"Man's natural character is to imitate; that of the sensitive man is to resemble as closely as possible the person whom he loves. It is only by imitating the vices of others that I have earned my misfortunes"

The Marquis de Sade's quote speaks to the human tendency to imitate the behavior of those we admire. He suggests that it is through this imitation that we often find ourselves in unfortunate circumstances. He implies that it is not our own vices that lead to our misfortunes, but rather the vices of those we admire and seek to emulate. This quote speaks to the power of influence and the importance of being mindful of the people we choose to imitate. It is a reminder that we should be careful to choose role models who embody the values and behaviors we wish to emulate. Ultimately, it is our own responsibility to choose wisely and to be mindful of the consequences of our actions.