"Beauty is desired in order that it may be befouled; not for its own sake, but for the joy brought by the certainty of profaning it"

In this quote, Tom Stoppard recommends that charm is often sought after not for its own intrinsic worth, but for the satisfaction that comes from defiling it. He indicates that there is a specific adventure or complete satisfaction in ruining something that is considered stunning. This could be interpreted as a commentary on human nature, where we are drawn to things that are visually pleasing, however likewise have a tendency to want to interfere with or taint them. Stoppard's words likewise hint at the idea that beauty is fleeting and can easily be corrupted, including a sense of melancholy to the quote.