Beauty Quote by Erik Naggum
“Elegance is necessarily unnatural, only achieveable at great expense. If you just do something, it won't be elegant, but if you do it and then see what might be more elegant, and do it again, you might, after an unknown number of iterations, get something that is very elegant.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Elegance, Erik Naggum, 2005
True elegance often requires iterative refinement and significant effort; it rarely emerges spontaneously.
In simple terms: Elegance comes from repeated improvement.
Key Takeaway
Embrace iterative design.
Themes
design
aesthetics
process
effort
iteration
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
inspirational
Type
philosophical
instructional
When to use this quote
- software development
- architectural planning
- fashion design
- product prototyping
Key Concepts
philosophy of art
human‑centered design
complexity theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How many iterations are enough?
- When does elegance become over‑engineered?
A Different Perspective
Excessive refinement can lead to diminishing returns.
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