Beauty Quote by Elaine Scarry
““When one goes on to find "better", or "higher", or "truer", or "more enduring", or "more widely agreed upon" forms of beauty, what happens to our regard for the less good, less high, less true, less universal instances? Simone Weil says, "He who has gone farther, to the very beauty of the world itself, does not love them any less but much more deeply than before".””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Body in Pain, 1999
Pursuing higher ideals deepens love for all forms, even the less perfect, by expanding appreciation.
In simple terms: Seeking higher beauty enhances love for all, including the lesser.
Key Takeaway
Aim for higher ideals, love all.
Themes
beauty
philosophy
ethics
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- personal growth
- education
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
aesthetic hierarchy
comparative appreciation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “more enduring” beauty mean to you?
- How can we value the ordinary while seeking the sublime?
A Different Perspective
Higher ideals may feel unattainable, causing frustration.
![“the essence of sin is not [primarily] the violation of laws but a wrecked relationship with God, one another, and the whole created order. “All sins are attempts to fill voids,” wrote Simone Weil.” quote by Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a0c/timothy-j-keller-3733_relationship-with-go_the-essence-of-sin-is-not-primarily-the_1694853.jpg)
