John Steinbeck. East of Eden (№ 306064)

But the truth was that in the presence of girls Carl insanely shy. And like most shy men, he satisfied the needs of his nature with the help of a faceless tribe of prostitutes. A whore is a timid man feels infinitely more confident. He pays her, and pays forward, and it becomes a thing with a prostitute timid man can afford to be cheerful, and even cruel. In addition, it keeps the gut from the fear that you rejected.