Beauty Quote by David Bentley Hart
““But desire must also be cultivated; the beautiful does not always immediately commend itself to every taste; Christ's beauty, like that of Isaiah's suffering servant, is not expressed in vacuous comeliness or shadowless glamor, but calls for a love that is charitable, that is not dismayed by distance or mystery, and that can repent of its failure to see; this is to acquire what Augustine calls a taste for the beauty of God (Soliloquia 1.3-14). Once this taste is learned, divine beauty, as Gregory of Nyssa says, inflames desire, drawing one on into an endless epektasis, a stretching out toward an ever greater embrace of divine glory. And,””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Beauty of the Infinite, David Bentley Hart, 2011
Cultivating a deep love for divine beauty requires moving beyond superficial appeal, embracing a charitable love that persists despite distance or mystery, and constantly seeking greater divine glory.
In simple terms: Love divine beauty beyond surface; seek deeper, lasting devotion.
Key Takeaway
Pursue deeper love for divine beauty.
Themes
spirituality
beauty
devotion
theology
Mood
reverent
contemplative
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Personal prayer
- art appreciation
- theological study
- spiritual mentorship
Key Concepts
Divine love
epektasis
theological aesthetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance yearning for divine beauty with everyday responsibilities?
- What practices help sustain charitable love amid mystery?
A Different Perspective
Such pursuit may lead to endless longing without practical grounding.
