Precedent Quote by Alain de Botton
““Precedent forces us to suppose that later generations will one day walk around our houses with the same attitude of horror and amusement with which we now consider many of the possessions of the dead. They will marvel at our wallpapers and our sofas and laugh at aesthetic crimes to which we are impervious. This awareness can lend to our affections a fragile, nervous quality. Knowing that what we now love may in the future, for reasons beyond our current understanding, appear absurd is as hard to bear in the context of a piece of furniture in a shop as it is in the context of a prospective spouse at an altar.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Architecture of Happiness, 2006
Future generations may view today’s cherished objects as absurd, reminding us that cultural values are fleeting.
In simple terms: Our belongings may seem strange later.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate humility about current tastes.
Themes
culture
impermanence
humility
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
contemplative
When to use this quote
- designing interiors
- choosing furniture
- marriage vows
Key Concepts
aesthetics
historical perspective
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What possessions might future societies find odd?
- How should we balance current joy with future judgment?
A Different Perspective
We cannot predict which items will be mocked later.
