---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How vain painting is-we admire the…"
description: "\"How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of objects which in their original state we don't admire at all.\" — Blaise Pascal"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg"
---

#  How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of…

![“How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of objects which in their original state we don't admire at all.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg)

> “How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of objects which in their original state we don't admire at all.”

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

## About This Quote

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

We often value artistic representations more than the unembellished reality they mimic.

**In simple terms:** Art is prized over reality.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate the true form, not just its image.

Themes

art perception reality value beauty

Mood

contemplative analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- museum visits
- art criticism
- design evaluation
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

Aesthetics representation human cognition

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you prefer the painted version or the real thing?
- How does art change your view of reality?

A Different Perspective

May overlook the intrinsic worth of the original object.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/)

## Related quotes

> [How vain painting is, exciting admiration by its resemblance to things of which we do not admire the originals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/how-vain-painting-is-exciting-admiration-by-its-resemblance-to-things/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [How vain is painting, which is admired for reproducing the likeness of things whose originals are not admired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/how-vain-is-painting-which-is-admired-for-reproducing-the-likeness-of/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> ['Roseanne' was massive for me. I adored that show. I mean, the show was this couple who weren't cookie-cutter, and they were sexy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/roseanne-was-massive-for-me-i-adored-that-show-i-mean-the-show-was/)

[Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/)

> [All novels are about certain minorities: the individual is a minority. The universal in the novel-and isn't that what we're all clamoring for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/all-novels-are-about-certain-minorities-the-individual-is-a-minority-2/)

[Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/)

> [Because I'm interested in depiction, representation, therefore you're interested in photography. You don't ignore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/because-i-m-interested-in-depiction-representation-therefore-you-re/)

[David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/)

> [Depictions or expressions of sex, violence, crime are all permitted virtually without limit; but religion, it seems, never.No wonder many in America seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/depictions-or-expressions-of-sex-violence-crime-are-all-permitted/)

[John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/)

> [Public depictions of women still tend to remain rigid and narrow - about the size of a coffin, say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-frank/public-depictions-of-women-still-tend-to-remain-rigid-and-narrow/)

[Joan Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-frank/)

> [I had no clue what anyone was talking about like, you know I don't think I, I don't think any of the depictions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-had-no-clue-what-anyone-was-talking-about-like-you-know-i-don-t/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Those of us who work in the arts know that depiction is not endorsement. If it was, no artist would be able to paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/those-of-us-who-work-in-the-arts-know-that-depiction-is-not/)

[Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/)

> [The poor have often been subversive just because they don't always believe their own depiction as brutes and loafers and leeches, and new economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/the-poor-have-often-been-subversive-just-because-they-don-t-always/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [In order to educate man to a new longing, everyday familiar objects must be shown to him with totally unexpected perspectives and in unexpected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-rodchenko/in-order-to-educate-man-to-a-new-longing-everyday-familiar-objects/)

[Alexander Rodchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-rodchenko/)

> [People always say, "You played such a strong character." I remember someone said that to me when I played a role in Shame, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/people-always-say-you-played-such-a-strong-character-i-remember/)

[Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/)

> [The point of the first one was that it was about guys being lured by sex and the stereotypes... I always say it's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/the-point-of-the-first-one-was-that-it-was-about-guys-being-lured-by/)

[Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/)

> [One of the lessons learned during the Vietnam War was that the depiction of wounded soldiers, of coffins stacked higher than their living guards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/one-of-the-lessons-learned-during-the-vietnam-war-was-that-the/)

[Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/)

> [I think there's a lot of scope in broadening the way videogames approach depictions of masculinity, which is still extremely narrow in scope. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-druckmann/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-scope-in-broadening-the-way-videogames/)

Neil Druckmann

## More by Blaise Pascal

> [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-read-too-fast-or-too-slowly-we-understand-nothing/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Mahomet established a religion by putting his enemies to death; Jesus Christ by commanding his followers to lay down their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/mahomet-established-a-religion-by-putting-his-enemies-to-death-jesus/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Reflect on death as in Jesus Christ, not as without Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ it is dreadful, it is alarming, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reflect-on-death-as-in-jesus-christ-not-as-without-jesus-christ/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/happiness-can-be-found-neither-in-ourselves-nor-in-external-things/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Rivers are highways that move on and bear us whither we wish to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/rivers-are-highways-that-move-on-and-bear-us-whither-we-wish-to-go/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Vanity is illustrated in the cause and effect of love, as in the case of Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/vanity-is-illustrated-in-the-cause-and-effect-of-love-as-in-the-case/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [The majority is the best way, because it is visible, and has strength to make itself obeyed. Yet it is the opinion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-majority-is-the-best-way-because-it-is-visible-and-has-strength/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

[Explore all 988 Blaise Pascal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

## More Admire quotes

> [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/)

[Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/)

> [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/)

[Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/)

> [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/)

[Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/)

> [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/)

[Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/)

> [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/)

[Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/)

> [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/)

[Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/)

> [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/)

[Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/)

> [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/)

[Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/)

> [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/)

[Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/)

> [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/)

[Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/)

> [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/)

[Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/)

Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of objects which in their original state we don't admire at all.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Blaise Pascal"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-realistic-depiction-of-objects/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Admire"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-realistic-depiction-of-objects/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/blaise-pascal-167_admire_how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-reali_2404527.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of objects which in their original state we don't…” — Blaise Pascal",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Blaise Pascal",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "How vain painting is-we admire the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-realistic-depiction-of-objects/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/how-vain-painting-is-we-admire-the-realistic-depiction-of-objects/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
