He puts such an emphasis on platonic love that one must wonder if he truly believes this or he's hiding behind this excuse. For if Maurice could deny him once then it could certainly happen again, and what consequences would he face then? It must have been quite a wake-up call and so the seed of doubt had been planted.

I can understand this a little, however Maurice, after he's got over the shock, definitely shows Clive that he's interested and wants him. Has Clive had a previous experience go wrong like it did with Maurice initially to have put him off the whole idea of taking things further? It seems somewhat extreme for Clive to eschew everything about being homosexual because of Maurice's initial shock and rejection. Maurice does his utmost to change things and yet Clive is adamant. If he hasn't had a previous experience then I think it's an altogether over the top reaction, and strengthens my feeling that he either did not really want a physical relationship...or alternatively, that the idea of one and the possible implications of having one were too frightening for him to go ahead once he had been able to think about it. In which case he's using Maurice in a way to justify his own actions, and that's not very fair on Maurice who has realised he loves Clive and wants some physicality to their relationship.