214 BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN PROBLEMS 



this should not extend to sexual relations, and this 

 conclusion is a sound one in theory and practice. 

 But the reasons for the validity of this conventional 

 verdict should not be misunderstood. Freedom of 

 sexual relations is interdicted simply because it has 

 been shown by experience to lead in practice to bad 

 results. Such sexual indulgence is not in itself 

 necessarily harmful, but the risk of harm of one sort 

 or another is very great where practiced extra- 

 maritally. For this reason it is practically always 

 wrong to run a risk to happiness, however strongly 

 reason and inclination may conspire to persuade the 

 intending persons that in their special case there 

 can be no danger. It sometimes happens that the 

 understanding between married persons is so generous 

 that an almost unlimited freedom is granted by one 

 of them to the other, without being due to any decline 

 in personal affection. But such conditions seldom 

 arise and should not be utilized when they do arise 

 and again solely because of the risk to happiness. 

 There is the less excuse for the acceptance of such 

 proffered liberty because all the finer possibilities of 

 permanent friendship between man and woman 

 may be had without resort to the relatively grosser 

 indulgences of the sex passion. All that is best of 

 the undeniably great charm of sex may be retained 

 in the sentiment of such friendships and without 

 the danger of the loss of self-respect that attends 

 the physical gratification of sexual impulse. As the 

 human race gains in self-control it will learn more 



