The idea that political freedom can be preserved in the absence of economic freedom, and vice versa, is an illusion. Political freedom is the corollary of economic freedom.
Ludwig Von MisesRead
Only stilted pedants can conceive the idea that there are absolute norms to tell what is beautiful and what is not. They try to derive from the works of the past a code of rules with which, as they fancy, the writers and artists of the future should comply. But the genius does not cooperate with the pundit.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Beauty is subjective and cannot be confined to absolute norms or rules.
Ludwig Von Mises highlights the idea that beauty is a personal and subjective experience, not something that can be measured or defined by rigid standards. He criticizes those who attempt to impose rules derived from past works on future artists, arguing that true creativity and genius do not conform to such limitations.
Themes
BeautySubjectivityArtCreativityNorms
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about contemporary art, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of personal interpretation.
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