This is what extremely grieves us, that a man who never fought Should contrive our fees to pilfer, on who for his native land Never to this day had oar, or lance, or blister in his hand.
AristophanesRead
Like our attitude to love, truth and goodness, we seem to be confident about knowing what beauty is - certain, even dogmatic - until we think hard about the idea, whereupon all confidence flies away.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our understanding of beauty is often superficial, and deeper contemplation can reveal uncertainty.
This quote by Charles Jencks emphasizes that while we may initially feel confident in our perceptions of beauty, much like our views on love, truth, and goodness, a deeper reflection can lead to doubt and a realization that our understanding is not as solid as we think. It suggests that beauty is subjective and complex, and challenges us to question our assumptions about it.
Themes
BeautyTruthPhilosophyKnowledgeCertainty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a lecture on aesthetics to discuss the nature of beauty.
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