The man who has sufficient power over himself to wait until his nature has recovered its even balance is the truly wise man, but such beings are seldom met with.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
Beauty without wit offers nothing but the enjoyment of its material charms, whilst witty ugliness captivates by the charms of the mind, and at last fulfils all the desires of the man it has captivated.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True beauty combines physical appearance with intelligence and wit.
Giacomo Casanova emphasizes that superficial beauty, devoid of intelligence or wit, is ultimately unfulfilling. In contrast, a person who may lack conventional beauty but possesses sharp wit can captivate and satisfy deeper desires, suggesting that true allure lies in the substance of one's character and intellect rather than mere appearance.
Themes
BeautyWitIntelligenceDesireCharm
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of character, one might quote Casanova to highlight the value of intelligence over mere looks.
More from Giacomo Casanova
All quotes →I have met with some of them - very honest fellows, who, with all their stupidity, had a kind of intelligence and an upright good sense, which cannot be the characteristics of fools.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
From that moment our love became sad, and sadness is a disease which gives the death-blow to affection.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
The mind of a human being is formed only of comparisons made in order to examine analogies, and therefore cannot precede the existence of memory.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
For my future I have no concern, and as a true philosopher, I never would have any, for I know not what it may be: as a Christian, on the other hand, faith must believe without discussion, and the stronger it is, the more it keeps silent.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
I have had friends who have acted kindly towards me, and it has been my good fortune to have it in my power to give them substantial proofs of my gratitude.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
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