It is incomprehensible that he should want to have these…
““It is incomprehensible that he should want to have these futile people here, and still more incomprehensible that he should be able to sit and listen to them and their stupid chatter. I can understand that he may occasionally listen to poets reciting their verses; they can be regarded as buffoons such as are always kept at court. They laud the lofty purity of the human soul, great events and heroic feats, and there is nothing to be said against all that, particularly if their songs flatter him. Human beings need flattery; otherwise they do not fulfill their purpose, not even in their own eyes. And both the present and the past contain much that is beautiful and noble which, without due praise, would have been neither noble nor beautiful. Above all, they sing the praises of love, which is quite as it should be, for nothing else is in such need of transformation into something different. The ladies are filled with melancholy and their breasts heave with sighs; the men gaze vaguely and dreamily into space, for they all know what it is really like and realize that this must be an especially beautiful poem.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques the reliance on flattery and superficial praise, emphasizing that true beauty and nobility arise from sincere appreciation, especially of love, rather than empty compliments.
In simple terms: Flattery masks true beauty; love needs genuine praise.
Key Takeaway
Seek sincere appreciation over hollow praise.
Themes
flattery
beauty
love
truth
society
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- courtly gatherings
- artistic performances
- personal reflections
- romantic relationships
Key Concepts
aesthetic appreciation
human nature
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does flattery affect our perception of truth?
- When do we value love for its own sake?
A Different Perspective
Empty praise can distort perception of value, leading to superficial judgments.