ABSTRACT
The opinions entertained by civilised adults on the subject of sex morals are not infrequently quite different from those which they desire to be taught to their children. There is a traditional moral code still accepted in all sincerity by a section of the population, but accepted by others only nominally and as a matter of respectability. In general, those whose opinions on sex matters are traditional have much more confidence in proclaiming and preaching their doctrines than have those who view the traditional code with doubt. Those who are prepared, in their own private behaviour and in their opinion of the private behaviour of their friends, to be latitudinarian, are seldom quite clear as to what their ethic is, and still more seldom willing to express publicly any dissent from the conventional code. Moreover, they tend to think that the strength of the sexual passion is sure to lead men and women into acts contrary to whatever code they may hold, and that therefore the right degree of liberty in action is most likely to be secured when theory is more stringent than a strict regard for truth would warrant. A
person who thinks that in no circumstances whatever is sexual intercourse outside marriage justifiable may come, under the stress of deep love, to feel that in this particular case the circumstances are so peculiar as to allow of relaxation of the code. The person who thinks that a great love justifies relations outside marriage will tend to suppose that every passing fancy is a great love. The man who thinks that even passing fancies are legitimate, provided they are mutual and not mercenary, may be tempted to forget the mutuality and to introduce mercenary considerations surreptitiously. In such ways most people tend to a greater freedom in action than in theory. Therefore, in advocating any kind of sex freedom, it is always necessary to remember that the freedom which will be taken is likely to exceed that which is advocated.
