There is no difference in principle between sexual pleasure and other forms of pleasure, only a difference in degree
1566. Thus this "highest fire" constitutes the foundation of the individual's ability to feel a "liking" or "disliking", "pleasure" or "displeasure", "wellbeing" or "depression". But feeling a liking, pleasure or wellbeing is a "sexual" feeling. It is true that, generally speaking, one is not accustomed to perceiving feelings that do not directly concern reproduction or actual mating as "sexuality". But is not a feeling of pleasure or sensual pleasure in principle the same pleasure regardless of what causes it? The way in which it is evoked does not change the principle. Is it not so that pleasure is pleasure, and enjoyment is enjoyment, regardless of what has evoked these feelings? Is it not a pleasure to eat when one is hungry? Is it not a pleasure to defecate when nature calls for it? Is it not a pleasure to sleep when one is tired? And is it not equally a pleasure to wake up when one has slept well? Is there any normal function that is not a pleasure? Through close observation of all normal bodily functions it appears that they all give pleasure to their originator. But they do not deviate in principle from sexual pleasure as it is generally known, even though they naturally cannot compare with it in force and strength. Between sexual pleasure and other organic pleasures there is thus no difference in principle, only a difference in degree.
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