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Tell them dear, that if eyes were made for seeing, Then…

“Tell them dear, that if eyes were made for seeing, Then beauty is its own excuse for being: Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose! I never sought to ask, I never knew: But, in my simple ignorance suppose The selfsame power that brought me there brought you.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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“Tell them dear, that if eyes were made for seeing, Then beauty is its own excuse for being: Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose! I never sought to ask, I never knew: But, in my simple ignorance suppose The selfsame power that brought me there brought you.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker suggests that beauty exists simply to be, and that both the observer and the observed share the same creative force that placed them together.

In simple terms: Beauty exists for its own sake, and we share a common creative source.

Key Takeaway

Recognize shared purpose in beauty.

Themes

beauty purpose connection

Mood

contemplative inspired

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • art appreciation
  • personal reflection
  • spiritual contemplation

Key Concepts

aesthetics shared existence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does recognizing shared purpose change your view of others?
  • What does beauty mean to you?
A Different Perspective

Beauty may be subjective and not universally shared.

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