"Impotence is at base... a symptom of respect, a fear of causing displeasure through the imposition of our own desires or the inability to satisfy our partner's needs. The popularity of pharmaceuticals designed to combat erectile dysfunction signals the collective longing of modern men for a reliable mechanism by which to override our subtle, delicate, civilized worry that we will disappoint or upset others.
A better and drug-free approach might consist in a public campaign to promote to both genders - perhaps via a series of billboards and full-page ads in glossy magazines - the notion that what is often termed 'nerves' in a man, far from being a problem, is in fact an asset that should be sought out and valued as evidence of an evolved type of kindness. The fear of being disgusting, absurd or a disappointment to someone else is a first sign of morality. Impotence is an achievement of the ethical imagination - so much so that in the future, we men might learn to act out episodes of the condition as a way of signalling our depth of spirit, just as today we furtively swallow Viagra tablets in the bathroom to prove the extent of our manliness."
- Alain de Botton, in his new book "How To Think More About Sex"
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