---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We turn outward, attracted by the beauty…"
description: "\"We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real be..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/ernesto-cardenal-25333_anxiety_we-turn-outward-attracted-by-the-beauty_175549.jpg"
---

#  We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created…

![“We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.” quote by Ernesto Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/ernesto-cardenal-25333_anxiety_we-turn-outward-attracted-by-the-beauty_175549.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/ernesto-cardenal-25333_anxiety_we-turn-outward-attracted-by-the-beauty_175549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/ernesto-cardenal-25333_anxiety_we-turn-outward-attracted-by-the-beauty_175549.jpg)

> “We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.”

[Ernesto Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-cardenal/)

## About This Quote

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

People often admire external creations, forgetting that true beauty originates from within each individual.

**In simple terms:** We value outer beauty but real beauty is internal.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate inner beauty first.

Themes

beauty self‑perception reflection

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- art appreciation
- personal development
- relationships

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What inner qualities define your beauty?
- How can you appreciate inner over outer?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on external can cause superficial judgments.

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[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Inner beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-beauty/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Outward beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outward-beauty/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Real beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-beauty/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [True beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-beauty/)

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> [men are attracted to beauty because it indicates health and youth—no point mating with a sickly woman who won’t be around to raise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/men-are-attracted-to-beauty-because-it-indicates-health-and-youth-no/)

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## More by Ernesto Cardenal

> [According to some liberation theologians atheism is not the cause of the conflict between Christianity and Marxism, but is rather the link between them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-cardenal/according-to-some-liberation-theologians-atheism-is-not-the-cause-of/)

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[Explore all 21 Ernesto Cardenal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-cardenal/)

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