his neck is under the yoke, and the lash will soon fall upon him." "Strange maxims!" "Not maxims, but experiences,"” source