A red paper heart under a glass paperweight beside a loose red thread and small scissors on white marble.

Original artwork, not a still

Vicomte de Valmont

You see, I have no plans to break down her morals. I want her to believe in love and virtue and the sanctity of marriage, and still not be able to stop herself. I want the pleasure of watching her betray everything that is important to her.

— Dangerous Liaisons  ·  1988

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker wants the woman to retain her belief in love, virtue and marriage while acting against those convictions. The desired pleasure comes from witnessing that contradiction. This is a calculated wish to see someone betray their own values, rather than persuade them to abandon those values first.

Context reviewed

Share this quote