setting one's own rules does have a basis in Western philosophy

I want to discuss a quote from AClockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.

In the book (which became a controversial movie written, produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick) the story is narrated by Alex, a teenager who leads a gang and is basically living the male fantasy life. He has the respect of his peers, he gets money from stealing, he gets sex and he has the time to pursue his passion for music.

This is what Alex tells the readers after Alex's “Post-Corrective Adviser” P. R. Deltoid has left.

Tao Te Ching verse 13: does it apply to sexual encounters involving humiliation & degradation?

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 13

Accept disgrace willingly.
Accept misfortune as the human condition.

What do you mean by "Accept disgrace willingly"?
Accept being unimportant.
Do not be concerned with loss and gain.
This is called "accepting disgrace willingly."

What do you mean by "Accept misfortune as the human condition"?
Misfortune comes from having a body.
Without a body, how could there be misfortune?

Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things.
Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.


(translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English)