Beauty Quote by C.S. Lewis
““Plato before him had said the same. The little human animal will not at first have the right responses. It must be trained to feel pleasure, liking, disgust, and hatred at those things which really are pleasant, likeable, disgusting and hateful.14 In the Republic, the well-nurtured youth is one ‘who would see most clearly whatever was amiss in ill-made works of man or ill-grown works of nature, and with a just distaste would blame and hate the ugly even from his earliest years and would give delighted praise to beauty, receiving it into his soul and being nourished by it, so that he becomes a man of gentle heart. All this before he is of an age to reason; so that when Reason at length comes to him, then, bred as he has been, he will hold out his hands in welcome and recognize her because of the affinity he bears to her.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis, 1943
Moral education should shape innate feelings toward beauty and ugliness, so that reason later aligns with these cultivated tastes, producing a gentle heart.
In simple terms: Early training shapes moral senses.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate appreciation for beauty early.
Themes
education
morality
aesthetics
character development
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
ethical
educational
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school curricula
- art criticism
- personal development
- spiritual formation
Key Concepts
moral psychology
aesthetic education
formation of taste
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does culture play in defining beauty?
- Can moral taste be taught without imposing bias?
A Different Perspective
It assumes universal standards of beauty and may neglect cultural differences.
