As we speak of poetical beauty, so ought we to speak of…
“As we speak of poetical beauty, so ought we to speak of mathematical beauty and medical beauty. But we do not do so; and that reason is that we know well what is the object of mathematics, and that it consists in proofs, and what is the object of medicine, and that it consists in healing. But we do not know in what grace consists, which is the object of poetry.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Pascal contrasts the clear, objective aims of mathematics and medicine with poetry’s elusive, aesthetic goal, noting we lack a precise definition of poetic grace.
In simple terms: Poetry’s beauty is harder to define than math or medicine.
Key Takeaway
Seek to understand and articulate the essence of artistic grace.
Themes
beauty
philosophy
art
science
definition
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
contemplative
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- art education
- creative writing
- interdisciplinary studies
Key Concepts
aesthetics
epistemology
ontology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we describe the essence of artistic grace?
- What criteria might capture poetic beauty?
A Different Perspective
Poetry’s subjective nature resists precise analysis.