The Marquis de Sade was an 18th century French aristocrat known for his libertine lifestyle and philosophy which rejected social norms regarding sexuality and morality. He was repeatedly imprisoned for scandals involving abuse of women and men. His imprisonment allowed him to write controversial works exploring extreme sexuality and sadism. The terms "sadism" and "masochism" were later coined based on his writings, referring to deriving pleasure from inflicting or receiving pain. Though still controversial, BDSM is practiced privately by some as an acceptable form of sexuality between consenting adults. The Marquis de Sade remains a notable historical figure representing the extremes of human sexuality and challenging of social conventions.